Plague MyrHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Functionality

Plague Myr serves two primary roles: a mana producer and an offensive threat. It can tap to add one colorless mana to your pool, helping you cast bigger spells earlier. However, its Infect keyword changes how it deals damage. Instead of lowering a creature's toughness or a player's life total normally, it places -1/-1 counters on creatures and poison counters on players.

Resolving Infect Combat

When Plague Myr deals combat damage to a player, that player receives one poison counter. Per the rules of Poison Counter, a player with ten or more poison counters loses the game regardless of their remaining life total. If Plague Myr is blocked, it places a -1/-1 counter on the blocker. This damage is permanent and does not wear off during the cleanup step, effectively shrinking the opponent's creatures forever.

Strategic Timing

In the early game, you should prioritize using Plague Myr for its mana ability to develop your board state. Because it is an artifact, it benefits from cost reducers. In the late game, once you have established your mana base, you can switch to using it as an attacker to chip away at an opponent's poison count or to weaken their defensive blockers.

Common Misconceptions

A common mistake is thinking Plague Myr deals both regular damage and poison damage. It does not; Infect replaces the results of damage. Another error is forgetting that -1/-1 counters remain on creatures even if Plague Myr leaves the battlefield. Lastly, remember that while it produces colorless mana, it cannot be used to pay for specific colored mana requirements unless an effect allows it.

Interaction examples

Accelerating the Machine

Foundry Inspector

With Foundry Inspector on the battlefield, the cost to cast Plague Myr is reduced by {1}, allowing you to deploy it for just {1} mana. Once Plague Myr loses summoning sickness, you can tap it for mana to cast even more discounted artifacts, rapidly filling your board.

The Poison Clock

Poison Counter

If Plague Myr attacks an opponent directly and is not blocked, it deals 1 damage in the form of a Poison Counter. Even if the opponent has 100 life, you only need to successfully connect nine more times with Plague Myr to win the game.

Mana Comparison

Ornithopter of Paradise

While Ornithopter of Paradise provides mana of any color and has Flying for evasion, it lacks the offensive pressure of Infect. If your deck requires specific colors, the Thopter is better; if your deck aims to win via poison or needs to permanently weaken blockers, Plague Myr is the superior choice for your {2} mana slot.