No one wants to block this guy and nobody wants to let him get in that poison counter. One of my favorite myr for sure :)
ClockworkSwordfish
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
Alright, so, poison being poison, this is basically a 2/1 for (a trail the Myr have blazed before), but they can't block or it'll become a very cheap 3/3. With wither. Since I love mindgames and Myr, I'm biased, but I'd say that's worth a 5/5.
faisjdas
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Limited staple, for sure. If you're drafting poison, this is one of the higher picks.
Not sure how good this will be in a dedicated myr deck, but if a poison deck ever gets off it's feet in T2, this guy should see play.
DonRoyale
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Hey, Wall of Omens. Yeah, you. I got a bone to pick with you...
Sir_Kaeru
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(7 votes)
How is this even common? Oh well, no matter, that just makes it a better card. 2 colorless for a 1/1 with infect, and if blocked, gets +2/+2.... seriously, how is this not atleast uncommon? this deserves to be in every infect deck out there
stratoscythe
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Limited good... one of the better commons in the set...
jamiepm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Say it gets blocked by more than one creature.. does it only get +2/+2 or will it get more depending on the amount of creatures blocking it??
Chrome_Coyote
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pretty good for a 2 CMC artifact creature. If you're playing green and black poison, he'd fit in.
Lateralis0ne
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
@jamiepm:
Based on the phrasing of the card, I'd be willing to bet the +2/+2 is a one-time deal. It's declared blocked, the pump triggers, resolves if nothing hinders it, and then that's it. If it were to pump for each creature blocking it, Wizards would have designed it to say so (They've been remarkably good about that in the past).
This is my favorite card in the set. Hard to block, hard to take...and I plan on building an infect deck that will sideboard into Myr combo. Strictly Vintage (my format, as it were). It's only natural when you're a Vorthos Johnny who can't look at a set like this without needing an extra pair of shorts nearby.
hugemanatee
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(7 votes)
That's Myr-der on the opponent!
SorianSadaskan
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(8 votes)
For only 2 mana.....you win the game.
keiyakins
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's adorable, too! I want to hug it! But that's probably a bad idea...
SpencerDub
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Give him an Infiltration Lens to make the decision even more painful for your opponent.
Keiya
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A very good card for the set overall, perhaps my favorite common as it can benefit from being in a poison deck AND a Myr deck.
signok79
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
if infect is gonna replace jund i can see this one replacing putrid leech
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
An agreessive bump effect through getting blocked is pretty awesome on an Infect creature that deals permanent damage.
SleetFox
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The only problem with this guy is how he doesn't work well with his fellow myr. But being a Phyrexian now, his place is in infect decks anyway. And he does a great job of that!
Gavrilo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh yeah, what can be better than forcing your opp to make painful decisions? Or force him to use removal on cheap critters.
Beastlygreen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A VERY funn card. Take a poison counter, or lose a creature? When this little guy is is out on turn two, those are you options when he attacks.
Bandswithother
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I agree with LateralisOne, the buff should only trigger once each combat phase. Otherwise it would say "gets +2/+2 for each creature blocking ~" or in other words Rampage 2.
However if you can get multiple combat phases in one turn then you could eliminate a blocker and then swing for 3 poison counters.
GenericSuperhero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card so much it's not even funny.
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
then give it trample and laugh.
God_Of_The_Smurfs
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I played this guy in an infect draft deck I made last night. Played him with infiltration lens. I quote.
Me- "Okay, you have six poison counters. I'll attach infiltration lens to my ichorclaw myr, and swing."
Him- "What happens if I block?"
Me- "He gets +2/+2, and I draw two cards. Did I mention he has infect?"
Him- "CRAPPPPPPP!"
Good times. 5/5
RuthieA
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My fiance has in legacy infect deck. He likes giving this rancor--three poison counters or Putrefax for three that you don't have to sac at the end of turn? It combos awesomely with anything that gives it trample, especially anything instant speed trample, like Predator's Strike). If someone decides to chump block it with a 1/1, they're taking five poison counters--which is effectively half their life--on turn three. Amazing and amazingly scary card.
Best of all, its Standard/Type 2 legal, all commons, turn 3 victory.
Cigarette
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I have really enjoyed Infect with this little guy. Purchased to Phyrexian Poison Intro Packs, he was an instant choice. Amazing early game presence, hard to kill in combat. Love him and Livewire Lash, as well as casting Virulent Swipe on him to sink extra damage, then on rebound they feel obligated to chump block. :D
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@kurhan
Thats a very good combo. You could drop a preordain T1 to help achieve it also. And u can use either this guy or Necropede or even a Blight Mamba. They will never see it coming, and they cant even stop it with a bolt. Plus, when this guys on the field on T2 there defiantly not going to expect an unblockable combo. The structure of this card just makes opponents focus on how there going to block him. Same with necropede but not as dramatic. Its complete mind games, and i love it. Its also very realistic and you could have a solid deck without your 3 turn win combo. It would come up often enough tho, even if its on T4 or T5.
This guy is great, however, do not use him in a myr deck. There are very few myr decks i have seen that win by poision. This guy belongs in infect, and a staple there
I love the myr, but the one thing I didn't want was to construct a Myr-Infect deck. It seemed too.....evil? Wizards seems to be trying really hard to force my hand, though, since this, Perilous Myr, and Plague Myr are, pretty much, the best of the tribe and still combo with anything else that boosts any other myr.
Equinox523
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Chub Toad is sad that this creature stole his thunder. Oh wait, he never had any.
IntrnetHte
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
PHENOMENAL card. When attacking, nobody can kill it but nobody wants the poison counter, either. I've gotten so many T3 wins with this card...assault strobe and vines of vastwood ftw
AngelPhoenix
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@bijart_dauth: I don't know man. I run 4 of these along with 4 plague myr and a grafted exoskeleton in a my myr deck with 4 galvs, 2 temp steels, 2 steel overs and 2 battlespheres. The focus of my deck is still on damage (I have other myr) but because I have 8 creatures with infect I can attack from both angels making mid-length to extended games very dificult for oppoents to come out of alive. I'll get a few poison counters in early with these guys and then smack them for 5 or 6 or 8 in one shot later on. Won a lot of games that way, in casual anyway.
As for the card, one of the most powerful 2 drop aggros ever. Pound for pound the only cheap creature I can think of more dangerous than this is Vampire Nighthawk.
Superllama12
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I have this guy in my infect deck, and he is FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!!!! Also, I've never tried it, but this guy might be pretty good on defense in a non-infect deck...
Guest1381794618
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
Man, cheap Infect is just obnoxious. This is a fantastic card, though.
Splizer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he plain just didn't want to block this thing. And neither would you, half the time. Coolest Myr of them all.
NuckChorris
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Rated much higher than Necropede? This is a great card, but I would personally way rather have Necropede. Best art in the set though.
JFM2796
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Maybe they will have a block based on mill.
Mill Bear............
Creature--Bear
Miller (Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player puts that many cards from the top of his or her library into his or her graveyard.) .......................2/2
I mean, come on! Something as obscure as poison got a block, and mills been around since nearly the start of the game and almost every set afterwards. Why?
I suppose we could roll on berserks if budget was no issue.
Axelle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@JFM2796: The fundamental problem with such a mechanic is that your opponent will already be long dead by damage.
Thanatophagous
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy loves Rancor maybe as much as your opponent hates it. With trample he is like come at me bro. Turn 3 you probably don't have enough beef to block him without sacrificing a creature and even if you have, he is gonna get the surprise trample from Unnatural Predation that he deserves. And its good bye creature and hello poison counter.
tcollins
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
More like Ickyclaw Myr. I run it in my infect deck, sadly it draws a ton of removal but nothing is quite as satisfying as having this little guy swing with all his might and then sacrificing him to Throne of Geth for that very last poison counter.
MaizeRage47
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Totally never noticed the bleeding hand in the corner until now, creepy
Haneyphi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best infect creature. Period. The fact that Wild Hunger fits perfectly in the curve with this guy is even better. The opponent is damned if they take 4 poison or doubly damned if they block, still take poison, their guy is dead, and the myr smiles as he lives on for the next turn. It gets even worse when this fella gets chump blocked with a 1 defense creature, your opponent loose the creature and takes 5 poison counters instead of 4.
People can talk about control being so good and ballyhoo titans and planeswalkers and Melira SBs all they want, but if you splash some red for assault strobes and flames of the firebrand, you elimnate blockers and tack poison counters on too fast for anyone to do anything about, even other aggro players with fast, cheap creatures.
And then wizards reprinted Rancor. Are you kidding me?
Enjoy winning tournaments with Gr infect until October 2012 while you can...and take a book or another deck to playtest with between rounds. Bring a bat too - people will be ***ed.
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I just can't comprehend this card. I mean, since when have Myr had Rampage?
What a lovely card, almost guarantees your opponent will either sack creatures or take a poison counter each turn. It's also great that it's colorless, so all infect decks can use him.
4.5/5
talcumpowder0046
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If they don't block it, drop an Invigorate or Giant Growth.
CogMonocle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
...COMMON?
man, scars limited sounds like a party. Infect sounds like a mechanic that's really bad at first until you look at some of the aggressively costed infecters (and cards like corpse cur)
Syrtees
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love giving this thing double strike. Would you rather block the 6 infect or take the 2 poison counters? No block? Ok! Invigorate
Comments (56)
Not sure how good this will be in a dedicated myr deck, but if a poison deck ever gets off it's feet in T2, this guy should see play.
Based on the phrasing of the card, I'd be willing to bet the +2/+2 is a one-time deal. It's declared blocked, the pump triggers, resolves if nothing hinders it, and then that's it. If it were to pump for each creature blocking it, Wizards would have designed it to say so (They've been remarkably good about that in the past).
This is my favorite card in the set. Hard to block, hard to take...and I plan on building an infect deck that will sideboard into Myr combo. Strictly Vintage (my format, as it were). It's only natural when you're a Vorthos Johnny who can't look at a set like this without needing an extra pair of shorts nearby.
However if you can get multiple combat phases in one turn then you could eliminate a blocker and then swing for 3 poison counters.
Me- "Okay, you have six poison counters. I'll attach infiltration lens to my ichorclaw myr, and swing."
Him- "What happens if I block?"
Me- "He gets +2/+2, and I draw two cards. Did I mention he has infect?"
Him- "CRAPPPPPPP!"
Good times. 5/5
Turn 2: Forest. Play this.
Turn 3: Forest. Distortion Strike. Groundswell. Groundswell. Attack = 10/9 unblockable = win
Best of all, its Standard/Type 2 legal, all commons, turn 3 victory.
Purchased to Phyrexian Poison Intro Packs, he was an instant choice.
Amazing early game presence, hard to kill in combat.
Love him and Livewire Lash, as well as casting Virulent Swipe on him to sink extra damage, then on rebound they feel obligated to chump block. :D
Thats a very good combo. You could drop a preordain T1 to help achieve it also. And u can use either this guy or Necropede or even a Blight Mamba. They will never see it coming, and they cant even stop it with a bolt. Plus, when this guys on the field on T2 there defiantly not going to expect an unblockable combo. The structure of this card just makes opponents focus on how there going to block him. Same with necropede but not as dramatic. Its complete mind games, and i love it. Its also very realistic and you could have a solid deck without your 3 turn win combo. It would come up often enough tho, even if its on T4 or T5.
Heres a decklist example
24 lands, 16 creatures, 20 others
4 Preordain
4 Distortion Strike
4 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Necropede
4 Groundswell
4 Blight Mamba
4 Contagion Clasp (Cheap and solid for infect.)
4 Corpse Cur (Good infect and makes the deck more solid overall.)
4 Sword of Vengeance (You can sub out this slot with whatever if you dont own a playset. Thrummingbird or Infiltration Lens would be some good and cheap choices. SoV is so bomb on infect tho, and the sword in Distortion Strike looks like an energized version of it.)
Lands
4 Evolving Wilds (Sub out for Misty Rainforest if u got a playset.)
10 Forest
10 Island
Seems solid and fun, and is extreemly cheap.
Also, fun with the Unnatural Predation
As for the card, one of the most powerful 2 drop aggros ever. Pound for pound the only cheap creature I can think of more dangerous than this is Vampire Nighthawk.
Because he plain just didn't want to block this thing.
And neither would you, half the time.
Coolest Myr of them all.
Mill Bear............
Creature--Bear
Miller (Whenever this
creature deals combat
damage to a player,
that player puts that
many cards from the
top of his or her library
into his or her graveyard.)
.......................2/2
I mean, come on! Something as obscure as poison got a block, and mills been around since nearly the start of the game and almost every set afterwards. Why?
Turn 2: drop mountain, This guy
Turn 3: drop mountain, Equip Lens, Rancor, Invigorate, Assault strobe
I suppose we could roll on berserks if budget was no issue.
Turn 3 you probably don't have enough beef to block him without sacrificing a creature and even if you have, he is gonna get the surprise trample from Unnatural Predation that he deserves. And its good bye creature and hello poison counter.
People can talk about control being so good and ballyhoo titans and planeswalkers and Melira SBs all they want, but if you splash some red for assault strobes and flames of the firebrand, you elimnate blockers and tack poison counters on too fast for anyone to do anything about, even other aggro players with fast, cheap creatures.
And then wizards reprinted Rancor. Are you kidding me?
Enjoy winning tournaments with Gr infect until October 2012 while you can...and take a book or another deck to playtest with between rounds. Bring a bat too - people will be ***ed.
4.5/5
man, scars limited sounds like a party. Infect sounds like a mechanic that's really bad at first until you look at some of the aggressively costed infecters (and cards like corpse cur)
Ok! Invigorate