Phyrexian OrnithopterHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Deadly Aerial Infiltrator

Phyrexian Ornithopter is a 0/1 artifact creature with two keyword abilities: Flying and Toxic 1. Flying allows it to attack over the heads of ground-based blockers, while Toxic 1 ensures that whenever it deals combat damage to a player, that player also receives one poison counter. Even though it has 0 power by default, the Toxic ability triggers regardless of the amount of damage, provided at least 1 damage is dealt.

Navigating Combat and Poison

Toxic is a static ability that results in a player receiving poison counters as a result of combat damage being dealt. Unlike Infect, Toxic does not change how the creature deals damage; Phyrexian Ornithopter still deals damage in the form of life loss (if its power is increased). The poison counter is added simultaneously with the damage. If this creature's power is 0, it deals no combat damage, and therefore the Toxic 1 ability will not result in any poison counters being placed.

Strategic Deployment

Because Phyrexian Ornithopter only costs one mana, it is an excellent target for equipment or spells that boost power. A common mistake is forgetting that Toxic 1 is a fixed value; even if you increase the creature's power to 5, it will still only give one poison counter unless it has other abilities. You should play this card early to start the clock on your opponent or use it as a low-cost artifact synergy piece.

Interaction examples

Scaling the Skies

Ornithopter of Paradise

You have both Thopters on the battlefield. You tap Ornithopter of Paradise to add one mana of any color, which you use to cast a spell that increases the power of Phyrexian Ornithopter. Because both have Flying, they can attack together. If Phyrexian Ornithopter's power is boosted to 1, and it is not blocked, it deals 1 damage and gives the opponent 1 poison counter thanks to Toxic 1.

Damage vs. Counters

Walking Ballista

If you use Walking Ballista to remove a +1/+1 counter and deal 1 damage to an opponent, that player loses 1 life but gets no poison counters. Toxic only applies to combat damage. However, if you use a spell to move +1/+1 counters from Walking Ballista onto Phyrexian Ornithopter to give it 1 power, the Ornithopter can then attack. When it deals combat damage, the Toxic 1 ability will now successfully apply a poison counter because damage was actually dealt.