Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm 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
Deathtouch Whenever Grist or another creature you control enters, if it entered from your graveyard or you cast it from your graveyard, you may pay. If you do, exile Grist, then return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. +1: Create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token, then mill two cards. Put a deathtouch counter on the token if a black card was milled this way. −2: Destroy target artifact or enchantment. −6: For each creature card in your graveyard, create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a 1/1 black and green Insect.
Complete guide
Meet Grist, Voracious Larva, a tiny legendary insect with the potential to transform into a devastating plague. This double-faced card rewards you for scavenging the graveyard and can quickly overwhelm the board with a swarm of insect copies.
Metamorphosis from the Grave
Grist, Voracious Larva starts as a 1/2 creature with Deathtouch. Its primary ability triggers whenever it or another creature you control enters the battlefield, provided that creature came directly from your graveyard or was cast from it. By paying a single green mana during this trigger, you exile Grist and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm, a Planeswalker starting with 3 loyalty.
Navigating the Plague Swarm
Once transformed, Grist offers three powerful loyalty abilities. The +1 ability creates an Insect token and mills cards, potentially giving the token Deathtouch. The -2 ability provides targeted removal for artifacts and enchantments. Its ultimate -6 ability is a game-ender, creating 1/1 Insect copies of every creature card in your graveyard, retaining all their original abilities and enter-the-battlefield effects.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is forgetting that Grist must be on the battlefield for its transformation trigger to work. If Grist is destroyed in response to the trigger, it cannot be exiled from the graveyard to transform. Additionally, if you use an external effect to 'transform' the front face without exiling and returning it, Grist will enter with zero loyalty counters and be put into the graveyard immediately.
When to Play Grist
Grist is most effective in decks that utilize self-mill or reanimation strategies. Early in the game, it serves as a cheap deathtouch blocker. In the mid-to-late game, you should time its transformation for a turn where you can immediately use its loyalty abilities, ideally after filling your graveyard to maximize the impact of its ultimate ability.
Interaction examples
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm
Llanowar ElvesIf you cast Llanowar Elves from your hand, Grist's ability does not trigger. However, if you use a spell to return Llanowar Elves from your graveyard to the battlefield, Grist's ability triggers. You may then pay one green mana to exile Grist and return it as the Planeswalker, Grist, the Plague Swarm.
Birds of ParadiseWhen you activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's -6 ability while Birds of Paradise is in your graveyard, you create a 1/1 black and green Insect token. This token has Flying and the ability to tap for any color of mana, just like the original bird, but it is now an Insect in addition to its other traits.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
In some rare cases, a spell or ability may cause Grist, Voracious Larva to transform while it's a creature (front face up) on the battlefield. If this happens, Grist, the Plague Swarm won't have any loyalty counters on it and will subsequently be put into its owner's graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You can activate one of Grist, the Plague Swarm's loyalty abilities the turn it enters the battlefield. However, you may do so only during one of your main phases when the stack is empty. For example, if Grist, the Plague Swarm enters the battlefield during combat, there will be an opportunity for your opponent to remove it before you can activate one of its abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If Grist, Voracious Larva leaves the battlefield while its triggered ability is on the stack, you can't exile it from the zone it's put into, so you won't return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Except for the listed exceptions, the tokens created by Grist, the Plague Swarm's last ability copy exactly what was printed on the original cards and nothing else. They don't copy any information about the objects those cards were before they were put into your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The tokens are Insects instead of their other creature types, and they're black and green instead of their other colors. These are copiable values of the tokens that other effects may copy.
Card named in this ruling
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If any of the copied cards have
in their mana costs, is 0.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If a card copied by one of the tokens had any "when [this creature] enters the battlefield" abilities, the appropriate token also has those abilities and will trigger them when it's created. Similarly, any "as [this creature] enters the battlefield" or "[this creature] enters the battlefield with" abilities that a token has copied will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Each face of a transforming double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a transforming double-faced permanent is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Each transforming double-faced card in this set is cast with its front face up. In every zone other than the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. If it is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's up; the other face's characteristics are ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a transforming double-faced card is the mana value of its front face, no matter which face is up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
The back face of a transforming double-faced card usually has a color indicator that defines its color. Colorless back faces, such as lands, do not.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
In the Commander variant, a double-faced card's color identity is determined by the mana costs and mana symbols in the rules text of both faces combined. If either face has a color indicator or basic land type, those are also considered. For example, Ral, Monsoon Mage's color identity is blue and red, since its front face is red and its back face has a blue and red color indicator.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
A transforming double-faced card enters the battlefield with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed or allows you to cast it transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
If you are instructed to put a card that isn't a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, it will not enter the battlefield at all. In that case, it stays in the zone it was previously in. For example, if a single-faced card is a copy of Ral, Monsoon Mage, choosing to exile that permanent during the resolution of its triggered ability will cause it to remain in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider + Body Launderer + Phyrexian Altar
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Body Launderer, adding .
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Vorinclex.
- 4Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 5Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 6Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating a token copy of each creature card in your graveyard that is a 1/1 Insect.
- 7When the Grist, Voracious Larva token enters the battlefield, it triggers for each token created this way. Choose not to pay for any of the triggers.
- 8Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Grist, Voracious Larva token, adding one mana of any color.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Doubling Season + Body Launderer + Phyrexian Altar
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Body Launderer, adding .
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Doubling Season.
- 4Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 5Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 6Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating two token copies of each creature card in your graveyard that is a 1/1 Insect.
- 7Put all but one Grist, Voracious Larva token into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
- 8When the Grist, Voracious Larva tokens enters the battlefield, they each trigger for each token created this way. Choose not to pay for any of the triggers.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider + Body Launderer + Hidden Herbalists
- 1Activate Carrion Feeder by sacrificing Body Launderer.
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Vorinclex.
- 4Resolve the Carrion Feeder ability, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 5Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 6Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 7Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating a token copy of each creature card in your graveyard that is a 1/1 Insect.
- 8When the Grist, Voracious Larva and Hidden Herbalist tokens enter the battlefield, the Hidden Herbalist token triggers once and the Grist, Voracious Larva token triggers for each token created this way.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider + Body Launderer + Hidden Herbalists
- 1Activate Viscera Seer by sacrificing Body Launderer.
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Vorinclex.
- 4Resolve the Viscera Seer ability, causing you to scry 1.
- 5Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 6Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 7Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating a token copy of each creature card in your graveyard that is a 1/1 Insect.
- 8When the Grist, Voracious Larva and Hidden Herbalist tokens enter the battlefield, the Hidden Herbalist token triggers once and the Grist, Voracious Larva token triggers for each token created this way.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Hidden Herbalists + Doubling Season + Body Launderer
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Body Launderer, adding
. - 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Doubling Season.
- 4Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 5Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 6Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating two token copies of each creature card in your graveyard that are 1/1 Insects.
- 7Put all but one of the Grist, Voracious Larva tokens into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
- 8When the Grist, Voracious Larva and Hidden Herbalist tokens enter the battlefield, each Hidden Herbalist token triggers once and each Grist, Voracious Larva token triggers for each token created this way.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Hidden Herbalists + Doubling Season + Body Launderer
- 1Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Body Launderer.
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Doubling Season.
- 4Resolve the Altar of Dementia ability, causing target player to mill cards equal to Body Launderer's power.
- 5Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 6Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 7Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating two token copies of each creature card in your graveyard that are 1/1 Insects.
- 8Put all but one of the Grist, Voracious Larva tokens into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Hidden Herbalists + Doubling Season + Body Launderer
- 1Activate Carrion Feeder by sacrificing Body Launderer.
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Doubling Season.
- 4Resolve the Carrion Feeder ability, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 5Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 6Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 7Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating two token copies of each creature card in your graveyard that are 1/1 Insects.
- 8Put all but one of the Grist, Voracious Larva tokens into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm + Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider + Body Launderer + Hidden Herbalists
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Body Launderer, adding .
- 2When Body Launderer dies, its second ability triggers, returning Grist, Voracious Larva from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 3When Grist, Voracious Larva enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to pay to exile it and return it to the battlefield as Grist, the Plague Swarm with six loyalty counters due to Vorinclex.
- 4Activate Grist, the Plague Swarm's third loyalty ability by removing six loyalty counters from it.
- 5Grist, the Plague Swarm is put into your graveyard as a state-based action due to having zero loyalty.
- 6Resolve the Grist, the Plague Swarm ability, creating a token copy of each creature card in your graveyard that is a 1/1 Insect.
- 7When the Grist, Voracious Larva and Hidden Herbalist tokens enter the battlefield, the Hidden Herbalist token triggers once and the Grist, Voracious Larva token triggers for each token created this way.
- 8Resolve all Grist, Voracious Larva triggers, choosing not to pay.
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