@a7141988 - you can't activate devoted druid's ability because you can't pay the activation cost of placing the -1/-1 counter on it.
the persist creatures, however, are very compatible with melira! as well as black sun's zenith as a one way board sweeper.
divine_exodus
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Finally, phyrexia won't win against every non-infect deck.
AnTzero
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
NOOOOO! The Phyrexians are supposed to win this war! Smother!
Rumblin-Slumm
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(14 votes)
For a fun little combo, run her with the incredibly creepy looking Phyrexian Unlife. That should allow you to not lose for a while. The only problem is that you would want blue to protect your feeble 2/2 and enchantment.
(If this combo doesn't work as I think it does, please give me a RTFC comment so I don't waste peoples time)
UlyVanHammer
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(5 votes)
This + Etched Monstrosity = 5 mana 10/10!
PhyrexianFailure
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Do we really need something that hoses infect? awesome anyway.
What's that you say Melira? You've got a pet? Really?
chaoticlivi
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(7 votes)
If you're against an Infect deck, this card is pure gold (she said as though it were not glaringly obvious). Sure, she needs protection from various types of removal, destruction, and direct damage, but so do most good permanents. Of course, unless you're running a deck that also takes advantage of her abilities when you're not raging against the tyranny of Phyrexia, you're going to want to leave her in your sideboard.
WytLytnn
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
i was just looking at some other cards, melira's keepers and tatterkite have a similar effect and if they would come into play with counters, they still don't get those counters. so i was wrong, persist is perfect for this.
a7141988
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
In the right deck, this card is ridiculously broken! Look at the 2nd ability: Creatures you control can't have -1/-1 counters placed on them. So, with Devoted Druid, you get infinite green mana! With a persist creature and a sacrifice outlet of your choosing, you get infinite sacking!
@garabor: I think you are right! If I assume that Melira operates similarly to tatterkite (for -1/-1 counters), Tatterkite has this ruling: 5/1/2008 A spell or ability whose effect would put a counter on Tatterkite simply doesn't affect it. The spell or ability isn't countered. If it would put counters on any other creatures, it continues to do so. I misread the ruling, because the important part is "a spell or ability whose EFFECT would put a counter". Also, this ruling supports your statement: 5/1/2008 You can't pay a cost that includes putting a counter on Tatterkite. For example, if Tatterkite is the only creature you control, you can't cast Scarscale Ritual because you can't pay the additional cost.
infernox10
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
I love her.
It's counter-infect without straight-up removing poison counters, like Wizards promised.
I can't really say anything about this card - it's all said on the card, and in present/future comments.
Let's face it: she'll see green sideboard.
She's cheap, she's useful, and she's flavourfully/functionally beautiful.
Marcl91
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(10 votes)
This + Phyrexian Hydra = a 7/7 infect creature for 5 CMC that can't be dealt damage o.O
smokiermatthias
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
my favorite card since they brought poison counters back. i hate poison counters. I think no matter what color deck i have i'm going to find a way to put four of these in it. lol
Eliteninjasauce
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The only thing with combing this and Phyrexian Unlife against an infect deck is you will still receive poison counters when you are dealt damage. Melira makes infect creatures loose infect but Phyrexian Unlife says that all sources of damage are done in poison counters.
Bazzoka
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Eliteninjasauce Even though Melira clearly states you can't get poison counters. So no, you won't get poison counters until Melira is dealt with.
bijart_dauth
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
phyrexian unlife FTW. And at Eliteninjasauce, look at the card more closely. It says you can't get poison counters or -1/-1 first. The lose infect is just so that they can kill you.
Thunduaga
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Ok lets talk about Phtexian Unlife. It sais "while you are at 0 or less life, all sources of damage to you gain infect", Melira however sais "You can't get poison counters"... I believe this in turn means that they thunderbolt you for 3 poison counters, but you dont receive them. I have already made a deck for this and im stoked to try it out
NoFace22
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Screw you hand of the praetors. This should have been introduced in M. Besieged
ThrunTheLastTrololol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Did you guys know this is the sylvok that thrun is training.
BonniePrinceCharlie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
5/5 all the way.
Eternal_Blue
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
i'd give this a perfect 5/5 except the card really should have read 'if your opponent has a creature with infect he or she loses the game and must burn their entire collection'. oh well, 4.5/5 will do.
kbomb20
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just think how sick she would be in a presist deck. You creatures will always come back because you can't put -1/-1 counters on them. Thats hot.
And she's really funny with Phyrexian Hydra on your side of the board too. Oh and Phyrexian Vatmother too. Seems to me she's almost better off in an infect deck. XD
Holy Lifegain Batman, it's old Lady Melira and her Kitchen Finks! Also Makes glistening oil a little safer for killing off opponents creatures. Plus, cute redhead! Jazzy!
"This new addition to the list of rules explaining where abilities work says that if an object has an ability that says counters can't be placed on it, that ability functions while the object is entering the battlefield. "Placed" carries double duty, meaning adding counters while an object is on the battlefield and also having an object entering the battlefield with counters."
She doesn't just stop infect, and wither. She also breaks Persist in half, makes modular worthless if you are (for some reason) playing both of them, she also makes Etched Monstrosity one hell of deal.
KnightOfSerra
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Finally! Somthing to fix those annoying infect and proliferate decks.
When I first saw her, I was angry, not just because I'm phyrexian, but because she only targets specific decks. I HATE things that target specific colors or decks like this.
then I realized
She can be used with infect
some have mentioned specific combos, but let me put it all together
First, shield you from backlash: Ichor Rats and Phyrexian vatmother.
Then, makes Phyrexian Hydrainvincible then makes black sun's zenith a one sided board sweep
then, lets Everlasting Torment make you entire board as untouchable as your hydras
Yes, there is the persist angle, but that's actually a different story. With these as an infect deck, the flavor is hilarious, I call it "Melira's Hypocrasy"
Phyrexian hypocrasy is more accurate, but Melira's has a better ring
WateryMind
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yay, a card that stops the rampaging infect decks.... Oh, wait.
In all seriousness, she breaks more then a fair few cards (Phyrexain Hydra, Etched Monstrosity and anything with persist). Seriously, she seems to want to be in infect decks, rather then counter them.
Hoses infect and can be fetched with green sun's zenith. Also combos with so many cards- black sun's zenith for that one sided wrath is my favourite.
Jokergius
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Cute~ ♥ ♥ ♥ I'm not a Mirran player... but her abilities... Melira's Keeper cant have Counters put on it... she does, however, not let your creatures -1/-1 counters d^o^b Also goes well with the Phyrexian Hydra >;3
GoatKnapper
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love her becuase you can give her infect and win with infect with her on your side. sweet, sweet irony.
Sure shes vulnerable but shes also a bear (2/2 for 2 cmc, not the creature type) with some of the nastiest screw over deck type X abilities ever.....simply an amazing card and a hot ginger girl..5/5
BastianQoU
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
takes away the infinite kill combo with two Carnifex Demon's... also, since Etched Monstrosity enters the battlefield with the counters on it, Melira doesn't do anything to it.
SolidSoldier
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
@BastianQoU: No, Melira does prevent the counters from being placed on Etched Monstrosity. I hate quoting rules because I hate sounding like a know-it-all, but this is somewhat important to learn due to Melira's abilities:
121.5. If a spell or ability refers to a counter being “placed” on a permanent, it means putting a counter on that permanent while it’s on the battlefield, or that permanent entering the battlefield with a counter on it.
Somebody get Midnight Banshee on her side, by the way. Those two will do work.
Ava_Adore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@PhyrexianAdvocate I don't see how she makes modular useless, she stops -1/-1 counters, Modular uses +1/+1 counters
anyway great card, thanks wizards, finally something to stop the wrath of infect/wither that has stopped me using regenerate/indestructible,
time to pump out my old blue green modular/graft artifact deck Turn 3 darksteel forge should protect Melira for a bit now that its easier than ever to make creatures into artifacts
MindEcho
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
So, if I already have a poinson counter, does it remove it? I don't think that is how it works, to me it seems like if I had 1 poison counter and I played her, then I would just stay at 1 poison... Right?
Then my next question, if that is how it works, is what about proliferate... It would not be "getting" a poison counter, but modifying what I already have...
Just a little clarification on this please. Thanks :-)
Beladona_13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Melira + Necroskitter + Black Sun's Zenith = lols!
Ange-Gardien
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
More anti-infect tools, please, WotC! And how about a new keyword for "You can't get poison counters. Creatures you control can't have -1/-1 counters placed on them." -- you could just call it "Immunity." The phrase "Creatures your opponents control lose infect" needs a keyword too but I can't think of one.
Falgorn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ MindEcho and Sir_Thom: As long as she's on the battlefield, you can neither proliferate any preexisting -1/-1 counters on her controller's creatures, nor any poison counters that player already had. That's because proliferating them is to place one more counter on each of the chosen permanents and/or have that player get one more poison counter. She forbids that.
Effectively, she will turn creatures with infect into normal-damage creatures (incredibly unimpressive for their mana costs) and will make creatures with wither unable to deal visible damage to creatures. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt, lifelink, deathtouch etc. will still see that damage though.
Her third ability will remove infect from any creature that naturally has it, even if it enters the battlefield after Melira.
When interacting with effects that grant infect to a creature, apply them in timestamp order. Last to be created wins. For example, you could cast Tainted Strike on a creature attacking you. Since your Melira was already onto the battlefield, that creature would actually gain infect and be rendered completely useless, as it would be unable to make you lose life or get poison counters. If its controller could somehow FlickerMelira at instant speed, then the attacking creature would lose infect and deal normal damage, causing life loss.
Now for the Phyrexian Unlife combo: The rules text of Phyrexian Unlife ---> "You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life. As long as you have 0 or less life, all damage is dealt to you as though its source had infect."
Melira's first ability will enable you to stay unaffected by any kind of damage, from any source, as long as you have less than 0 life when that happens. Fun. Keep in mind that effects that care about damage being dealt will still "see" it, even though you won't lose life or gain poison counters as a result of that damage.
They really should have put rulings for her. Cute art, I have a soft spot for redheads.
LEP-Recon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I understand that she prevents poison counters being put on one's self, as well as one's creatures, but will the act of playing her peel off any counters already in place? Say, for instance, I have 9 poison counters, will she pull them off placing me back at 0 poison counters?
endersblade
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(13 votes)
If it's got persist, Melira loves it.
ChrisHanson
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
low cost for three awesome effects 5/5
InternetNinjacy
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Dear Melira, Sylvok Outcast,
*** you.
-Infect Decks
Halo_Is_Overrated
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
My Cauldron of souls is going to follow her everywhere! Throw in a Wurmcoil engine and maybe Piston sledge for sac and you've got, well, a large clunky combo, but lots of wurmies! =)
Alluceanot
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@Falgren
Her ability that removes infect from opponents' creatures is a continuous one, so even if someone uses tainted strike to give their creature infect, it will immediately be lost again once state based actions are checked (right after the spell resolves). There is no mentioning of an EtB trigger.
From what I understand of Melira and Everlasting Torment, ET is a global effect, turning everyone's creatures into wither. So Melira prevents any of that wither damage from going through until her or the other creatures.
flashismyfriend
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Does anyone else realize her third ability actually makes this card weaker?
pt_z
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Combines with Murderous Redcap and Goblin Sledder for infinite damage.
Dr.Pingas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Flashismyfriend; I believe the word your looking for is Balanced, not Weaker
Why, why, WHY are people asking if she removes counters? Her wording is probably the clearest, simplist wording I've seen on a card with more than five words, in the past 10+ sets. Stop trying to read into it; it does exactly what it says, and nothing else.
That being said, there's a lot of confusion over what other cards say, and how they interact with her. Any card or effect that would -place- a -1/-1 counter doesn't work. Cards like Devoted Druid are now useless, because you simply just can't pay the cost. Treat it the same way you would if the card said "Discard one card: Untap devoted druid", and there was a card out that said "cards cannot be discarded". You simply cannot pay the cost, so the effect never even sees the stack. Contrarywise, if a card would place a counter as part of an effect - ANY EFFECT, the whole ability resolves 100% as normal, just without seeing the -1/-1 counters hit play, the same way any given Destroy effect works with Indestructibe permenants (see Darksteel Reactor + Dismantle). Cards like Everlasting Torment? USELESS. Because Wither still causes the replacement effect that turns damage into -1/-1's. And those -1/-1's never see play. Any abilities that trigger off damage being dealt still trigger, but there is no actual visable effect of the damage itself on creatures.
Arachibutyrophobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
MAN, HOW COULD SHE HATE INFECT ANY MORE THAN THAT!
Fairly insane with Woodfall Primus and a sac outlet, don't you think? Degenerate EDH general?
helluin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How does this interact with Everlasting Torment? Is her second ability be considered damage reduction?
Edit: Based on the rulings for Tatterkite, Melira will work great with ET:
Tatterkite's ability: Tatterkite can't have counters placed on it.
Ruling: If Tatterkite is dealt damage by a creature with wither, that damage has no effect. It's not prevented; it just doesn't do anything. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will still trigger.
So based on that, with ET and Melira out, damage to creatures wouldn't be prevented, it just would have no effect.
Aburaishi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card just because of how much I hate infect. I want to build a green deck strictly to put her into it.
Cybrax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Phyrexian unlife + Suntitan + this card is quite a good combo! If your opponents play removal the titans can pull back up either of these since they are 3 or less permanents. Considering playing these will require the other player to play some removal early on the titan is more likely to make it into play.
Tynansdtm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Axelle: It already was with Sigil Captain. But this is cheaper.
Granted, you'll need a Day of Judgement or Infest or just a good ol' Naturalize to get through their side, at least your side won't be blindsided by repeated Black Sun's Zenith type wipes.
BegleOne
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
And....
It's the same body and cost as a Grizzly Bears. You know, "the most efficient creature in the game".
brunsbr103
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
ok, so the combo i like to use with her in my 5 color edh deck is a little weird:
my combo is Melira, Scion, any dragon, and Grazing Kelpie
I originally had it in there as a filler; it became the star of my deck
also double check to make sure if it works 100%, i'm not too sure myself
pedrodyl
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Let's see... -Phyrexian Hydra becomes a 7/7 infect for 5cmc Cho-Manno, Revolutionary -If you play this after Carnifex Demon, your creatures are fine! Just load him up with a Skinrender beforehand -Glistening Oil becomes a reusable phyresis w/ no drawback for you, or a slow and torturous reusable removal for your opponents -Black Sun's Zenith becomes a one sided board sweep -Invincibility combo with this and Phyrexian Unlife on the board -Phyrexian Vatmother and ichor rats now have no drawback -Etched Monstrosity is now a 10/10 for 5cmc w/ no drawback -This completely breaks the persist mechanic, not to mention your opponents will be effed if they are playing infect or wither.
I know a lot of this was already mentioned, but I felt like summing up
Paleopaladin
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(6 votes)
+ Kitchen Finks + some sort of sac engine for infinite life and infinite of whatever the sac engine gives you...
...such as Viscera Seer to tutor up any part of your deck and basically reorder it how you want.
ZirilanoftheClaw
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
in the storyline i dont understand how the phyrexians won and took over mirrodin when this chick ABSOLOUTLY shuts them down.... probly got obliteraitored
She is definitely going in the next Vault Collection... You heard it from me.
froofroo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
her+ plus death shadow, 13/13 for two mana
Zokorad
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Phyrexian Hydra
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ froofroo:
Wrong. Go back and read Death's Shadow again. It says nowhere on the card that it enters the battlefield with or gets -1/-1 counters. Instead, its power and toughness are modified as long as it's on the battlefield. This is called a state-based ability. It just gets -X/-X, where X is your life total.
Now, this works with Hatchlings from Shadowmoor.
JoralG
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I made a decent deckbased around her. Phyrexian Hydra, Glistening oil, green and black sun zeniths, tainted strike, and Asceticism to protect her.
ZestuXIII
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's funny how I read all these comments about her being in the sideboard, and how conditional she is...In Standard. @paleopaladin has stumbled upon the Modern House deck Melira Combo, which uses Kitchen Finks, Viscera Seer, Birthing Pod, Murderous Redcap to gain infinite life, and deal infinite damage. Afraid of losing Melira and ruining the Combo? Sun Titan and Reveillark! Pithing Needle on Seer? Pridemage!
Very fun deck to play, indeed.
RunedServitor
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
It would be so brutal without the final line of rules text. As it stands, it is ridiculous for two mana. Leaves Infect decks with a bunch of useless, overcosted creatures and some Proliferate.
En_Sigma
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Barrenton Medic's ilk: you can't activate their abilities, or you can use them indefinitely. Which is it?
Not enough is made of the fact that she can wrestle a couple grizzly bears to death.
Thrun ain't raisin' no wimps.
tcollins
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Does anyone know how she interacts with persist? Would the creature return to play without a -1/-1 counter or just stay in the graveyard? Either way she can be fantastic in the right deck.
GolemEmperion
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Foolish Mirrans, we will find and crush her yet. She can't do diddly squat to any of the Praetors. Run little Mirran, RUN.
MisterAction
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best thing you can do with her? Aether Flash and any creature with two toughness and persist. It just keeps dying repeatedly and creates an endless loop that ends the game in a draw. Like the old triple-Faceless Butcher prank, and a lot easier to pull off.
I mean, I suppose you could play Murderous Redcap and make an infinite damage loop, but personally, I'd rather make my friends smile (limit one smile per friend; repeated use not recommended).
UncreativeNameMaker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The funny thing is, this is a great addition to an infect deck. Ichor Rats, Phyrexian Vatmother, and especially Phyrexian Hydra all benefit from it. Plus having it yourself helps protect against opponents trying to use it against you, since it's legendary.
Combos with persist, no grief from infect and wither, and combo machine?
orisiti
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Run with Phyrexian unlife, throw in some fateful hour while you're at it.
They will not lose the "infect" granted from unlife, but you can't get poison counters. Your life is now stuck at 0 (or slightly below) meaning fateful hour is in effect, but you are still (moderately) safe.
Sootoo
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I really wish I could make an EDH deck with her as a general, but sadly, I feel like there are just not enough mono green colored/artifact cards which can profit from her, yet...
Best combo I´ve seen so far with her is to use a sac outlet for the Woodfall Primus. Or the Witherscale Wurm also has a great synergy with her... Still 2 or 3 more other ways to combo with her as a general, but I just feel like it´s not enough...
IMO, this is a great card, but I think, perhaps it rather should have been a green/black card, instead of just a monogreen card. This way, it would have been twice as nice.
Though, I´m not 100% sure yet, but I think, I could see her fit very well, as a "second general", in a Savra, Queen of the Golgari EDH deck...
spartanvi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This beezy almost broke MTG for me. Golgari Persist birthing pod decks just got a whole lot more retarded. 5 *sighs* out of 5.
Flavor note: Melira is, of course, an anthropomorphic vaccine. She's a hilarious Take That! to the disgraced Andrew Wakefield. (Wakefield had a very Phyrexia-like sense of ethics, having his children recruit test subjects among their schoolyard friends. He also didn't reveal who was funding his research.) While Wakefield thought it was a protein that was his illusory vaccine-autism link; when that failed, he claimed it was ethylmercury (not methylmercury, which acutally does cause brain damage). What resulted was a strident manufactroversy over whether or not vaccines caused autism. (Again, there's no conceivable way they could.)
I find ironic that in my GB persist/undying deck, the one match where I just could not draw Melira was actually against an infect deck. Quite literally, this deck would have been almost entirely shut down if I had just gotten a Melira out... but no.
Of course, this was the same match that saw him have 3 removal spells for my 3 Dark Confidants game 1, then have no removal spells yet have me only get Hex Parasite and 2 Viscera Seers. Some days are just like that I guess.
As for Melira herself though - well, everyone knows by now that she just adores persist.
Somewhere out there, there's probably something that gives all your creatures shroud/hexproof. But I don't know it. If you can get something like that out also, then you evade everything but boardsweepers and forced sacrifice, but that's another story.
CREATURES FOREVER!
Aquillion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is actually stronger against Wither than against Infect.
Infect creatures lose their infect abilities, but at least they still do normal damage.
Wither creatures do no damage at all, at least to your creatures. They trade their damage for -1/-1 counters, then fail to apply them.
Kaleidostorm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
She seems to combo well with with (INSERT NAME OF CREATURE WITH PERSIST HERE)
melira and devoted druid make an INFINITE MANA COMBO!!!
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@crazydave2132, @noobmag1: No. The -1/-1 counter is a cost. Since you can't put a counter on it, the cost can't be paid.
Travelsonic
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh Melira, and your ability to combo with a persist creature + anything with a dies or ETB trigger to create insanely stupid combos. :D
MostlyLost
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Mistralis How about Asceticism? I had that and Avacyn out at the same time once in EDH. It was glorious.
Back on topic...This card (along with its friend Birthing Pod and its friend-of-a-friend Splinter Twin) make for some mean Modern combo decks. Should be relevant for a looong time.
Jitteryowl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Prevents Poison
Infinite combos
Two drop
4/5
Hussalo
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Makes me proud to be a ginger.
innocentchildren
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How would this work with Everlasting Torment ? Since everything has wither, and damage can't be prevented, how would Melira act with it? Would my creatures not be to take damage since all damage is dealt in the form of -1/-1 counters? that's what I'm thinking.
SystemSCSnake
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Paleopaladin Ashnod's Altar o.o my creyes
MortisAngelus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There's no doubt that this card may create plenty of hawok on the battlefield, no matter if you play her in infect, persist or comboing her with a lot of different artifacts and/or enchantments.
This is the most unethical, bullsh!t combo I've come up with so far (without using a direct sacrifice-deal damage to player(s)-combo), and I really think no one should use this, because all your friends will leave you:
That will give you infinite life, mana and card-draw. In your library you now may have any effect from any color and play them. Some obvious cards are fastbond, giving you infinite land-play, phyrexian unlife (not that it matters), and laboratory maniac (if you somehow wouldn't be able to win with your entire library on the battlefield).
But as I said: this is unethical beyond reason!
Lord_of_phyrexia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@LEP-recon: no, it just prevents you from getting them, if she gets destroyed and they hit you with an infect creature you will die.
Duskfire1120
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone else think this should be errata'ed to not completely hose wither and poison creatures? Or are we okay with that?
Nebulium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@paleopaladin
Holy crap that whole viscera seer persist creature combo gives me an awesome win condition. Bitter Ordeal. Of course it would work with any infinite sacrifice combo and I'm sure there are tons of other ways to exploit this, but the Seer makes it so simple to get to the ordeal if you don't already have it and I love being able to just annihilate my opponents library with one spell. Thank you very much sir.
I'm not sure Phyrexia really won the war. I mean couldn't Thrun go out, regenerating from anything that came his way, go grab a Darksteel Plate, Sword of Light and Shadow, and Sword of Fire and Ice for her, and a Sword of Feast and Famine for himself. He would go after Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger himself (the sword negates Vorinclex's abilities), and then an unkillable Melira would slay the other Praetors. And ya know Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer and Puresteel Palidin would help, along with her keepers (Keepers of Melira). (Her sword would reanimate them if they died, and they couldn't be infected).
j_mindfingerpainter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The only card that enables Skithiryx EDH to win with general damage lol
Comments (130)
the persist creatures, however, are very compatible with melira! as well as black sun's zenith as a one way board sweeper.
(If this combo doesn't work as I think it does, please give me a RTFC comment so I don't waste peoples time)
@garabor: I think you are right! If I assume that Melira operates similarly to tatterkite (for -1/-1 counters), Tatterkite has this ruling:
5/1/2008 A spell or ability whose effect would put a counter on Tatterkite simply doesn't affect it. The spell or ability isn't countered. If it would put counters on any other creatures, it continues to do so.
I misread the ruling, because the important part is "a spell or ability whose EFFECT would put a counter". Also, this ruling supports your statement:
5/1/2008 You can't pay a cost that includes putting a counter on Tatterkite. For example, if Tatterkite is the only creature you control, you can't cast Scarscale Ritual because you can't pay the additional cost.
It's counter-infect without straight-up removing poison counters, like Wizards promised.
I can't really say anything about this card - it's all said on the card, and in present/future comments.
Let's face it: she'll see green sideboard.
She's cheap, she's useful, and she's flavourfully/functionally beautiful.
And she's really funny with Phyrexian Hydra on your side of the board too. Oh and Phyrexian Vatmother too. Seems to me she's almost better off in an infect deck. XD
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/141a&page=4
"This new addition to the list of rules explaining where abilities work says that if an object has an ability that says counters can't be placed on it, that ability functions while the object is entering the battlefield. "Placed" carries double duty, meaning adding counters while an object is on the battlefield and also having an object entering the battlefield with counters."
She doesn't just stop infect, and wither. She also breaks Persist in half, makes modular worthless if you are (for some reason) playing both of them, she also makes Etched Monstrosity one hell of deal.
then I realized
She can be used with infect
some have mentioned specific combos, but let me put it all together
First, shield you from backlash: Ichor Rats and Phyrexian vatmother.
Then, makes Phyrexian Hydra invincible
then makes black sun's zenith a one sided board sweep
then, lets Everlasting Torment make you entire board as untouchable as your hydras
Yes, there is the persist angle, but that's actually a different story. With these as an infect deck, the flavor is hilarious, I call it "Melira's Hypocrasy"
Phyrexian hypocrasy is more accurate, but Melira's has a better ring
Oh, wait.
In all seriousness, she breaks more then a fair few cards (Phyrexain Hydra, Etched Monstrosity and anything with persist). Seriously, she seems to want to be in infect decks, rather then counter them.
this
phyrexian hydra
phyrexian unlife
black sun's zenith
etched monstrosity
HAVE SOME???
♥ ♥ ♥
I'm not a Mirran player...
but her abilities...
Melira's Keeper cant have Counters put on it...
she does, however, not let your creatures -1/-1 counters
d^o^b
Also goes well with the Phyrexian Hydra
>;3
Sure shes vulnerable but shes also a bear (2/2 for 2 cmc, not the creature type) with some of the nastiest screw over deck type X abilities ever.....simply an amazing card and a hot ginger girl..5/5
also, since Etched Monstrosity enters the battlefield with the counters on it, Melira doesn't do anything to it.
121.5. If a spell or ability refers to a counter being “placed” on a permanent, it means putting a counter on that permanent while it’s on the battlefield, or that permanent entering the battlefield with a counter on it.
Somebody get Midnight Banshee on her side, by the way. Those two will do work.
anyway great card, thanks wizards, finally something to stop the wrath of infect/wither that has stopped me using regenerate/indestructible,
time to pump out my old blue green modular/graft artifact deck
Turn 3 darksteel forge should protect Melira for a bit now that its easier than ever to make creatures into artifacts
Then my next question, if that is how it works, is what about proliferate... It would not be "getting" a poison counter, but modifying what I already have...
Just a little clarification on this please. Thanks :-)
Creatures you control can't have -1/-1 counters placed on them." -- you could just call it "Immunity." The phrase "Creatures your opponents control lose infect" needs a keyword too but I can't think of one.
As long as she's on the battlefield, you can neither proliferate any preexisting -1/-1 counters on her controller's creatures, nor any poison counters that player already had. That's because proliferating them is to place one more counter on each of the chosen permanents and/or have that player get one more poison counter. She forbids that.
Effectively, she will turn creatures with infect into normal-damage creatures (incredibly unimpressive for their mana costs) and will make creatures with wither unable to deal visible damage to creatures. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt, lifelink, deathtouch etc. will still see that damage though.
Her third ability will remove infect from any creature that naturally has it, even if it enters the battlefield after Melira.
When interacting with effects that grant infect to a creature, apply them in timestamp order. Last to be created wins.
For example, you could cast Tainted Strike on a creature attacking you. Since your Melira was already onto the battlefield, that creature would actually gain infect and be rendered completely useless, as it would be unable to make you lose life or get poison counters. If its controller could somehow Flicker Melira at instant speed, then the attacking creature would lose infect and deal normal damage, causing life loss.
Now for the Phyrexian Unlife combo:
The rules text of Phyrexian Unlife ---> "You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life.
As long as you have 0 or less life, all damage is dealt to you as though its source had infect."
Technically, Phyrexian Unlife doesn't grant infect to anything. Therefore, Melira's third ability doesn't interact with Phyrexian Unlife.
Melira's first ability will enable you to stay unaffected by any kind of damage, from any source, as long as you have less than 0 life when that happens. Fun. Keep in mind that effects that care about damage being dealt will still "see" it, even though you won't lose life or gain poison counters as a result of that damage.
They really should have put rulings for her. Cute art, I have a soft spot for redheads.
5/5
*** you.
-Infect Decks
Her ability that removes infect from opponents' creatures is a continuous one, so even if someone uses tainted strike to give their creature infect, it will immediately be lost again once state based actions are checked (right after the spell resolves). There is no mentioning of an EtB trigger.
Hmm...
Why, why, WHY are people asking if she removes counters? Her wording is probably the clearest, simplist wording I've seen on a card with more than five words, in the past 10+ sets. Stop trying to read into it; it does exactly what it says, and nothing else.
That being said, there's a lot of confusion over what other cards say, and how they interact with her. Any card or effect that would -place- a -1/-1 counter doesn't work.
Cards like Devoted Druid are now useless, because you simply just can't pay the cost. Treat it the same way you would if the card said "Discard one card: Untap devoted druid", and there was a card out that said "cards cannot be discarded". You simply cannot pay the cost, so the effect never even sees the stack.
Contrarywise, if a card would place a counter as part of an effect - ANY EFFECT, the whole ability resolves 100% as normal, just without seeing the -1/-1 counters hit play, the same way any given Destroy effect works with Indestructibe permenants (see Darksteel Reactor + Dismantle). Cards like Everlasting Torment? USELESS. Because Wither still causes the replacement effect that turns damage into -1/-1's. And those -1/-1's never see play. Any abilities that trigger off damage being dealt still trigger, but there is no actual visable effect of the damage itself on creatures.
Edit: Based on the rulings for Tatterkite, Melira will work great with ET:
Tatterkite's ability: Tatterkite can't have counters placed on it.
Ruling: If Tatterkite is dealt damage by a creature with wither, that damage has no effect. It's not prevented; it just doesn't do anything. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will still trigger.
So based on that, with ET and Melira out, damage to creatures wouldn't be prevented, it just would have no effect.
Granted, you'll need a Day of Judgement or Infest or just a good ol' Naturalize to get through their side, at least your side won't be blindsided by repeated Black Sun's Zenith type wipes.
It's the same body and cost as a Grizzly Bears. You know, "the most efficient creature in the game".
My general is Scion of the Ur-Dragon
my combo is Melira, Scion, any dragon, and Grazing Kelpie
I originally had it in there as a filler; it became the star of my deck
also double check to make sure if it works 100%, i'm not too sure myself
-Phyrexian Hydra becomes a 7/7 infect for 5cmc Cho-Manno, Revolutionary
-If you play this after Carnifex Demon, your creatures are fine! Just load him up with a Skinrender beforehand
-Glistening Oil becomes a reusable phyresis w/ no drawback for you, or a slow and torturous reusable removal for your opponents
-Black Sun's Zenith becomes a one sided board sweep
-Invincibility combo with this and Phyrexian Unlife on the board
-Phyrexian Vatmother and ichor rats now have no drawback
-Etched Monstrosity is now a 10/10 for 5cmc w/ no drawback
-This completely breaks the persist mechanic, not to mention your opponents will be effed if they are playing infect or wither.
I know a lot of this was already mentioned, but I felt like summing up
...such as Viscera Seer to tutor up any part of your deck and basically reorder it how you want.
2. Play Phyrexian Unlife AND Everlasting Torment
3. ????
4. PROFIT!!!
Wrong. Go back and read Death's Shadow again. It says nowhere on the card that it enters the battlefield with or gets -1/-1 counters. Instead, its power and toughness are modified as long as it's on the battlefield. This is called a state-based ability. It just gets -X/-X, where X is your life total.
Now, this works with Hatchlings from Shadowmoor.
@paleopaladin has stumbled upon the Modern House deck Melira Combo, which uses Kitchen Finks, Viscera Seer, Birthing Pod, Murderous Redcap to gain infinite life, and deal infinite damage.
Afraid of losing Melira and ruining the Combo? Sun Titan and Reveillark! Pithing Needle on Seer? Pridemage!
Very fun deck to play, indeed.
Thrun ain't raisin' no wimps.
Run little Mirran, RUN.
I mean, I suppose you could play Murderous Redcap and make an infinite damage loop, but personally, I'd rather make my friends smile (limit one smile per friend; repeated use not recommended).
They will not lose the "infect" granted from unlife, but you can't get poison counters. Your life is now stuck at 0 (or slightly below) meaning fateful hour is in effect, but you are still (moderately) safe.
Best combo I´ve seen so far with her is to use a sac outlet for the Woodfall Primus.
Or the Witherscale Wurm also has a great synergy with her... Still 2 or 3 more other ways to combo with her as a general, but I just feel like it´s not enough...
IMO, this is a great card, but I think, perhaps it rather should have been a green/black card, instead of just a monogreen card. This way, it would have been twice as nice.
Though, I´m not 100% sure yet, but I think, I could see her fit very well, as a "second general", in a Savra, Queen of the Golgari EDH deck...
Heck, even just the latter will do.
Seriously, this lady can break so many things.
Still, she and Twilight Shepherd make good friends. Or Unstable Mutation. And she's still a bear, no matter what.
Of course, this was the same match that saw him have 3 removal spells for my 3 Dark Confidants game 1, then have no removal spells yet have me only get Hex Parasite and 2 Viscera Seers. Some days are just like that I guess.
As for Melira herself though - well, everyone knows by now that she just adores persist.
Somewhere out there, there's probably something that gives all your creatures shroud/hexproof. But I don't know it. If you can get something like that out also, then you evade everything but boardsweepers and forced sacrifice, but that's another story.
CREATURES FOREVER!
Infect creatures lose their infect abilities, but at least they still do normal damage.
Wither creatures do no damage at all, at least to your creatures. They trade their damage for -1/-1 counters, then fail to apply them.
Back on topic...This card (along with its friend Birthing Pod and its friend-of-a-friend Splinter Twin) make for some mean Modern combo decks. Should be relevant for a looong time.
Infinite combos
Two drop
4/5
This is the most unethical, bullsh!t combo I've come up with so far (without using a direct sacrifice-deal damage to player(s)-combo), and I really think no one should use this, because all your friends will leave you:
1) Melira, Sylvok Outcast
2) Kitchen Finks
3) Phyrexian Altar
4) Fecundity
That will give you infinite life, mana and card-draw. In your library you now may have any effect from any color and play them. Some obvious cards are fastbond, giving you infinite land-play, phyrexian unlife (not that it matters), and laboratory maniac (if you somehow wouldn't be able to win with your entire library on the battlefield).
But as I said: this is unethical beyond reason!
Holy crap that whole viscera seer persist creature combo gives me an awesome win condition. Bitter Ordeal. Of course it would work with any infinite sacrifice combo and I'm sure there are tons of other ways to exploit this, but the Seer makes it so simple to get to the ordeal if you don't already have it and I love being able to just annihilate my opponents library with one spell. Thank you very much sir.
and that's how you stop trying to combo this.
having problems getting rid of other creatures like platinum emperion? grave pact or death pits of rath