Blowfly Infestation is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Whenever a creature dies, if it had a -1/-1 counter on it, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Complete guide
Blowfly Infestation is a punishing black enchantment that turns the death of a weakened creature into a recurring plague for the rest of the board. By spreading -1/-1 counters every time a marked creature falls, it can quickly dismantle even the most formidable armies. This card is a staple for decks that thrive on attrition and permanent debuffs.
Understanding the Trigger
The ability of Blowfly Infestation triggers whenever a creature dies, provided that creature had at least one -1/-1 counter on it at the time it left the battlefield. It does not matter how many counters the creature had; even a single counter is enough to trigger the effect once. Note that this is a mandatory triggered ability, meaning you must choose a target if one is available.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, a creature with a -1/-1 counter is put into the graveyard from the battlefield. Second, Blowfly Infestation's ability is put onto the stack, and you must choose a target creature. Third, when the ability resolves, you place one -1/-1 counter on that target. If that new target dies because its toughness becomes 0 or less, the cycle can repeat if Blowfly Infestation is still on the battlefield.
Strategic Timing and Risks
Because the ability is mandatory, you should be careful when the board is nearly empty. If your opponent has no creatures and one of your creatures with a -1/-1 counter dies, you must target one of your own remaining creatures. However, you can use this to your advantage by chaining deaths of small tokens to eventually place multiple counters on a single large threat.
Interaction examples
InfestationWhen you cast Infestation, it conjures Blowfly Infestation onto the battlefield. Then, its second ability puts a -1/-1 counter on every creature. If any creature dies due to this counter (like a 1/1 token), Blowfly Infestation will trigger, allowing you to put another -1/-1 counter on a surviving creature.
Black Market ConnectionsYou use Black Market Connections to create a 3/2 Shapeshifter token. If an opponent places a -1/-1 counter on that token and it later dies, Blowfly Infestation triggers. You can then use that trigger to weaken an opponent's creature, helping protect the card advantage you are gaining from your other enchantments.
Phyrexian ArenaInfestation has Wither, meaning it deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters. If Infestation deals damage to a creature and that creature dies, Blowfly Infestation (conjured earlier by Infestation) will see a creature with a -1/-1 counter dying and trigger, letting you spread the rot while Phyrexian Arena keeps your hand full of more threats.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Blowfly Infestation
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
When Blowfly Infestation's ability resolves, it will put a single -1/-1 counter on the targeted creature. It doesn't matter how many -1/-1 counters were on the creature that went to a graveyard as long as it had at least one on it.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
This ability is mandatory. If you're the only player who controls any creatures when this ability triggers, you must target one of them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Blowfly Infestation + Nest of Scarabs
- 1Put a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to one.
- 2The creatue dies as a state-based action due to having zero toughness.
- 3Nest of Scarabs and Blowfly Infestation trigger.
- 4Resolve the Nest of Scarabs trigger, creating a creature token.
- 5Resolve the Blowfly Infestation trigger, putting a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to 1.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Blowfly Infestation + Flourishing Defenses
- 1Put a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to one.
- 2The creatue dies as a state-based action due to having zero toughness.
- 3Flourishing Defenses and Blowfly Infestation trigger.
- 4Resolve the Flourishing Defenses trigger, creating a creature token.
- 5Resolve the Blowfly Infestation trigger, putting a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to 1.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Blowfly Infestation + Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons
- 1Put a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to one.
- 2The creatue dies as a state-based action due to having zero toughness.
- 3Hapatra and Blowfly Infestation trigger.
- 4Resolve the Hapatra trigger, creating a 1/1 Snake creature token.
- 5Resolve the Blowfly Infestation trigger, putting a -1/-1 counter on any creature you control with toughness equal to one.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Carnifex Demon + Nest of Scarabs + Blowfly Infestation + Phyrexian Altar
- 1Acftivate Carnifex Demon by paying
and removing a -1/-1 counter from it, putting a -1/-1 counter on each other creature. - 2Nest of Scarabs triggers for each counter placed this way, creating at least one 1/1 Insect creature token.
- 3If any creatures died as a result of the counters being placed, Blowfly Infestation also triggered once for each death, putting a -1/-1 counter on Carnifex Demon and all remaining counters onto any other creature(s).
- 4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing an Insect, adding .
- 5Repeat.
The Scorpion God + Blowfly Infestation + The Locust God
- 1Activate The Scorpion God by paying
, putting a -1/-1 counter on an X/1 creature. - 2The creature dies as a state-based action due to having zero or less toughness.
- 3Blowfly Infestation and The Scorpion God trigger; target an X/1 creature with Blowfly Infestation's ability.
- 4Resolve The Scorpion God trigger, drawing a card.
- 5The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 6Resolve the Blowfly Infestation trigger, putting a -1/-1 counter onto an X/1 creature.
- 7Repeat from step 2 any number of times.
- 8Once there are no cards in your library, end the loop by targeting a creature with more than 1 toughness with Blowfly Infestation.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Blowfly Infestation.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Blowfly Infestation
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