Parasitic Implant MTG Card

New Phyrexia (NPH)
2011-05-13 - Number 67

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 262

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Key Takeaways

Parasitic Implant shifts card advantage by both negating threats and replacing lost cards.
Myr token generation from Parasitic Implant can be pivotal for mana ramp and synergies.
Despite its power, the card’s high mana cost can hinder its immediate impact in fast-paced games.

Text of card

Enchant creature At the beginning of your upkeep, enchanted creature's controller sacrifices it and you put a 1/1 colorless Myr artifact creature token onto the battlefield.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Parasitic Implant offers a unique approach to hampering your opponent’s resources while enhancing your own card economy. By removing their creature and later facilitating a card draw, it effectively swings the tide of card advantage in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Upon the demise of the enchanted creature, Parasitic Implant triggers the creation of a Myr token. This additional artifact creature can ramp up your mana resources when used with synergistic cards or strategies that leverage creature presence on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Though Parasitic Implant is not an instant, its effect upon the board can be felt immediately. The ability to cast it and potentially remove a threat by your next turn mirrors the impact instant speed interactions have on the game flow, providing a tactical edge by disrupting your opponent’s plans at a critical moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Parasitic Implant requires the player to sacrifice a creature, which could be detrimental if your board presence is already weak or if you’re sacrificing a creature with a valuable ability.

Specific Mana Cost: It comes with a black mana cost, making it exclusive to black decks or those that can generate black mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost is on the higher end, and in a fast-paced game, the investment might not produce sufficient returns when compared to other removal options available in the game.

Reasons to Include Parasitic Implant in Your Collection

Versatility: Parasitic Implant is a card that can seamlessly adapt to a variety of deck strategies. Its ability to neutralize key creatures can fit into both aggressive and control decks, providing a significant tempo advantage.

Combo Potential: This card offers interesting interactions by creating an opportunity to trigger death and artifact-related synergies upon removal of the enchanted creature. This can lead to powerful chain reactions in the right deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Parasitic Implant can serve as a critical sideboard card or even a main-deck option, giving its controller an edge in creature-heavy matchups.

How to beat

Parasitic Implant is a unique aura in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide of battle by turning an opponent’s creature against them. When faced with this card, flexibility in your strategy becomes paramount. It’s vital to have enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize on hand, allowing you to swiftly remove Parasitic Implant before its effect can manifest at your next upkeep.

Additionally, sacrificing creatures as a cost for greater benefits can also mitigate this card’s impact. If your deck operates with self-sacrifice mechanics, you can use it to your advantage, sending creatures to the graveyard before the Implant takes full effect. This converts a potential setback into a proactive play, feeding into strategies that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard.

Ultimately, while Parasitic Implant can pose a significant obstacle, there are multiple ways to navigate around it. A blend of enchantment removal and clever timing of creature sacrifices will ensure that you maintain control over your creatures, staying one step ahead of this potentially game-changing card.

Cards like Parasitic Implant

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Parasitic Implant finds its unique place amidst the array of enchantment auras that manipulate creatures. It bears semblance to cards like Control Magic, which also takes away an opponent’s creature, though Parasitic Implant adds a twist by destroying the creature later and rewarding you with a token. In terms of impact, while Control Magic gives you potentially enduring control of the creature, the Implant guarantees its removal, albeit after a delay.

Malfunction is another card that draws a line parallel to Parasitic Implant, as both cards neutralize an enemy creature. However, Malfunction, with its ability to tap and keep a creature tapped, does not offer any creature removal or token creation advantages. It’s evident that while they share similar objectives, the nuances in their mechanisms provide a variety of strategic options for MTG players.

Ultimately, Parasitic Implant occupies a strategic niche, offering delayed creature removal with a bonus token generation—a balanced fusion of disruption and advantage. Such a card can potentially shift the tides in creature-heavy matchups, marking its value in MTG’s ever-evolving gameplay landscape.

Cards similar to Parasitic Implant by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Parasitic Implant MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia and Jumpstart, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Parasitic Implant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Parasitic Implant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Jason Felix.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-05-13	New Phyrexia	NPH		67	2003	Normal	Black	Jason Felix
2	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP		262	2015	Normal	Black	Jason Felix

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Parasitic Implant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Parasitic Implant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.