Infernal Harvest MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Visions
Set code	VIS
Number	62
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nathalie Hertz

Key Takeaways

Gain an upper hand by using Infernal Harvest for multi-target control and swift board advantage.
Strategically play the card at instant speed to disrupt opponent’s plans and seize opportunity.
Despite some drawbacks, its versatility and meta relevance make Infernal Harvest a noteworthy addition.

Text of card

Return X swamps you control to owner's hand: Infernal Harvest deals X damage, divided any way you choose, among any number of target creatures.

"I offered you eternal life; I just didn't say *where*." —Shauku, Endbringer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Infernal Harvest enables players to target multiple creatures, potentially clearing the board of smaller threats. This aspect can quickly turn the tide of a game, especially when you’re able to eliminate several opposing creatures with a single card, effectively gaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: By investing life points into Infernal Harvest, you accelerate your strategic position without expending additional mana. This can be particularly beneficial in decks that have life-gain mechanics or when you have a high life total and can afford the cost for a significant impact on the game’s momentum.

Instant Speed: The power of playing Infernal Harvest at instant speed cannot be understated. It affords you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn or end of turn situations, making it a versatile tool in maintaining control of the game. The instant speed also allows you to wait for the most opportune moment to affect the board, possibly after your opponent has committed more resources to their strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Infernal Harvest places a demand on players to discard a card in addition to its mana cost. This can be a significant setback, especially when your hand is already depleted or the discarded card is vital for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The spell requires three black mana to cast, which can be restrictive. Players running multicolored decks may find it challenging to generate the necessary mana, making Infernal Harvest less flexible than cards with more generic mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential damage output, Infernal Harvest’s casting cost is steep when you consider alternatives available in the game. Cards with lower mana costs or those that offer additional benefits might be preferable for building a more efficient deck.

Reasons to Include Infernal Harvest in Your Collection

Versatility: Infernal Harvest offers a flexible advantage in gameplay, as it allows you to allocate damage across multiple creatures depending on your available mana. This can be especially useful in adjusting your strategy to different board states.

Combo Potential: In decks built around life gain or spell-slinging, Infernal Harvest can be a key component in executing devastating combos, particularly when paired with cards that trigger upon damage dealt or casting of spells.

Meta-Relevance: With the current metagame often featuring creature-based strategies, Infernal Harvest serves as a tactical option for controlling the board and maintaining pressure on your opponent’s resources.

How to beat Infernal Harvest

Infernal Harvest is a unique card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, presenting a challenge for players who face it on the battlefield. This card allows its caster to distribute a number of damage points equal to the amount of mana spent across multiple targets. Therefore, it can effectively eliminate various smaller creatures or contribute to a larger strategy of whittling down an opponent’s life total over time.

Countering Infernal Harvest requires a keen understanding of MTG mechanics. It’s essential for players to keep mana available for instant-speed removal or counter spells that can disrupt this sorcery before it unfolds. Utilizing cards with lifelink abilities can also help recover from the life loss induced by Infernal Harvest. Moreover, having creatures with toughness higher than the average damage Infernal Harvest can deal based on your opponent’s mana pool will minimize its impact, allowing you to maintain a strong board presence. Finally, because Infernal Harvest is contingent on available mana, strategies that limit an opponent’s mana resources can also inhibit the effectiveness of this card, keeping its threat level manageable throughout the duel.

Strategic resource management and proactive defense are key to overcoming the challenges posed by Infernal Harvest, ensuring that players can maintain control and prevent the card from tipping the scales in their opponent’s favor.

Cards like Infernal Harvest

Infernal Harvest is an intriguing addition to the array of damage-dealing spells within Magic: The Gathering. This particular card allows players to pay a variable amount of mana to distribute that much damage among any number of targets. In comparison, a card like Fireball also deals damage that can be split among multiple creatures or players, yet Infernal Harvest provides more precise control over the allocation of that damage at the cost of life instead of merely additional mana per target.

When observing cards such as Pyrohemia, one can notice similarities in the ability to impact multiple targets. However, Pyrohemia requires red mana to activate and deals damage to all creatures and players, which might not always be beneficial. On the other hand, Infernal Harvest’s life payment provides an alternate cost which can be a strategic advantage, enabling players to utilize their life total as a resource.

To sum up, Infernal Harvest stands out in its category for the flexibility it grants players, along with the strategic depth added by using life as a resource. This makes it a potent option for players looking to carefully plan out their damage distribution in a game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Infernal Harvest MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Infernal Harvest and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Infernal Harvest has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If X is 0, you can’t choose any targets.
2004-10-04	The return of X of your Swamps to your hand is part of the cost and is paid on casting. You do not have a choice to pay this cost zero times or more than one time in order to multiply the effect.
2004-10-04	You can use X as being zero.