Pharika's Cure MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Number	100
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Igor Kieryluk

Key Takeaways

Pharika’s Cure offers efficient removal and life gain, essential for black control strategies in MTG.
The card demands black mana, aligning best with mono-black or similar color decks for smooth play.
While costly compared to some spells, its two-for-one utility makes it a valuable addition to your arsenal.

Text of card

Pharika's Cure deals 2 damage to target creature and you gain 2 life.

"The venom cleanses the sickness from your body, but it will not be pleasant, and you may not survive. Pharika's blessings are fickle." —Solon, acolyte of Pharika

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pharika’s Cure provides an immediate two-for-one potential, offering both targeted creature removal and life gain. This dual-purpose functionality can swing the momentum in your favor, effectively disrupting your opponent’s board while bolstering your own resilience against aggressive strategies.

Resource Acceleration: The life gain from Pharika’s Cure can be viewed as a form of resource acceleration in matches where health is a critical resource. By potentially extending the game, it allows you time to draw into more powerful spells or develop your board without the pressure of a dwindling life total.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Pharika’s Cure shines by adding a layer of flexibility to your gameplay. You can efficiently manage your mana, saving Pharika’s Cure for the most opportune moment, such as in response to an opponent’s attack or during their end step. Having the ability to interact on your opponent’s turn can be a decisive factor in tight matches.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pharika’s Cure does not impose any discard requirements upon casting, which harmonizes with your hand’s integrity, ensuring crucial resources remain in play for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked behind a black mana requisite, Pharika’s Cure demands commitment to darker decks, possibly clashing with multicolored deck dynamics, thereby restricting its versatility across the broad spectrum of MTG archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost demanding two slots, Pharika’s Cure might overshadow lighter spells in terms of immediate battlefield impact or cost efficiency, nudging players towards economically viable alternatives offering a heftier punch or broader utility.

Reasons to Include Pharika’s Cure in Your Collection

Versatility: Pharika’s Cure is a useful tool in any black deck arsenal, fitting snugly into control and mid-range strategies. Its ability to provide both life gain and creature control makes it adaptable to a variety of situations.

Combo Potential: This instant not only disrupts your opponent’s board but also serves as a key piece in decks that capitalize on life total changes or when aiming to trigger death-related abilities and synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where small creatures and aggressive starts are prevalent, having Pharika’s Cure can be a crucial swing in life totals while maintaining board presence, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.

How to beat

Pharika’s Cure is a known spell within the black mana arsenal of Magic: The Gathering, offering both life gain and damage in a single package. It deals 2 damage to target creature and allows you to gain 2 life, making it a tool for both creature control and life stabilization. When facing Pharika’s Cure, the key is to deploy creatures with a toughness greater than 2, reducing the spell’s effectiveness in eliminating threats from the battlefield.

Additionally, tactics that capitalize on instant-speed responses can be valuable. Rather than playing a creature before your turn ends, you might wait to cast it until the last possible moment, thereby limiting your opponent’s window to use Pharika’s Cure effectively. Furthermore, using enchantments or abilities that grant your creatures indestructible for a turn can negate Pharika’s Cure, as it only deals a modest amount of damage that such protective measures can easily withstand.

Remember that smart strategies and creature selection can turn Pharika’s Cure from a feared card to one of little concern. By adapting your gameplay and keeping the strengths and limitations of this card in mind, you can easily counter its effects and maintain control of the game board.

Cards like Pharika's Cure

Pharika’s Cure is an intriguing utility spell within the context of Magic: The Gathering’s extensive catalog. Its kinship with other low-cost removal spells is evident, particularly when considering cards like Disfigure. Both are keen on weakening opponents with instant speed, though Disfigure edges out in the mana efficiency category, costing just one black mana to Pharika’s Cure’s two. However, what sets Pharika’s Cure apart is its added boon of lifegain, a feature Disfigure lacks.

Another related card is Sovereign’s Bite, which serves a double purpose similar to Pharika’s Cure. It both damages the opponent and gives you a life advantage, but it forgoes the removal aspect. Walking the line between damage and healing, Pharika’s Cure emerges as a more versatile tool in a player’s arsenal. Lastly, we cannot overlook Moment of Craving, which like Pharika’s Cure provides a lifegain benefit upon dealing with a creature, though it’s less restrictive with its color requirement.

When weighing the benefits each card brings to the battlefield, Pharika’s Cure demonstrates its unique position. It offers a balance of creature control and player sustenance that is valuable for defensive strategies in the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pharika's Cure MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Pharika's Cure and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pharika's Cure has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	If the creature is an illegal target as Pharika's Cure tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't gain life. If, on the other hand, Pharika's Cure does resolve but the damage is prevented, you'll still gain life.