New Phyrexia is the third set in the Scars of Mirrodin block and is the fifty-sixth Magic expansion. It will be released on May 13, 2011. The entire set was suprisingly spoiled on April 19, 2011 almost a month before it will be released.
Set Details
New Phyrexia concludes the story that began in Scars of Mirrodin, with the Phyrexians defeating the Mirrans and taking control of the plane of Mirrodin. Cards are again watermarked with either factions symbol, but the ratio is significantly favoring Phyrexia. This showcases the progress of the Phyrexian invasion and is a reversal from the ratio as it was seen in Scars of Mirrodin. In a similar fashion, the Phyrexian keyword mechanics of Infect and Proliferate spread into colors that did not get cards with these mechanics before.
Just like Mirrodin Besieged before it, New Phyrexia features a cycle of Basic Lands, used to showcase the transformation of Mirrodin's landscape during the Phyrexian take-over in the artwork.
Originally, Wizards of the Coast announced that the set would be called either Mirrodin Pure or New Phyrexia, as they did not wish to reveal which of the factions would win. On March 29, 2011, it was announced that the new set would in fact be called New Phyrexia.
The promotional card given to participants at the Prerelease tournaments will be Sheoldred, Whispering One, one of the five powerful Phyrexian praetors.
Marketing cards
Boosters of New phyrexia come with a bonus sixteenth card that is either a "tips & tricks card" or a creature token from New Phyrexia or a poison counter token. One face of the New Phyrexia bonus card has one of five different rules tips or is one of 4 different creature tokens or a poison counter token. The other face has one of 14 advertisements for organized play programs.
Tokens
The New Phyrexia tokens in numerical order are:
- 3/3 Beast.
- 1/1 Goblin, similar to the token from Scars of Mirrodin, but with phyrexianized art to show the compleation of the plane.
- 3/3 Golem Artifact, similar to the token from Scars of Mirrodin, but with phyrexianized art to show the compleation of the plane.
- 1/1 Myr Artifact, similar to the token from Scars of Mirrodin, but with phyrexianized art to show the compleation of the plane.
Mechanics
New Phyrexia introduces five new mana symbols: A phyrexian symbol on a colored background which can be paid with either 2 life or a colored mana of the background color of the symbol. This mechanic also heralds the return of colored artifacts, previously seen in Future Sight and the Esper shard from Alara block.
The keyword mechanics Infect, Proliferate, Living weapon, Metalcraft and Imprint return while Karn gets a Planeswalker card which is at the same time the first colorless planeswalker card and also has up to that point the largest amount of loyalty counters added by a planeswalker's first ability with +4, and the most costly ultimate ability at -14 loyalty counters.
The set has a small subtheme of splicers, 1/1 creatures that put a certain number of 3/3 Golem artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield and grant abilities to them. Another subtheme is the phrase "1 life", which appears on 10 different cards, with most forcing the opponent to lose 1 life in addition to destroying a permanent.
Cycles
New Phyrexia has six Cycles:
- Praetors: Five mythic rare legendary creatures, one per color, representing the Phyrexian's rulers and a different philosophy among the Phyrexian army what exactly New Phyrexia should look like. They give a positive effect to the player controlling them, and an inverse effect to his or her opponents — Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, Sheoldred, the Whispering One, Urabrask the Hidden, and Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
- Chancellors: Five rare creatures, who can be revealed at the start of the game for a small effect to get an early advantage. — Chancellor of the Annex, Chancellor of the Spires, Chancellor of the Dross, Chancellor of the Furnace and Chancellor of the Tangle.
- Exarchs: Five uncommon Cleric creatures that let you chose to either exercise a positive affect on yourself or a permanent you control, or the inverse effect on the opponent or one of his or her creatures. — Inquisitor Exarch, Deceiver Exarch, Entomber Exarch, Tormentor Exarch, and Brutalizer Exarch.
- Phyrexian Mana Instants: Each of these instants costs one Phyrexian mana of the appropriate color, allowing them to be cast for free. They are uncommon, with the exception of the rare Surgical Extraction — Marrow Shards, Mental Misstep, Surgical Extraction, Gut Shot and Noxious Revival.
- Shrines: Each of these artifacts gains a charge counter at the beginning of it's controllers upkeep, and whenever they cast a spell of a specified colour, and can be sacrificed for an effect that scales with the number of charge counters — Shrine of Loyal Legions, Shrine of Piercing Vision, Shrine of Limitless Power, Shrine of Burning Rage, and Shrine of Boundless Growth.
- Souleaters: Five common artifact creatures with activated abilities that cost a single phyrexian mana of a specified color. — Blinding Souleater, Pestilent Souleater, Trespassing Souleater, Immolating Souleater, and Insatiable Souleater.
- Signature Spells: there is one signature for each color with different rarities, Norn's Annex, Tezzeret's Gambit, Geth's Verdict, Priest's of Urabrask and Glissa's Scorn.
Notable Cards
- Phyrexian Obliterator: An homage of the Suicide Black staple Phyrexian Negator that is on the Reserved List. Both have similar names as Obliterator and Negator are close to being synonyms as well as having identical combat stats (5/5 trampler). However, the new card reverses Negator's drawback for a higher and more color-intensive mana cost.
- Sword of War and Peace: this completes the set of enemy color swords, from Sword of Fire and Ice, Sword of Light and Shadow, Sword of Body and Mind and Sword of Feast and Famine.
Reprints
- Enslave was last seen in Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana.
- Evil Presence was last seen in Fifth Edition.
- Phyrexian Hulk was last seen in Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. The Coalition. It's rarity has been changed from uncommon to common.
Planeswalker - Karn (M)
+4: Target player exiles a card from his or her hand.
-3: Exile target permanent.
-14: Restart the game, leaving in exile all non-Aura permanent cards exiled with Karn Liberated. Then put those cards onto the battlefield under your control.
[6]
White (25/25)
Apostle's Blessing Instant (C)
Target artifact or creature you control gains protection from artifacts or from the color of your choice until end of turn.
Auriok Survivors
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
When Auriok Survivors enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield. If you do, you may attach it to Auriok Survivors.
4/6
Blade Splicer
Creature - Human Artificer (R)
When Blade Splicer enters the battlefield, put a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
Golem creatures you control have first strike.
1/1
Cathedral Membrane
Artifact Creature - Wall (U)
Defender
When Cathedral Membrane is put into a graveyard from the battlefield during combat, it deals 6 damage to each creature it blocked this combat.
0/3
Chancellor of the Annex
Creature - Angel (R)
You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, when each opponent casts his or her first spell of the game, counter that spell unless that player pays .
Flying
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, counter it unless that player pays .
5/6
Dispatch
Instant (U)
Tap target creature.
Metalcraft - If you control three or more artifacts, exile that creature.
Due Respect
Instant (U)
Permanents enter the battlefield tapped this turn.
Draw a card.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Legendary Creature - Praetor (M)
Vigilance
Other creatures you control get +2/+2.
Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
4/7
Exclusion Ritual
Enchantment (U)
Imprint - When Exclusion Ritual enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent.
Players can't cast spells with the same name as the exiled card.
Forced Worship
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't attack.
: Return Forced Worship to its owner's hand.
Inquisitor Exarch
Creature - Cleric (U)
When Inquisitor Exarch enters the battlefield, choose one - You gain 2 life; or target opponent loses 2 life.
2/2
Lost Leonin
Creature - Cat Soldier (C)
Infect
2/1
Loxodon Convert
Creature - Elephant Soldier (C)
4/2
Marrow Shards
Instant (U)
Marrow Shards deals 1 damage to each attacking creature.
Master Splicer
Creature - Human Artificer (U)
When Master Splicer enters the battlefield, put a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
Golem creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/1
Norn's Annex
Artifact (R)
Creatures can't attack you or a planeswalker you control unless their controller pays for each of those creatures.
Phyrexian Unlife
Enchantment (R)You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life.
As long as you have 0 or less life, all damage is dealt to you as though its source had infect. (Damage is dealt to you in the form of poison counters.)
Porcelain Legionnaire
Artifact Creature - Soldier (C)
First strike
3/1
Puresteel Paladin
Creature - Human Knight (R)
Whenever an Equipment enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card.
Metalcraft - Equipment you control have equip as long as you control three or more artifacts.
2/2
Remember the Fallen
Sorcery (C)
Choose one or both - Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand; and/or return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
Sensor Splicer
Creature - Artificer (C)
When Sensor Splicer enters the battlefield, put a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
Golem creatures you control have vigilance.
1/1
Shattered Angel
Creature - Angel (U)
Flying
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, you may gain 3 life.
3/3
Shriek Raptor
Creature - Bird (C)
Flying
Infect
2/3
Suture Priest
Creature - Cleric (C)
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may gain 1 life.
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, you may have that player lose 1 life.
1/1
War Report
Instant (C)
You gain life equal to the number of creatures on the battlefield plus the number of artifacts on the battlefield.
Blue (25/25)
Argent Mutation Instant (U)
Target permanent becomes an artifact in addition to its other types until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Arm with Aether
Sorcery (U)
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain "Whenever this creatures deals damage to an opponent, you may return target creature that player controls to its owner's hand."
Blighted Agent
Creature - Human Rogue (C)
Infect
Blighted Agent is unblockable.
1/1
Chained Throatseeker
Creature - Horror (C)
Infect
Chained Throatseeker can't attack unless defending player is poisoned.
5/5
Chancellor of the Spires
Creature - Sphinx (R)
You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, at the beginning of the first upkeep, each opponent puts the top seven cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Flying
When Chancellor of the Spires enters the battlefield, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from an opponent's graveyard without paying its mana cost.
5/7
Corrupted Resolve
Instant (U)
Counter target spell if its controller is poisoned.
Deceiver Exarch
Creature - Cleric (U)
Flash
When Deceiver Exarch enters the battlefield, choose one - Untap target permanent you control; or tap target permanent an opponent controls.
1/4
Defensive Stance
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -1/+1.
Gitaxian Probe
Sorcery (C)
Look at target player's hand.
Draw a card.
Impaler Shrike
Creature - Bird (C)
Flying
When Impaler Shrike deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. If you do, draw three cards.
3/1
Jin-Gitaxias
Legendary Creature - Praetor (M)
Flash
At the beginning of your end step, draw seven cards.
Each opponent's maximum hand size is reduced by seven.
5/4
Mental Misstep
Instant (U)
Counter target spell with converted mana cost 1.
Mindculling
Sorcery (U)
You draw two cards and target opponent discards two cards.
Numbing Dose
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant artifact or creature
Enchanted permanent doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted permanent's controller, that player loses 1 life.
Phyrexian Ingester
Creature - Beast (R)
Imprint - When Phyrexian Ingester enters the battlefield, you may exile target nontoken creature.
Phyrexian Ingester gets +X/+Y, where X is the exiled creature card's power and Y is its toughness.
3/3
Phyrexian Metamorph {ph}
Artifact Creature - Shapeshifter (R)
You may have Phyrexian Metamorph enter the battlefield as a copy of any artifact or creature on the battlefield, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.
0/0
Psychic Barrier
Instant (C)
Counter target creature spell. Its controller loses 1 life.
Psychic Surgery
Enchantment (R)
Whenever an opponent shuffles his or her library, you may look at the top two cards of that library. You may exile one of those cards. Then put the rest on top of that library in any order.
Spined Thopter
Artifact Creature - Thopter (C)
Flying
2/1
Spire Monitor
Creature - Drake (C)
Flash
Flying
3/3
Tezzeret's Gambit
Sorcery (U)
Draw two cards, then proliferate.
Vapor Snag
Instant (C)
Return target creature to its owner's hand. Its controller loses 1 life.
Viral Drake
Creature - Drake (U)
Flying
Infect
: Proliferate.
1/4
Wing Splicer
Creature - Human Artificer (U)
When Wing Splicer enters the battlefield, put a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
Golem creatures you control have flying.
1/1
Xenograft
Enchantment (R)
As Xenograft enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Each creature you control is the chosen type in addition to its other types.
Black (26/26)
Blind Zealot Creature - Human Cleric (C)
Intimidate
Whenever Blind Zealot deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. If you do, destroy target creature that player controls.
2/2
Caress of Phyrexia
Sorcery (U)
Target player draws three cards, loses 3 life, and gets 3 poison counters.
Chancellor of the Dross
Creature - Vampire (R)
You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, at the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses 3 life, then you gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Flying, lifelink
6/6
Dementia Bat
Creature - Bat (C)
Flying
, Sacrifice Dementia Bat: Target player discards two cards.
2/2
Despise
Sorcery (U)
Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a creature or planeswalker card from it. That player discards that card.
Dismember
Instant (U)
Target creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn.
Enslave
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
You control enchanted creature.
At the beginning of your upkeep, enchanted creature deals 1 damage to its owner.
Entomber Exarch
Creature - Cleric (U)
When Entomber Exarch enters the battlefield, choose one - Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand; or target opponent reveals his or her hand, you choose a noncreature card from it, then that player discards that card.
2/2
Evil Presence
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant land
Enchanted land is a Swamp.
Geth's Verdict
Instant (C)
Target player sacrifices a creature and loses 1 life.
Glistening Oil
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has infect.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
When Glistening Oil is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return Glistening Oil to its owner's hand.
Grim Affliction
Instant (C)
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, then proliferate.
Ichor Explosion
Sorcery (U)
As an additional cost to cast Ichor Explosion, sacrifice a creature.
All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the sacrificed creature's power.
Life's Finale
Sorcery (R)
Destroy all creatures, then search target opponent's library for up to three creature cards and put them into his or her graveyard. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
Mortis Dogs
Creature - Hound (C)
Whenever Mortis Dogs attacks, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
When Mortis Dogs is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, target player loses life equal to its power.
2/2
Parasitic Implant
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
At the beginning of your upkeep, enchanted creature's controller sacrifices it and you put a 1/1 colorless Myr artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
Phyrexian Obliterator
Creature - Horror (M)
Trample
Whenever a source deals damage to Phyrexian Obliterator, that source's controller sacrifices that many permanents.
5/5
Pith Driller
Artifact Creature - Horror (C)
When Pith Driller enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
2/4
Postmortem Lunge
Sorcery (U)
Return target creature card with converted mana cost X from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step.
Praetor's Grasp
Sorcery (R)
Search target opponent's library for a card and exile it face down. Then that player shuffles his or her library. You may look at and play that card for as long as it remains exiled.
Reaper of Sheoldred
Creature - Horror (U)
Infect
Whenever a source deals damage to Reaper of Sheoldred, that source's controller gets a poison counter.
2/5
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Legendary Creature - Praetor (M)Swampwalk
At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.
6/6
Surgical Extraction {p
Instant (R)
Choose target card in a graveyard other than a basic land card. Search its owner's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
Toxic Nim
Creature - Zombie (C)Infect
: Regenerate Toxic Nim.
4/1
Vault Skirge
Artifact Creature - Imp (C)
Flying
Lifelink
1/1
Whispering Specter
Creature - Specter (U)
Flying
Infect
Whenever Whispering Specter deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. If you do, that player discards a card for each poison counter he or she has.
1/1
Red (25/25)
Act of Aggression Instant (U)
Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
Artillerize
Instant (C)
As an additional cost to cast Artillerize, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Artillerize deals 5 damage to target creature or player.
Bludgeon Brawl
Enchantment (R)
Each noncreature, non-Equipment artifact is an Equipment with equip :Xmana: and "Equipped creature gets +X/+0," where X is that artifact's converted mana cost.
Chancellor of the Forge
Creature - Giant (R)
You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, at the beginning of the first upkeep, put a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste onto the battlefield.When Chancellor of the Forge enters the battlefield, put X 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens with haste onto the battlefield, where X is the number of creatures you control.
5/5
Fallen Ferromancer
Creature - Human Shaman (U)
Infect
, :: Fallen Ferromancer deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
1/1
Flameborn Viron
Creature - Insect (C)
6/4
Furnace Scamp
Creature - Beast (C)
Whenever Furnace Scamp deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. If you do, Furnace Scamp deals 3 damage to that player.
1/1
Geosurge
Sorcery (U)
Add to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifact or creature spells.
Gut Shot
Instant (U)
Gut Shot deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Invader Parasite
Creature - Insect (R)
Imprint - When Invader Parasite enters the battlefield, exile target land.
Whenever a land with the same name as the exiled card enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, Invader Parasite deals 2 damage to that player.
3/2
Moltensteel Dragon
Artifact Creature - Dragon (R)
Flying
: Moltensteel Dragon gets +1/+0 until end of turn.4/4
Ogre Menial
Creature - Ogre (C)
Infect
: Ogre Menial gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
0/4
Priest of Urabrask
Creature - Human Cleric (U)
When Priest of Urabrask enters the battlefield, add to your mana pool.
2/1
Rage Extractor
Artifact (U)
Whenever you cast a spell with ϕ in its mana cost, Rage Extractor deals damage equal to that spell's converted mana cost to target creature or player.
Razor Swine
Creature - Boar (C)
First strike
Infect
2/1
Ruthless Invasion
Sorcery (C)
Nonartifact creatures can't block this turn.
Scrapyard Salvo
Sorcery (C)
Scrapyard Salvo deals damage to target player equal to the number of artifact cards in your graveyard.
Slag Fiend
Creature - Construct (R)
Slag Fiend's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifact cards in all graveyards.
*/*
Slash Panther
Artifact Creature - Cat (C)
Haste
4/2
Tormentor Exarch
Creature - Cleric (U)
When Tormentor Exarch enters the battlefield, choose one - Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn; or target creature gets -0/-2 until end of turn.
2/2
Urabrask the Hidden
Legendary Creature - Praetor (M)
Creatures you control have haste.
Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
4/4
Victorious Destruction
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target artifact or land. Its controller loses 1 life.
Volt Charge
Instant (C)
Volt Charge deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Proliferate.
Vulshok Refugee
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
Protection from red
3/2
Whipflare
Instant (U)
Whipflare deals 2 damage to each nonartifact creature.
Green (25/25)
Beast Within Instant {U}
Destroy target permanent. Its controller puts a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
Birthing Pod
Artifact {R}
( can be paid with either or 2 life)
, T, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature card with converted mana cost equal to 1 plus the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Brutalizer Exarch
Creature - Cleric {U}
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose one -- Search your library for a creature card, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it; or put target non-creature permanent on the bottom of its owner's library
3/3
Chancellor of the Tangle
Creature - Beast {R}
You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, at the beginning of your first main phase, add to your mana pool.
Vigilance, Reach
6/7
Corrosive Gale
Sorcery {U}
( can be paid with either or 2 life)
~ deals X damage to each creature with flying.
Death-Hood Cobra
Creature - Snake {C}
: ~ gains reach until end of turn.
: ~ gains deathtouch until end of turn.
1/1