Incremental Blight MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Creates significant card advantage by affecting up to three creatures with a single card.
  2. Demands specific mana but can be a strategic asset in controlling the board.
  3. High mana cost impacts gameplay pace, rewarding strategic resource management.

Text of card

Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, two -1/-1 counters on another target creature, and three -1/-1 counters on a third target creature.

Shadowmoor's main crops are rot, slime, and despair.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Incremental Blight shines in creating card advantage by placing three -1/-1 counters on one creature, two on another, and one on a third. This often results in eliminating multiple opposing creatures with a single card, tipping the scale in your favor during a match.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting mana resources, by controlling the board and removing key creatures, Incremental Blight can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By clearing the path, your creatures can attack with less resistance, potentially leading to quicker victories.

Instant Speed: Incremental Blight’s potency is amplified by being a sorcery, which while not as flexible as an instant, allows for strategic planning during your turn to establish dominance on the board by thoughtfully distributing -1/-1 counters among the targeted creatures, paving the way for your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Incremental Blight does not specifically require discarding as a cost, thereby streamlining its casting in critical gameplay situations. However, players must remain vigilant with hand management to ensure sufficient spells are available for strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Incremental Blight demands a precise combination of mana types, specifically black mana, which makes it exclusive to certain deck builds focusing on black or inclusive mana bases, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five, including three black mana, Incremental Blight’s cost is more substantial compared to other removal options. This can result in a slower gameplay pace, as players need to reach a higher threshold of resources before they can utilize this spell.


Reasons to Include Incremental Blight in Your Collection

Versatility: Incremental Blight offers a diverse application in decks that prioritize controlling the board. Its ability to distribute -1/-1 counters across multiple creatures makes it a flexible option for weakening opponent forces or outright removing smaller threats.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with strategies that capitalize on -1/-1 counters. It could serve as a catalyst in decks that utilize counters to activate abilities, evolve creatures, or fuel synergistic plays. Its role in potential combos is central to its allure for players who enjoy intricate play styles.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies dominate, Incremental Blight can turn the tide by disrupting opponent formations. Its ability to significantly alter the battlefield makes it a solid inclusion in any meta where creatures are key to victory.


How to beat Incremental Blight

Incremental Blight is a spell card that can shift game dynamics with its powerful ability to place three -1/-1 counters on one creature, two on another, and one on a third. This targeted distribution of counters makes it a formidable card to face, particularly in games with multiple creatures in play. However, it’s not unbeatable. To effectively counter Incremental Blight, players can employ various strategies.

One approach is to utilize hexproof or shroud abilities to protect your creatures from being targeted. Cards like Swiftfoot Boots can endow a creature with these abilities, rendering them immune to Incremental Blight’s effects. Additionally, counterspells are a direct way to thwart the cast of Incremental Blight, with spells like Negate that specifically target noncreature spells. Artifact and enchantment removals such as Naturalize can also dismantle protective measures that would otherwise make Incremental Blight more lethal, such as proliferate mechanics.

Lastly, since Incremental Blight is a sorcery, its use is limited to the caster’s main phases. Taking advantage of this, players can plan and execute their countermoves without the immediate pressure of a response during their turn. Recognizing the card’s potential but preparing with these tactics in mind can turn the tables in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Incremental Blight is a powerful tool in the MTG arsenal, adept at shifting the battlefield in your favor. As we’ve discussed, its strengths lie in targeted removal, board control, and strategic utility. Its impact on multi-creature gameplay makes it an asset in black-focused decks. Whether you are honing a control deck or looking for cards that offer a significant swing in creature matchups, Incremental Blight deserves consideration. Keen to dive deeper and refine your deck with tactical precision? Explore further with us and discover the best ways to integrate Incremental Blight into your winning strategies.


Cards like Incremental Blight

Incremental Blight holds its place as a unique spell among removal cards in Magic the Gathering. It bears some resemblance to other cards that distribute -1/-1 counters, such as Black Sun’s Zenith. While Black Sun’s Zenith can place a variable number of counters depending on the mana invested, Incremental Blight applies a fixed distribution of counters across three targets. Another analogue is Skinrender, which offers a creature body along with the ability to place three -1/-1 counters on a single creature when it enters the battlefield.

Comparing it to the targeted versatility of Grim Affliction which places a single -1/-1 counter and proliferates, Incremental Blight lacks the proliferate mechanic but compensates by affecting multiple creatures. However, what sets Incremental Blight apart is the strategic distribution, allowing you to weaken or outright destroy up to three creatures, making it a potential game-changer on a crowded battlefield. This strategic component is what differentiates Incremental Blight and provides players with the opportunity to shift the power dynamics on the board significantly.

In light of performance and strategy, Incremental Blight can be considered a strong player in decks focused on controlling the board through -1/-1 counters, balancing targeted impact with the ability to hit multiple threats at once.

Black Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Skinrender - MTG Card versions
Grim Affliction - MTG Card versions
Black Sun's Zenith - Mirrodin Besieged Promos (PMBS)
Skinrender - Wizards Play Network 2010 (PWP10)
Grim Affliction - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Incremental Blight by color, type and mana cost

Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Spread the Sickness - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions
Fugue - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - Mirage (MIR)
Soul Shred - Portal (POR)
Living Death - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Beacon of Unrest - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Final Punishment - Scourge (SCG)
Soul Feast - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Patriarch's Bidding - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Aether Snap - Commander 2014 (C14)
Dance of Shadows - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Brainspoil - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Sever Soul - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Head Games - Tenth Edition (10E)
Promise of Power - Commander 2014 (C14)
Rise from the Grave - Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)
Dakmor Plague - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Spread the Sickness - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Monomania - Magic 2012 (M12)
Diabolic Revelation - Magic 2013 (M13)
Crux of Fate - Commander 2017 (C17)
Fugue - Tempest Remastered (TPR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Incremental Blight MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Planechase, 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 Incremental Blight and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Incremental Blight Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2010-06-18. Illustrated by Chuck Lukacs.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 702003normalblackChuck Lukacs
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 322003normalblackChuck Lukacs
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 172003normalblackChuck Lukacs

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Incremental Blight has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-05-01 You must target three different creatures. If you can’t, you can’t cast Incremental Blight.

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