Pest InfestationHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Pest Infestation allows you to pay two mana for each target you wish to destroy. You choose a value for X, and the spell targets up to that many artifacts and/or enchantments. Regardless of how many targets you successfully destroy, the spell generates twice that X value in 1/1 black and green Pest tokens that provide life when they die.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you choose X and pay the mana cost of {X}{X}{G}. Upon resolution, the spell attempts to destroy the selected targets simultaneously. Even if a target has Indestructible or is otherwise not destroyed, you proceed to the next step. Finally, you create 2X Pest tokens. Crucially, if you chose at least one target and all targets become illegal (such as gaining Hexproof or being sacrificed) before resolution, the entire spell fails and you get no tokens.

Common Mistakes

The most common error is assuming the number of Pests depends on the number of items destroyed. The token count is strictly tied to the value of X chosen when casting. Another mistake is targeting your own items and having an opponent remove them in response; if all targets are gone, the spell fizzles and you lose the tokens entirely. You can, however, choose X as a high number but target zero permanents to simply generate tokens safely.

When to Play It

This card is best utilized in the mid-to-late game when you can afford to set X to 2 or 3. It is exceptionally strong against artifact-heavy decks or enchantment-based prison strategies. Because the tokens gain you life upon death, it is also a great defensive measure against aggressive decks, providing blockers that stabilize your life total.

Interaction examples

Scaling for Value

Farseek

After using Farseek to accelerate your mana, you cast Pest Infestation with X=3, paying {3}{3}{G} (7 mana). You target three artifacts. Even if one artifact is sacrificed by your opponent in response, as long as the other two are legal, you still create six 1/1 Pest tokens.

Mana Efficiency

Nature's Lore

You use Nature's Lore to bring a Forest into play, giving you enough mana to cast Pest Infestation with X=1. You target a single enchantment. Upon resolution, the enchantment is destroyed and you create two 1/1 Pest tokens.

Token Generation Only

Pest

If there are no artifacts or enchantments on the battlefield, you can cast Pest Infestation with X=5 and zero targets. Because no targets were selected, the spell cannot 'fizzle' due to illegal targets. You will simply create ten 1/1 Pest tokens.