Pestilent Souleater MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Phyrexian Insect
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	149
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Stewart

Key Takeaways

Grants card advantage in the right decks, but requires careful play to mitigate card discard costs.
Phyrexian mana provides flexibility, with the caveat of a demanding casting cost affecting deck construction.
Versatile in infect-centric decks and offers unexpected combat tricks, yet relatively high mana cost can be prohibitive.

Text of card

{PB}: Pestilent Souleater gains infect until end of turn. ({PB} can be paid with either or 2 life. A creature with infect deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pestilent Souleater can offer indirect card advantage in specific deck builds. With the right synergies, the card can put pressure on opponents, potentially forcing them to use removal spells inefficiently, thereby gaining you an advantage.

Resource Acceleration: This creature fits well into decks that manipulate life as a resource. Its Phyrexian mana ability allows you to accelerate your game plan without spending actual mana, which can be pivotal in tight situations.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Pestilent Souleater’s activated abilities, which can be used at instant speed, grants it utility in both offense and defense. The option to activate its infect ability at the last possible moment can surprise an opponent, potentially turning the tide of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A drawback of the Pestilent Souleater involves its activation cost that necessitates discarding a card. This can put players at a significant disadvantage, especially in scenarios where card advantage is crucial to maintain competitive play and control over the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirement of the Pestilent Souleater is demanding because of its specific mana cost which includes Phyrexian mana. This can be particularly restrictive for decks that are not built to accommodate the additional life payment or lack the flexibility to incorporate Phyrexian mana efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the card’s abilities, Pestilent Souleater comes with a relatively high mana cost. This can often result in a slower play, leaving players vulnerable as they wait to accumulate enough resources. There are alternative creatures with infect or those that provide better stats or effects for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Pestilent Souleater in Your Collection

Versatility: Pestilent Souleater offers a unique adaptability in game play, being able to fit into a diverse array of decks, especially those focusing on infect strategies or those that require a robust blocker with the potential for a sudden increase in power.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with effects that manipulate or take advantage of life points, such as cards that benefit from life payments for costs or life-swapping effects, adding a layer of strategic depth to your plays.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where combat tricks and unpredictability are key, Pestilent Souleater’s ability to gain infect until end of turn can be a game-changer, making it relevant in certain meta scenarios.

How to beat

Pestilent Souleater can be a tricky card to combat on the battlefield. Its unique infect ability gives it the potential to deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters or poison counters rather than conventional damage, which can quickly turn the tide in a game of Magic: The Gathering. However, there are ways to neutralize this threat and maintain control of the game.

To effectively deal with Pestilent Souleater, removal spells are a player’s best friend. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push allows you to respond to the activation of its abilities before any poison counters can be assigned. Additionally, mass removal spells like Wrath of God eliminate the problem before it can infect your life total. Counterspells also play a crucial role, particularly against decks that rely on such creatures, countering them before they even hit the board.

Managing your blockers is also essential. Pestilent Souleater doesn’t have any inherent evasion, so keeping creatures with high toughness on the board to block can negate its effects. In summary, while Pestilent Souleater can be a concern, prompt removal, strategic counters, and clever blocking can ensure it remains a manageable threat.

Cards like Pestilent Souleater

Pestilent Souleater fits uniquely into the versatile world of Phyrexian mana cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the adaptable payment option with its counterparts such as Immolating Souleater, allowing players to pay with either mana or life points. This opens up strategic depth, especially in formats where life can be leveraged for advantage.

When casting Pestilent Souleater, players have the flexibility to inflict infect counters on opponents, a potent alternative win condition akin to other infect creatures like Plague Stinger. However, Pestilent Souleater is distinct in its ability to become unblockable for the correct mix of mana and life, providing a reliable means to deliver those crucial infect counters. This contrasts with Plague Stinger’s built-in evasion through flying but without the pay-for-unblockability feature.

Moreover, comparisons can be drawn with another infect creature, the evasive Inkmoth Nexus. While the Nexus is a land with the ability to become a flying infect creature, it does not offer the same level of control over its offensive capabilities, and it’s also susceptible to land removal. Pestilent Souleater’s strength lies in its inherent creature status and the tactical choices it presents.

In assessing its peers, Pestilent Souleater offers an intriguing blend of flexibility, control, and infect tactics within the broader pantheon of Phyrexian mana cards.

Immolating Souleater - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pestilent Souleater by color, type and mana cost

Anrakyr the Traveller - MTG Card versions

Foreboding Steamboat - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pestilent Souleater MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Pestilent Souleater and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pestilent Souleater has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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