Drown in Ichor 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
Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Complete guide
Drown in Ichor is a versatile black sorcery that combines efficient removal with the power of Proliferate. Whether you are shrinking a threat or accelerating your own win condition, this card provides significant utility for just two mana. Understanding the timing of its effects is key to maximizing its potential in your next match.
Shrink and Grow
Drown in Ichor performs two distinct actions in order: first, it applies a -4/-4 debuff to a target creature, and then you Proliferate. To Proliferate, you choose any number of permanents or players that already have counters and add another counter of each kind already there. You can choose to add counters to your own Planeswalkers or Poison counters to your opponents.
Resolving the Spell
When Drown in Ichor resolves, the target creature first loses 4 power and 4 toughness. This happens immediately. Next, you choose which players and permanents get additional counters. It is important to note that you choose these targets during resolution; once you start choosing, no player can cast spells or activate abilities to stop you until the process is finished.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to Proliferate onto cards in a graveyard or exile. You can only choose permanents on the battlefield or players. Additionally, if a permanent has multiple types of counters (like a +1/+1 counter and a Shield counter), you must add one of each kind if you choose that permanent; you cannot pick and choose between them.
When to Play It
Because this is a sorcery, you generally use it during your main phase to remove blockers or build up your own resources. It is exceptionally strong in decks that utilize Infect, Toxic, or Planeswalkers, as the removal spell itself progresses your primary game plan through the Proliferate keyword.
Interaction examples
You cast Drown in Ichor targeting an opponent's 4/4 creature. The creature becomes a 0/0 and is put into the graveyard. Then, you choose to Proliferate, adding a Loyalty counter to a Planeswalker you control.
ReanimateIf your opponent has a powerful creature, you can use Drown in Ichor to reduce its toughness to 0, sending it to the graveyard. On your next turn, or later in the same turn, you can cast Reanimate to bring that specific creature back under your control.
Demonic TutorIn a situation where Drown in Ichor cannot kill a massive creature, you might use Demonic Tutor first to find a different answer. Alternatively, if you have already Proliferated your way to a stable board, Demonic Tutor can find a finishing blow to end the game.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Drown in Ichor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Drown in Ichor
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.