Gremlin Infestation MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2017-01-20
Set symbol
Set name	Aether Revolt
Set code	AER
Number	83
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Slawomir Maniak

Key Takeaways

Repeatable card draw or damage potential when targeting opponent’s artifacts with Gremlin Infestation.
Can impede opponent’s mana acceleration by pressuring their artifact resources.
Provides tactical advantage through instant-speed gremlin token interactions.

Text of card

Enchant artifact At the beginning of your end step, Gremlin Infestation deals 2 damage to enchanted artifact's controller. When enchanted artifact is put into a graveyard, create a 2/2 red Gremlin creature token.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gremlin Infestation allows you to potentially draw multiple cards over several turns. As the enchantment deals with damage to the attached permanent at each of your upkeeps, it creates a repeatable source of card draw if the enchanted artifact’s controller chooses to take the damage instead of sacrificing it.

Resource Acceleration: Although Gremlin Infestation doesn’t directly produce mana, it can indirectly accelerate your resources. By continuously pressuring your opponent’s artifacts, you can hamper their mana development and advantage, mainly if their strategy relies on artifacts for mana production.

Instant Speed: While Gremlin Infestation itself is not an instant, the gremlins it creates can provide instant speed interactions. Once the gremlins are on the battlefield, any cards or abilities they have that can be activated at instant speed add to your tactical options, allowing you to react swiftly to your opponent’s plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gremlin Infestation demands that you sacrifice another artifact as a trigger to create a gremlin token. For those players who don’t run artifact-heavy decks, this requirement can quickly deplete your battlefield presence and leave you struggling to maintain a board.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Gremlin Infestation, not only do you need four mana, but two of which must be red. This specific mana requirement can present a challenge in multicolored decks that might not have the right mana ratio or enough sources of red mana when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, including the strict red mana requirement, Gremlin Infestation sits at a higher mana curve. When you compare it with other enchantments or removal options in the game, it may not provide the most mana-efficient solution for dealing with threats or advancing your board state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gremlin Infestation is a dynamic addition to red burn or artifact-centric decks, offering a persistent threat that becomes more menacing with each artifact your opponent loses.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with effects that damage or destroy artifacts, multiplying its impact while fueling your own strategy through the creation of Gremlin tokens.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where artifacts are prevalent, Gremlin Infestation not only becomes a disruption tool but also a consistent source of creature tokens that can turn the tide of a game.

How to Beat Gremlin Infestation in MTG

Gremlin Infestation is an enchantment card that can be as pesky for MTG players as the creatures it represents. It stands out due to its ability to potentially create a significant advantage over time, attaching itself to artifacts and slowly but surely chipping away at them while spawning Gremlin creature tokens. To effectively counter this threat, one must adopt a strategy that either suppresses the ability of enchantments to stick around or eliminates artifacts from play to prevent the infestation from taking hold.

One straightforward method is employing enchantment removal spells like Disenchant, which can directly target and destroy Gremlin Infestation. You could also employ countermeasures like Negate to prevent the enchantment from ever hitting the battlefield. Alternatively, protecting your artifacts with hexproof or shroud abilities can prove invaluable. In some cases, opting not to play with numerous artifact cards may limit the potential for Gremlin Infestation to impact your game plan. Lastly, considering a deck that thrives without artifacts could altogether sidestep the dangers posed by such an enchantment.

Managing the game’s pace and being prepared with suitable answers are key to keeping Gremlin Infestation from overwhelming your board. Always stay vigilant for the best moment to act and remove the threat before the Gremlin population gets out of control.

Cards like Gremlin Infestation

Gremlin Infestation stands as an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of other red enchantments that aim to deal damage over time. It closely relates to cards like Curse of the Pierced Heart, which similarly chips away at an opponent’s life total each turn. Where Gremlin Infestation sets itself apart is through its ability to create a pesky 2/2 Gremlin creature token when the enchanted artifact is destroyed, potentially turning a simple damage source into a menacing threat on the board.

Considering another parallel, we encounter the card Demonic Vigor. This enchantment, much like our Gremlin-themed card, offers a reoccurring advantage by allowing a creature to return to its owner’s hand upon death. While it doesn’t provide the direct damage that Gremlin Infestation does, it still supplies a recurring value that can vex an opponent. In the line of damage-dealing enchantments, cards like Sulfuric Vortex also emerge. This card ensures damage to each player during their upkeep, thus providing a consistent threat like Gremlin Infestation but without relying on the destruction of an artifact.

To wrap things up, Gremlin Infestation is more than a simple damage enabler in Magic: The Gathering. It is an effective means of pressuring artifact-heavy opponents, emphasizing MTG’s dynamic play where creatures and artifacts intermingle, offering unique strategies and board presences.

Curse of the Pierced Heart - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gremlin Infestation by color, type and mana cost

Uncontrollable Anger - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gremlin Infestation MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Gremlin Infestation and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gremlin Infestation has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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