Portal to PhyrexiaHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Gateway to Domination

Portal to Phyrexia has two distinct abilities. The first is an 'enters' triggered ability that forces every opponent to sacrifice three creatures. Because the opponents choose which creatures to sacrifice, it bypasses keywords like Hexproof or Ward. The second is a triggered ability that occurs at the beginning of your upkeep, allowing you to target any creature card in any graveyard—yours or an opponent's—and bring it back to your side as a Phyrexian.

Resolving the Trigger

When Portal to Phyrexia enters the battlefield, the sacrifice trigger is placed on the stack. In a multiplayer game, each opponent chooses three creatures simultaneously, then all chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time. If an opponent controls fewer than three creatures, they simply sacrifice as many as they can. Note that the upkeep trigger requires a target creature card in a graveyard as you put the ability on the stack; if the graveyard is empty, the ability does nothing.

Common Pitfalls

Players often forget that the reanimated creature keeps its original types while gaining the Phyrexian subtype. Additionally, if the Portal is destroyed before your upkeep, you will not get the reanimation trigger. However, the initial sacrifice effect happens regardless of whether the Portal stays on the field once it has triggered. Also, remember that you cannot force an opponent to sacrifice a specific creature; the choice is entirely theirs.

Strategic Timing

While nine mana is a heavy investment, the impact is massive. It is best used when you can cheat it into play early or when the board is cluttered with threats. Since it targets 'any' graveyard, you can strategically use your own discard effects or removal spells to ensure high-value targets are available for your upkeep trigger.

Interaction examples

Securing the Portal

Darksteel Forge

If you control Darksteel Forge, your Portal to Phyrexia gains indestructible. This makes it significantly harder for opponents to remove the artifact, ensuring you get to use its upkeep reanimation ability turn after turn without fear of most artifact removal spells.

Absolute Protection

The Walls of Ba Sing Se

With The Walls of Ba Sing Se on the battlefield, your Portal to Phyrexia is protected from destruction. Since the Wall grants other permanents indestructible, the Portal can safely sit on the board and continue pulling creatures from graveyards while your opponents struggle to clear your board.

Self-Sustaining Value

On its own, if you play Portal to Phyrexia and an opponent sacrifices a powerful creature like a dragon, that creature goes to their graveyard. On your next upkeep, the Portal's second ability triggers. You target that dragon in their graveyard and return it to the battlefield under your control as a Phyrexian Dragon.