Nezumi Shadow-Watcher

Nezumi Shadow-Watcher (Betrayers of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice this creature: Destroy target Ninja.

"The Okiba Gang! Night-cursed thieves and assassins! I've had enough of their meddling! Triple the guard!" —Marrow-Gnawer

Rocket Launcher (Revised Edition)
Pete Venters

{2}: Rocket Launcher deals 1 damage to any target. Destroy Rocket Launcher at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only if you've controlled Rocket Launcher continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

What these devices lacked in subtlety, they made up in strength.

Dusk Imp (Duels of the Planeswalkers)
Pete Venters

Flying

Imps are just intelligent enough to have an understanding of cruelty.

Wrench Mind (Iconic Masters)
Pete Venters

Target player discards two cards unless they discard an artifact card.

What is the sound of one head snapping?

Circle of Protection: Artifacts (Fourth Edition)
Pete Venters

{2}: The next time an artifact source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Cabal Trainee (Judgment)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice this creature: Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn.

"Ah, a faceshredder. Very rare. Nearly unstoppable. Good luck!" —Cabal instructor

Spark Spray (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

Spark Spray deals 1 damage to any target. Cycling {R} ({R}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

"You see this rock-grinder? One step closer and it'll be a face-grinder!"

Ogre Enforcer (Visions)
Pete Venters

This creature can't be destroyed by lethal damage unless lethal damage dealt by a single source is marked on it.

"Ate up all of his siblings in the first week. A good beginning for one destined to command." —Suka, ogre matron

Pardic Collaborator (The List)
Pete Venters

First strike {B}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"We've been taught that strength is everything. So how can an alliance with the strongest be a betrayal?"

Castle Sengir (Homelands)
Pete Venters

{T}: Add {C}. {1}, {T}: Add {B}. {2}, {T}: Add {U} or {R}.

Where hope has no champion, evil rules all.

Aura Mutation (Invasion)
Pete Venters

Destroy target enchantment. Create X 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens, where X is that enchantment's mana value.

"Life can be found in all things, even things unnatural." —Multani, maro-sorcerer

Llanowar Druid (Weatherlight)
Pete Venters

{T}, Sacrifice this creature: Untap all Forests.

"This forest means more to the druids than their own kin. The loss of a tree is like the loss of a child." —Mirri of the *Weatherlight*

Plummet (Magic 2012)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Righteous Aura (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

{W}, Pay 2 life: The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

"There is a great difference between pain and injury." —Cho-Manno

Kathari Screecher (Shards of Alara)
Pete Venters

Flying Unearth {2}{U} ({2}{U}: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

Iron Star (Seventh Edition)
Pete Venters

Whenever a player casts a red spell, you may pay {1}. If you do, you gain 1 life.

Forged by a thousand flames.

Storm Spirit (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

Flying {T}: This creature deals 2 damage to target creature.

"Come to us, with your lightning. Come to us, with your thunder. Serve us with your strength, and smite our foes with your power." —Steinar Icefist, Balduvian Shaman

Sengir, the Dark Baron (Commander Legends)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever another creature dies, put two +1/+1 counters on Sengir. Whenever another player loses the game, you gain life equal to that player's life total as the turn began. Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)

Goblin Surveyor (Aetherdrift)
Pete Venters

Trample Start your engines! (If you have no speed, it starts at 1. It increases once on each of your turns when an opponent loses life. Max speed is 4.) Max speed — {3}, Exile this card from your graveyard: Draw a card.

Pestilence (Battle Royale Box Set)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of the end step, if no creatures are on the battlefield, sacrifice this enchantment. {B}: This enchantment deals 1 damage to each creature and each player.

Tremor (Starter 1999)
Pete Venters

Tremor deals 1 damage to each creature without flying.

One little goblin shook up the ground. When the dust cleared, no one was found.

Lhurgoyf (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the Lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Feast or Famine (Alliances)
Pete Venters

Choose one — • Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. • Destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.

"We are not yet free of Lim-Dûl's terrors." —Halvor Arensson, Kjeldoran Priest

Moggcatcher (The List)
Pete Venters

{3}, {T}: Search your library for a Goblin permanent card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

"They're not worth much, but they're easy to catch."

Sunbillow Verge (Aetherdrift)
Pete Venters

{T}: Add {W}. {T}: Add {R}. Activate only if you control a Mountain or a Plains.

"Loot is free to go where he wants, so let's make sure the kid gets there in one piece." —Chandra Nalaar

Orcish Cannonade (Conspiracy)
Pete Venters

Orcish Cannonade deals 2 damage to any target and 3 damage to you. Draw a card.

"Crispy! Scarback! Load another volcano-ball." —Stumphobbler Thuj, orcish captain

Crovax, Ascendant Hero (Planar Chaos)
Pete Venters

Other white creatures get +1/+1. Nonwhite creatures get -1/-1. Pay 2 life: Return Crovax to its owner's hand.

Crovax was destined for an angel's curse, but one warped timeline saw the noble redeemed.

Stitcher's Supplier (Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters or dies, mill three cards. (Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard.)

No part goes to waste.

Natural Affinity (Ninth Edition)
Pete Venters

All lands become 2/2 creatures until end of turn. They're still lands.

As long as the dryads are a part of the forest, the forest is a part of the army.

Songs of the Damned (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

Add {B} for each creature card in your graveyard.

Not wind, but the breath of the dead.

Lhurgoyf (Deckmasters)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Nomad Decoy (Odyssey)
Pete Venters

{W}, {T}: Tap target creature. Threshold — {W}{W}, {T}: Tap two target creatures. Activate only if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.

If you can take something from a nomad, it's probably bait.

Goblin Chariot (Starter 1999)
Pete Venters

Haste (This creature can attack and {T} as soon as it comes under your control.)

They have to replace the wheels, they have to replace the boar, and sometimes they have to replace the goblin.

Corpse Cur (Scars of Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) When this creature enters, you may return target creature card with infect from your graveyard to your hand.

Tendrils of Agony (Scourge)
Pete Venters

Target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)

Ferocity (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Whenever enchanted creature blocks or becomes blocked, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it.

"You lot go on ahead. I'll keep killing them until it sticks." —Tahngarth

Zzzyxas's Abyss (Unhinged)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy all nonland permanents with the first name alphabetically among nonland permanents.

Tired of always being picked last, the wizard Zzzyxas created the ultimate revenge.

Kirtar's Desire (Odyssey)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack. Threshold — Enchanted creature can't block as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.

Goblin Glider (Starter 1999)
Pete Venters

Flying This creature can't block.

The goblins call the gliders "death from above." Everyone else calls them "clods in the clouds."

Monstrous Carabid (Alara Reborn)
Pete Venters

This creature attacks each combat if able. Cycling {B/R} ({B/R}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

What happens when a plane of predators collides with four planes of prey?

Pendelhaven Elder (Time Spiral Remastered)
Pete Venters

{T}: Each 1/1 creature you control gets +1/+2 until end of turn.

The elder who carries the ancestral mantle of Jacques le Vert is tasked with his ancient mission: to protect the creatures of Pendelhaven.

Jumbo Imp (Unsanctioned)
Pete Venters

Flying As this creature enters, roll a six-sided die. This creature enters with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the result. At the beginning of your upkeep, roll a six-sided die and put a number of +1/+1 counters on this creature equal to the result. At the beginning of your end step, roll a six-sided die and remove a number of +1/+1 counters from this creature equal to the result.

Pandemonium (The List)
Pete Venters

Whenever a creature enters, that creature's controller may have it deal damage equal to its power to any target of their choice.

"If we cannot live proudly, we die so!" —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves

Defiant Vanguard (Nemesis)
Pete Venters

When this creature blocks, at end of combat, destroy it and all creatures it blocked this turn. {5}, {T}: Search your library for a Rebel permanent card with mana value 4 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Circle of Protection: Artifacts (Fifth Edition)
Pete Venters

{2}: The next time an artifact source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Duress (World Championship Decks 2001)
Pete Venters

Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

"Change your mind, or I'll change it for you."

Spark Spray (Scourge)
Pete Venters

Spark Spray deals 1 damage to any target. Cycling {R} ({R}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

It's the only kind of shower goblins will tolerate.

Zombie Assassin (Odyssey)
Pete Venters

{T}, Exile two cards from your graveyard and this creature: Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.

"Zombies don't kill. They recruit." —Braids, dementia summoner

Piston Sledge (Mirrodin Besieged)
Pete Venters

When this Equipment enters, attach it to target creature you control. Equipped creature gets +3/+1. Equip—Sacrifice an artifact.

Only the goblins could make a simple machine so complex.

Royal Decree (Alliances)
Pete Venters

Cumulative upkeep {W} (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.) Whenever a Swamp, Mountain, black permanent, or red permanent becomes tapped, this enchantment deals 1 damage to that permanent's controller.

Sift (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

Draw three cards, then discard a card.

"Twice I have let the Legacy slip away. Never again." —Karn, silver golem

Plummet (Magic 2013)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Circle of Protection: Artifacts (Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border)
Pete Venters

{2}: The next time an artifact source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Time Warp (Starter 1999)
Pete Venters

Target player takes an extra turn after this one.

"Let's do it again!" —Squee, goblin cabin hand

Krark-Clan Stoker (Darksteel)
Pete Venters

{T}, Sacrifice an artifact: Add {R}{R}.

Fallen enemies are fed to the scavengers. Fallen friends are thrown into the Great Furnace, their souls returned to the Great Mother.

Time Warp (Judge Gift Cards 2004)
Pete Venters

Target player takes an extra turn after this one.

"Let's do it again!" —Squee, goblin cabin hand

Zur the Enchanter (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever Zur attacks, you may search your library for an enchantment card with mana value 3 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Zur remained aloof from Terisiare's suffering, intent only on his own perfection.

Pack's Disdain (Morningtide)
Pete Venters

Choose a creature type. Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each permanent of the chosen type you control.

Like the sun to a flower, the adoring gaze of the tribe is sustenance to an elf. To be shunned is to wither.

Blight (Legends)
Pete Venters

Enchant land When enchanted land becomes tapped, destroy it.

Sakura-Tribe Springcaller (Betrayers of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, add {G}. Until end of turn, you don't lose this mana as steps and phases end.

Vulshok Berserker (Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

Haste (This creature can attack and {T} as soon as it comes under your control.)

He experiences every emotion with passion and repays every slight with vengeance.

Zur the Enchanter (Coldsnap)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever Zur attacks, you may search your library for an enchantment card with mana value 3 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Zur remained aloof from Terisiare's suffering, intent only on his own perfection.

Zur the Enchanter (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever Zur attacks, you may search your library for an enchantment card with mana value 3 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Zur remained aloof from Terisiare's suffering, intent only on his own perfection.

Windfall (30th Anniversary Play Promos)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Lhurgoyf (Commander 2011)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Skirk Marauder (Legions)
Pete Venters

Morph {2}{R} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When this creature is turned face up, it deals 2 damage to any target.

Duress (World Championship Decks 2001)
Pete Venters

Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

"Change your mind, or I'll change it for you."

Stinkdrinker Daredevil (Commander Anthology Volume II)
Pete Venters

Giant spells you cast cost {2} less to cast.

Boggarts constantly strive to outdo each other with the things they bring back to the warren, each hoping the exploit will become as well-known as those of Auntie Grub.

Blight (Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border)
Pete Venters

Enchant land When enchanted land becomes tapped, destroy it.

Path of Peace (Portal)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature. Its owner gains 4 life.

The soldier reaped the profits of peace.

Flametongue Kavu (Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay, captain of the *Weatherlight*

Pithing Needle (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

As this artifact enters, choose a card name. Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.

Pithing Needle (Saviors of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

As this artifact enters, choose a card name. Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.

Rocket Launcher (Foreign Black Border)
Pete Venters

{2}: Rocket Launcher deals 1 damage to any target. Destroy Rocket Launcher at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only if you've controlled Rocket Launcher continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

Skirk Marauder (Archenemy)
Pete Venters

Morph {2}{R} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When this creature is turned face up, it deals 2 damage to any target.

Hesitation (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

When a player casts a spell, sacrifice this enchantment and counter that spell.

Gerrard hesitated, looking up at the enemy ship. The future hesitated with him, changed forever by the pause.

Wall of Lava (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

Defender (This creature can't attack.) {R}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"Now *there's* something you don't see every day." —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Death Pit Offering (Nemesis)
Pete Venters

When this enchantment enters, sacrifice all creatures you control. Creatures you control get +2/+2.

"Kill them all and feed them to the new recruits." —Crovax

Pyrostatic Pillar (Scourge)
Pete Venters

Whenever a player casts a spell with mana value 3 or less, this enchantment deals 2 damage to that player.

Firestorm Hellkite (Visions)
Pete Venters

Flying, trample Cumulative upkeep {U}{R} (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)

"If it can scar the sky with fire, do not share its destination." —Mwani, Mtenda herder

Devouring Light (Ravnica: City of Guilds)
Pete Venters

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.) Exile target attacking or blocking creature.

Into the light the good are welcomed, and with the light the evil are banished.

Stonewood Invocation (Time Spiral)
Pete Venters

Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.) Target creature gets +5/+5 and gains shroud until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)

"Might of ancient wood and stone, Into spirit, flesh, and bone."

Windfall (Urza's Saga)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Flesh Reaver (Urza's Saga)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature or opponent, this creature deals that much damage to you.

Though the reaver is horrifyingly effective, its dorsal vents spit a highly corrosive cloud of filth.

Goblin Bully (Portal)
Pete Venters

It's easy to stand head and shoulders over those with no backbone.

Flametongue Kavu (World Championship Decks 2001)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay

Invisibility (Magic 2015)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't be blocked except by Walls.

Verick held his breath. Breathing wouldn't reveal his position, but it would force him to smell the goblins.

Extortion (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

Look at target player's hand and choose up to two cards from it. That player discards those cards.

The enforcers make no effort to distinguish gold from flesh.

Survival of the Fittest (World Championship Decks 1998)
Pete Venters

{G}, Discard a creature card: Search your library for a creature card, reveal that card, put it into your hand, then shuffle.

Aether Sting (Urza's Destiny)
Pete Venters

Whenever an opponent casts a creature spell, this enchantment deals 1 damage to that player.

When Gatha fell, he was called to account for each abomination he created.

Sluggishness (Urza's Legacy)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't block. When this Aura is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return it to its owner's hand.

Vark decided to lie down and think of a good excuse to quit working.

Duress (World Championship Decks 2002)
Pete Venters

Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

"Change your mind, or I'll change it for you."

Blight (Fourth Edition)
Pete Venters

Enchant land When enchanted land becomes tapped, destroy it.

Time Warp (Tempest)
Pete Venters

Target player takes an extra turn after this one.

"Let's do it again!" —Squee, goblin cabin hand

Talruum Minotaur (Beatdown Box Set)
Pete Venters

Haste

Don't insult a Talruum unless your mount is swift. —Suq'Ata saying

Greater Good (Urza's Saga)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: Draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature's power, then discard three cards.

"We have more sprouts than they have hands." —Gamelen, Citanul elder

Zur the Enchanter (Modern Masters 2017)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever Zur attacks, you may search your library for an enchantment card with mana value 3 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Zur remained aloof from Terisiare's suffering, intent only on his own perfection.

Merseine (Fallen Empires)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature This Aura enters with three net counters on it. Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step if this Aura has a net counter on it. Pay enchanted creature's mana cost: Remove a net counter from this Aura. Only the controller of the enchanted creature may activate this ability.

Phyrexian Arena (Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.

An audience of one with the malice of thousands.

Orcish Cannonade (The List)
Pete Venters

Orcish Cannonade deals 2 damage to any target and 3 damage to you. Draw a card.

"Crispy! Scarback! Load another volcano-ball." —Stumphobbler Thuj, orcish captain

Hero's Resolve (Classic Sixth Edition)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+5.

"Destiny, chance, fate, fortune—they're all just ways of claiming your successes without claiming your failures." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*

Brainwash (Fourth Edition)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack unless its controller pays {3}.

"They're not your friends; they despise you. I'm the only one you can count on. Trust me."

Windfall (Commander Anthology Volume II)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Lancers en-Kor (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

Trample {0}: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

Nearly all sets of Kor twins are trained as lancers.

Psychic Frog (Modern Horizons 3 Promos)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player or planeswalker, draw a card. Discard a card: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Exile three cards from your graveyard: This creature gains flying until end of turn.

Some frogs poison the body. Some frogs poison the mind.

Sheltering Ancient (The List)
Pete Venters

Trample Cumulative upkeep—Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature an opponent controls. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)

Heart of Yavimaya (Alliances)
Pete Venters

If this land would enter, sacrifice a Forest instead. If you do, put this land onto the battlefield. If you don't, put it into its owner's graveyard. {T}: Add {G}. {T}: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Tanglewalker (Darksteel)
Pete Venters

Each creature you control can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an artifact land.

In bringing life to Mirrodin, Memnarch was more successful than he knew—for Mirrodin began to take on a life of its own.

Crypt Champion (Dissension)
Pete Venters

Double strike When this creature enters, each player puts a creature card with mana value 3 or less from their graveyard onto the battlefield. When this creature enters, sacrifice it unless {R} was spent to cast it.

Talruum Minotaur (Classic Sixth Edition)
Pete Venters

Haste

Don't insult a Talruum unless your mount is swift. —Suq'Ata saying

Tremor (Portal Second Age)
Pete Venters

Tremor deals 1 damage to each creature without flying.

One little goblin shook up the ground. When the dust cleared, no one was found.

Erosion (Renaissance)
Pete Venters

Enchant land At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted land's controller, destroy that land unless that player pays {1} or 1 life.

Circle of Protection: Red (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

{1}: The next time a red source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Circle of Protection: Artifacts (Renaissance)
Pete Venters

{2}: The next time an artifact source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Skirk Marauder (Arena League 2003)
Pete Venters

Morph {2}{R} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When this creature is turned face up, it deals 2 damage to any target.

Urza's Incubator (Commander 2015)
Pete Venters

As this artifact enters, choose a creature type. Creature spells of the chosen type cost {2} less to cast.

"Stop thinking like an artificer, Urza, and start thinking like a father!" —Rayne, chancellor of the Tolarian Academy

Mistvein Borderpost (Alara Reborn)
Pete Venters

You may pay {1} and return a basic land you control to its owner's hand rather than pay this spell's mana cost. This artifact enters tapped. {T}: Add {U} or {B}.

Swamp (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

({T}: Add {B}.)

Tremor (Classic Sixth Edition)
Pete Venters

Tremor deals 1 damage to each creature without flying.

"Where do you run when the earth becomes your enemy?" —Naimag, Femeref philosopher

Dwarven Vigilantes (Visions)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature attacks and isn't blocked, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature. If you do, this creature assigns no combat damage this turn.

Some dwarves can only be pushed so far.

Grapeshot (Time Spiral)
Pete Venters

Grapeshot deals 1 damage to any target. Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)

Mages often seek to emulate the powerful relics lost to time and apocalypse.

Voice of the Woods (Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins)
Pete Venters

Tap five untapped Elves you control: Create a 7/7 green Elemental creature token with trample. (It can deal excess combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.)

The ritual of making draws upon the elves' memories and pasts. And elves have long memories and ancient pasts.

Necrogen Censer (Scars of Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

This artifact enters with two charge counters on it. {T}, Remove a charge counter from this artifact: Target player loses 2 life.

Moriok necromancers actively spread necrogen, encouraging the transformation from Mirran to nim.

Death Pit Offering (Eighth Edition)
Pete Venters

When this enchantment enters, sacrifice all creatures you control. Creatures you control get +2/+2.

"Kill them all and feed them to the new recruits." —Crovax, ascendant evincar

Dynamite Diver (Aetherdrift)
Pete Venters

This creature saddles Mounts and crews Vehicles as though its power were 2 greater. When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target.

"Launch the explosives! No, you idiot, not like that!" —Redshift, Rocketeer chief

Mogg Infestation (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

Destroy all creatures target player controls. For each creature that died this way, that player creates two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens.

Irini Sengir (Homelands)
Pete Venters

Green enchantment spells and white enchantment spells cost {2} more to cast.

"That cruel being brings shame to all her fellow Dwarves and misery to all the land. She is Sengir's daughter in spirit if not in blood." —Reveka, Wizard Savant

Baron Sengir (Homelands)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever a creature dealt damage by Baron Sengir this turn dies, put a +2/+2 counter on Baron Sengir. {T}: Regenerate another target Vampire.

"Beast. Defiler. The source of all my pain." —Ihsan's Shade

Dueling Grounds (Invasion)
Pete Venters

No more than one creature can attack each combat. No more than one creature can block each combat.

"You think you can stop me?" hissed Tsabo. "I think I can kill you," replied Gerrard.

Holy Day (Eighth Edition)
Pete Venters

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

"The day of Spirits; my soul's calm retreat / Which none disturb!" —Henry Vaughan, "The Night"

Vitalize (Weatherlight)
Pete Venters

Untap all creatures you control.

"After waking to the magic of Llanowar, no dreams can compare." —Mirri of the *Weatherlight*

Sangrophage (Time Spiral)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, tap this creature unless you pay 2 life.

The living is all it eats.

Smothering Tithe (Double Masters 2022)
Pete Venters

Whenever an opponent draws a card, that player may pay {2}. If the player doesn't, you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

"Oh, how I love gold. I'd eat and breathe it if I could." —Leland, tax collector

Street Wraith (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

Swampwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Swamp.) Cycling—Pay 2 life. (Pay 2 life, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Most of the spirits that haunt Urborg were once ordinary people, even children, twisted beyond recognition by the swamp's corrupted mana.

Smash (Apocalypse)
Pete Venters

Destroy target artifact. Draw a card.

"They're ugly, and they're in my way." —Tahngarth

Recollect (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

Return target card from your graveyard to your hand.

"The bones of the past will tell their tales—if you know how to speak their language." —Savra

Backslide (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

Turn target creature with a morph ability face down. Cycling {U} ({U}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Some things are better left unknown.

Talruum Minotaur (Mirage)
Pete Venters

Haste

Don't insult a Talruum unless your mount is swift. —Suq'Ata saying

Megatog (Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice an artifact: This creature gets +3/+3 and gains trample until end of turn.

In an ironic bit of evolution, the megatog's dozens of teeth are mainly ornamental. It prefers swallowing things whole.

Pestilence (Urza's Saga)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of the end step, if no creatures are on the battlefield, sacrifice this enchantment. {B}: This enchantment deals 1 damage to each creature and each player.

Orcish Cannonade (Time Spiral)
Pete Venters

Orcish Cannonade deals 2 damage to any target and 3 damage to you. Draw a card.

"Crispy! Scarback! Load another volcano-ball." —Stumphobbler Thuj, Orcish captain

Scuzzback Marauders (Ultimate Masters)
Pete Venters

Trample Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)

Maniacal Rage (Exodus)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and can't block.

Only by sacrificing any semblance of defense could Gerrard best Greven.

Necromancy (Visions)
Pete Venters

You may cast this spell as though it had flash. If you cast it any time a sorcery couldn't have been cast, the controller of the permanent it becomes sacrifices it at the beginning of the next cleanup step. When this enchantment enters, if it's on the battlefield, it becomes an Aura with "enchant creature put onto the battlefield with Necromancy." Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control and attach this enchantment to it. When this enchantment leaves the battlefield, that creature's controller sacrifices it.

Circle of Protection: Artifacts (Antiquities)
Pete Venters

{2}: The next time an artifact source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Plummet (Magic 2011)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"You are the grandest of all," said the archdruid to the trees. They became so proud of bark and branch that they suffered no creature to fly overhead or perch upon a bough.

Indomitable Ancients (Morningtide)
Pete Venters

"Odum and Broadbark were the only beings mighty enough to challenge the giant Moran the Destroyer. Their battle lasted a hundred dawns, until Moran became so exhausted that he fell into namesleep. He awoke as Moran the Gardener." —*The Tale of Odum and Broadbark*

Conjurer's Ban (Guildpact)
Pete Venters

Choose a card name. Until your next turn, spells with the chosen name can't be cast and lands with the chosen name can't be played. Draw a card.

Orzhov faithful file past to have their minds purged of "impure" desires. There, the guiltwardens eliminate any thoughts of hope or self-sufficiency.

Ancestor's Chosen (Ultimate Masters)
Pete Venters

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) When this creature enters, you gain 1 life for each card in your graveyard.

"The will of all, by my hand done."

Voice of the Woods (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

Tap five untapped Elves you control: Create a 7/7 green Elemental creature token with trample. (It can deal excess combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.)

The ritual of making draws upon the elves' memories and pasts. And elves have long memories and ancient pasts.

Chime of Night (Urza's Destiny)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature When this Aura is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, destroy target nonblack creature.

Many sent to serve Davvol carried such instruments, as if to remind him who their true masters were.

Lake of the Dead (Alliances)
Pete Venters

If this land would enter, sacrifice a Swamp instead. If you do, put this land onto the battlefield. If you don't, put it into its owner's graveyard. {T}: Add {B}. {T}, Sacrifice a Swamp: Add {B}{B}{B}{B}.

Stitcher's Supplier (Modern Horizons 3 Commander)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters or dies, mill three cards. (Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard.)

No part goes to waste.

Dusk Imp (Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic)
Pete Venters

Flying

Imps are just intelligent enough to have an understanding of cruelty.

Devouring Light (Ravnica Remastered)
Pete Venters

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.) Exile target attacking or blocking creature.

Into the light the good are welcomed, and with the light the evil are banished.

Spin Engine (Mirrodin Besieged)
Pete Venters

{R}: Target creature can't block this creature this turn.

"It will be battle-ready before our strike at Oxid Ridge, and it will guarantee our victory." —Ketuc of the Helm

Feast or Famine (Alliances)
Pete Venters

Choose one — • Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. • Destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.

"The living cannot understand the benefits of death." —Chaeska, Keeper of Tresserhorn

Invisibility (The List)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't be blocked except by Walls.

Verick held his breath. Breathing wouldn't reveal his position, but it would force him to smell the goblins.

Fleshbag Marauder (Commander Anthology Volume II)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.

Slaughter (Exodus)
Pete Venters

Buyback—Pay 4 life. (You may pay 4 life in addition to any other costs as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.) Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.

Daggerclaw Imp (Guildpact)
Pete Venters

Flying This creature can't block.

The Simic use the claws as scalpels, while the Rakdos use them for tattooing and torture. The Gruul use them to pick their teeth after lunching on the rest of the carcass.

Warren Soultrader (Modern Horizons 3 Promos)
Pete Venters

Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

"The living take their souls for granted. The dead know what they're worth."

Phyrexian Ghoul (Urza's Saga)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Phyrexia wastes nothing. Its food chain is a spiraling cycle.

Impending Disaster (The List)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are seven or more lands on the battlefield, sacrifice this enchantment and destroy all lands.

"The goblins are in charge of maintenance? Why not just set it on fire now and call it a day?" —Whip Tongue, viashino technician

Simian Grunts (Urza's Legacy)
Pete Venters

Flash Echo {2}{G} (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)

These monkeys mean business.

Swamp (Modern Horizons 2)
Pete Venters

({T}: Add {B}.)

Mons's Goblin Raiders (Starter 2000)
Pete Venters

Just because they have a club doesn't mean they're organized.

Sift (Masters 25)
Pete Venters

Draw three cards, then discard a card.

"Twice I have let the Legacy slip away. Never again." —Karn, silver golem

Recollect (Ravnica: City of Guilds)
Pete Venters

Return target card from your graveyard to your hand.

"The bones of the past will tell their tales—if you know how to speak their language." —Savra

Mogg Conscripts (Tempest)
Pete Venters

This creature can't attack unless you've cast a creature spell this turn.

"Torahn's horns! They've seen us. Now, statue, you must fight to save yourself!" —Tahngarth, aboard the *Predator*

Flesh Reaver (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature or opponent, this creature deals that much damage to you.

Though the reaver is horrifyingly effective, its dorsal vents spit a highly corrosive cloud of filth.

Midnight Covenant (Champions of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature has "{B}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn."

"Not all mortals fought the kami. The ogres revered the oni, while some humans made pacts based upon empty promises." —*The History of Kamigawa*

Crovax, Ascendant Hero (Time Spiral Remastered)
Pete Venters

Other white creatures get +1/+1. Nonwhite creatures get -1/-1. Pay 2 life: Return Crovax to its owner's hand.

Crovax was destined for an angel's curse, but one warped timeline saw the noble redeemed.

Lhurgoyf (Fifth Edition)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Orcish Mechanics (Antiquities)
Pete Venters

{T}, Sacrifice an artifact: This creature deals 2 damage to any target.

Cache Raiders (Eventide)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, return a permanent you control to its owner's hand.

What the current doesn't take, they do.

Crosis, the Purger (Invasion)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever Crosis deals combat damage to a player, you may pay {2}{B}. If you do, choose a color, then that player reveals their hand and discards all cards of that color.

Cabal Torturer (Torment)
Pete Venters

{B}, {T}: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Threshold — {3}{B}{B}, {T}: Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. Activate only if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.

Uphill Battle (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

Creatures played by your opponents enter tapped.

Cho-Manno knew he had no choice but to ally with Gerrard. If that's what it took to free his people, he'd pay the price.

Windfall (Commander 2011)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Threaten (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

Untap target creature and gain control of it until end of turn. That creature gains haste until end of turn. (It can attack and {T} this turn.)

Goblins' motivational techniques are crude, but effective.

Elven Fortress (Fallen Empires)
Pete Venters

{1}{G}: Target blocking creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn.

Many Elven Fortresses weren't built by masons and carpenters, but created from the living forest itself.

Pardic Collaborator (Torment)
Pete Venters

First strike {B}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"We've been taught that strength is everything. So how can an alliance with the strongest be a betrayal?"

Fleshbag Marauder (Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.

Raksha Golden Cub (Salvat 2005)
Pete Venters

Vigilance As long as Raksha Golden Cub is equipped, Cat creatures you control get +2/+2 and have double strike.

Mightstone (Antiquities)
Pete Venters

Attacking creatures get +1/+0.

While exploring the sacred cave of Koilos with his brother Mishra and their master Tocasia, Urza fell behind in the Hall of Tagsin, where he discovered the remarkable Mightstone.

Kitsune Riftwalker (Champions of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

Protection from Spirits and from Arcane

The wake of his passage shoved aside the influence of the kami.

Spectral Sliver (Premium Deck Series: Slivers)
Pete Venters

All Sliver creatures have "{2}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn."

"Sure, I've seen agents of the Cabal here and there. Well, not here, and certainly not in any of the sliver labs. Oh dear, I've said too much." —Apprentice researcher

Wrench Mind (Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

Target player discards two cards unless they discard an artifact card.

What is the sound of one head snapping?

Plummet (Magic 2015)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Secret Lair Drop)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Sunbillow Verge (Aetherdrift Promos)
Pete Venters

{T}: Add {W}. {T}: Add {R}. Activate only if you control a Mountain or a Plains.

"Loot is free to go where he wants, so let's make sure the kid gets there in one piece." —Chandra Nalaar

Natural Affinity (Eighth Edition)
Pete Venters

All lands become 2/2 creatures until end of turn. They're still lands.

As long as the dryads are a part of the forest, the forest is a part of the army.

Plummet (Magic 2014)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Deepwood Legate (The List)
Pete Venters

If an opponent controls a Forest and you control a Swamp, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. {B}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Rocket Launcher (Antiquities)
Pete Venters

{2}: Rocket Launcher deals 1 damage to any target. Destroy Rocket Launcher at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only if you've controlled Rocket Launcher continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

What these devices lacked in subtlety, they made up in strength.

Circle of Protection: Artifacts (Rinascimento)
Pete Venters

{2}: The next time an artifact source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Fleshbag Marauder (Commander 2011)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.

Flametongue Kavu (World Championship Decks 2001)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay

Sangrophage (Time Spiral Remastered)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, tap this creature unless you pay 2 life.

The living is all it eats.

Scrounge (Darksteel)
Pete Venters

Target opponent chooses an artifact card in their graveyard. Put that card onto the battlefield under your control.

When leonin settlers abandon their homes to the nim, items of value are often left behind.

Demon's Jester (Dissension)
Pete Venters

Flying Hellbent — This creature gets +2/+1 as long as you have no cards in hand.

They knock 'em dead, with or without the punch line.

Radiant's Dragoons (Urza's Legacy)
Pete Venters

Echo {3}{W} (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.) When this creature enters, you gain 5 life.

Beast Whisperer (30th Anniversary Play Promos)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast a creature spell, draw a card.

"No symphony can compare to the melody of the ferrox's roar."

Circle of Protection: Blue (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

{1}: The next time a blue source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Urborg Shambler (Invasion)
Pete Venters

Other black creatures get -1/-1.

A writhing mass of rot, with sharp claws and a vicious spirit.

Plummet (Archenemy)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"You are the grandest of all," said the archdruid to the trees. They became so proud of bark and branch that they suffered no creature to fly overhead or perch upon a bough.

Demon's Jester (Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic)
Pete Venters

Flying Hellbent — This creature gets +2/+1 as long as you have no cards in hand.

They knock 'em dead, with or without the punch line.

Windfall (The List)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Massacre (Nemesis)
Pete Venters

If an opponent controls a Plains and you control a Swamp, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. All creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.

Krark-Clan Engineers (Fifth Dawn)
Pete Venters

{R}, Sacrifice two artifacts: Destroy target artifact.

"Well, I jammed the whatsit into the whackdoodle, but I think I broke the thingamajigger."

Erosion (Fourth Edition)
Pete Venters

Enchant land At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted land's controller, destroy that land unless that player pays {1} or 1 life.

Blessed Reversal (The List)
Pete Venters

You gain 3 life for each creature attacking you.

Even an enemy is a valuable resource.

Demon's Jester (Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic)
Pete Venters

Flying Hellbent — This creature gets +2/+1 as long as you have no cards in hand.

They knock 'em dead, with or without the punch line.

Holy Day (Ninth Edition)
Pete Venters

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

"The day of Spirits; my soul's calm retreat / Which none disturb!" —Henry Vaughan, "The Night"

Infectious Horror (Conspiracy)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature attacks, each opponent loses 2 life.

Not once in the history of Grixis has anyone died of old age.

Maro (Seventh Edition)
Pete Venters

Maro's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand.

No two see the same Maro.

Shadow Rider (Weatherlight)
Pete Venters

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking blocks this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.)

In its world of complete darkness, it has no shadows to fear.

Erosion (Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border)
Pete Venters

Enchant land At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted land's controller, destroy that land unless that player pays {1} or 1 life.

Holy Day (Invasion)
Pete Venters

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

"Will history remember this as the day demons arrived or the day saviors arrived?" —Barrin

Gate to the Aether (Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player reveals the top card of their library. If it's an artifact, creature, enchantment, or land card, the player may put it onto the battlefield.

Fleshbag Marauder (Secret Lair Drop)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.

Glowing Anemone (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, you may return target land to its owner's hand.

Beautiful to behold, terrible to be held.

Mercadia's Downfall (The List)
Pete Venters

Each attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each nonbasic land defending player controls.

With an explosion that shook the foundation of the city, the *Weatherlight* burst from the underground hangar.

Windfall (Commander 2015)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Mons's Goblin Waiters (Unhinged)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature or land: Add {HR}.

Poached Rukh Eggs Rock Cooked Rock Unicorn-on-the-Cob Wormfang Turtle Soup

Desecration Elemental (Fifth Dawn)
Pete Venters

Fear (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.) Whenever a player casts a spell, sacrifice a creature.

Its precious corpses dance like puppets to attract mindless nim prey.

Survival of the Fittest (Exodus)
Pete Venters

{G}, Discard a creature card: Search your library for a creature card, reveal that card, put it into your hand, then shuffle.

Phyrexian Dreadnought (Mirage)
Pete Venters

Trample When this creature enters, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice any number of creatures with total power 12 or greater.

Phyrexian Arena (Apocalypse)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.

An audience of one with the malice of thousands.

Omen of Fire (Alliances)
Pete Venters

Return all Islands to their owners' hands. Each player sacrifices a Plains or a white permanent of their choice for each white permanent they control.

"Let Balduvia burn to warm Kjeldor's hearth!" —General Varchild

Serra Paladin (Fifth Edition)
Pete Venters

{T}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to any target this turn. {1}{W}{W}, {T}: Target creature gains vigilance until end of turn.

One light, one blade, one purpose. —Vow of the Serra Paladins

Goblin Hero (Anthologies)
Pete Venters

"When you're a goblin, you don't have to step forward to be a hero—everyone else just has to step back!" —Biggum Flodrot, goblin veteran

Dawn of the Dead (Torment)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life. At the beginning of your upkeep, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature gains haste until end of turn. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step.

Dusk Imp (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

Flying

Imps are just intelligent enough to have an understanding of cruelty.

Cephalid Illusionist (Torment)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, mill three cards. {2}{U}, {T}: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by target creature you control this turn.

Urza's Incubator (Urza's Destiny)
Pete Venters

As this artifact enters, choose a creature type. Creature spells of the chosen type cost {2} less to cast.

"Stop thinking like an artificer, Urza, and start thinking like a father!" —Rayne, Academy Chancellor

Erosion (The Dark)
Pete Venters

Enchant land At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted land's controller, destroy that land unless that player pays {1} or 1 life.

Infectious Horror (Archenemy)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature attacks, each opponent loses 2 life.

Not once in the history of Grixis has anyone died of old age.

Razorfoot Griffin (Seventh Edition)
Pete Venters

Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.) First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)

Like a meteor, it strikes from above without warning. Unlike a meteor, it then carries you off and eats you.

Nezumi Shadow-Watcher (Betrayers of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice this creature: Destroy target Ninja.

"The Okiba Gang! Night-cursed thieves and assassins! I've had enough of their meddling! Triple the guard!" —Marrow-Gnawer

Pandemonium (Time Spiral Timeshifted)
Pete Venters

Whenever a creature enters, that creature's controller may have it deal damage equal to its power to any target of their choice.

"If we cannot live proudly, we die so!" —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves

Triskelion (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

This creature enters with three +1/+1 counters on it. Remove a +1/+1 counter from this creature: It deals 1 damage to any target.

Optimally designed for agility, mobility, and lethality.

Devouring Light (GRN Guild Kit)
Pete Venters

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.) Exile target attacking or blocking creature.

Into the light the good are welcomed, and with the light the evil are banished.

Ancestor's Chosen (Judgment)
Pete Venters

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) When this creature enters, you gain 1 life for each card in your graveyard.

Empowered by generations of strength.

Rathi Trapper (Time Spiral Remastered)
Pete Venters

{B}, {T}: Tap target creature.

Tangling vines, fetid murk, paralyzing poisons, and crawling dead. The swamp is nature's trap waiting to be exploited by unnatural minds.

Goblin Fireslinger (The List)
Pete Venters

{T}: This creature deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker.

A rock between your eyes hurts. A burning rock between your eyes ruins your whole day.

Infernal Contract (Seventh Edition)
Pete Venters

Draw four cards. You lose half your life, rounded up.

"East and West meet and angels cry. Unholy power darkens the sky." —"The Ballad of the Paladins"

Seismic Mage (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

{2}{R}, {T}, Discard a card: Destroy target land.

The ground shakes when he walks. His customers shake if they're late with his fee.

Desperate Gambit (Weatherlight)
Pete Venters

Choose a source you control and flip a coin. If you win the flip, the next time that source would deal damage this turn, it deals double that damage instead. If you lose the flip, the next time it would deal damage this turn, prevent that damage.

Shinka Gatekeeper (Betrayers of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to you.

"Understanding is not a virtue of the ogre. Do not seek to reason your way into Shinka Keep." —Kiku, Night's Flower

Infest (Magic Player Rewards 2010)
Pete Venters

All creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.

Necromancy (The List)
Pete Venters

You may cast this spell as though it had flash. If you cast it any time a sorcery couldn't have been cast, the controller of the permanent it becomes sacrifices it at the beginning of the next cleanup step. When this enchantment enters, if it's on the battlefield, it becomes an Aura with "enchant creature put onto the battlefield with Necromancy." Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control and attach this enchantment to it. When this enchantment leaves the battlefield, that creature's controller sacrifices it.

Smash to Smithereens (Modern Masters 2015)
Pete Venters

Destroy target artifact. Smash to Smithereens deals 3 damage to that artifact's controller.

The giant Tarvik dreamed that trinkets and machines caused all the world's woe. When he awoke from his troubled sleep, he took the name Tarvik Relicsmasher.

Tidings (Commander 2018)
Pete Venters

Draw four cards.

"Though the letter was many pages long, I could tell all I needed to know from one look at the messenger's face." —Barrin, master wizard

Circle of Protection: Red (Pro Tour Collector Set)
Pete Venters

{1}: The next time a red source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Oppression (Urza's Saga)
Pete Venters

Whenever a player casts a spell, that player discards a card.

"Do not presume to speak for yourself." —Gix, to Xantcha

Spark Fiend (Unglued)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, roll two six-sided dice. If you rolled 2, 3, or 12, sacrifice this creature. If you rolled 7 or 11, don't roll dice for this creature during any of your following upkeeps. If you rolled any other total, note that total. At the beginning of your upkeep, roll two six-sided dice. If you rolled 7, sacrifice this creature. If you roll the noted total, don't roll dice for this creature during any of your following upkeeps. Otherwise, do nothing.

Purge (World Championship Decks 2004)
Pete Venters

Destroy target artifact creature or black creature. It can't be regenerated.

For the first and last time, the horrific creature experienced terror.

Smash to Smithereens (Magic Origins)
Pete Venters

Destroy target artifact. Smash to Smithereens deals 3 damage to that artifact's controller.

The giant Tarvik dreamed that trinkets and machines caused all the world's woe. When he awoke from his troubled sleep, he took the name Tarvik Relicsmasher.

Thoughtpicker Witch (Ravnica: City of Guilds)
Pete Venters

{1}, Sacrifice a creature: Look at the top two cards of target opponent's library, then exile one of them.

"Once the brew gets the brains nice and pickled, they're a lot easier to pick through."

Smash to Smithereens (The List)
Pete Venters

Destroy target artifact. Smash to Smithereens deals 3 damage to that artifact's controller.

The giant Tarvik dreamed that trinkets and machines caused all the world's woe. When he awoke from his troubled sleep, he took the name Tarvik Relicsmasher.

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Commander 2014)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Tidings (Starter 1999)
Pete Venters

Draw four cards.

"Many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills." —William Shakespeare, *Hamlet*

Elvish Scout (Fallen Empires)
Pete Venters

{G}, {T}: Untap target attacking creature you control. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by it this turn.

"Even for Elves, they were stealthy little twerps. They'd taken our measure before we'd even seen them." —Marshall Volnikov

Tahngarth (Vanguard Series)
Pete Venters

Creatures you control have haste.

Tahngarth, first mate of the *Weatherlight* under Sisay, knows that there are really only two forms of life: the ugly ones and the minotaurs. A narcissist, he considers the condition of his hide as important as the accuracy of his blade.

Tremor (Eighth Edition)
Pete Venters

Tremor deals 1 damage to each creature without flying.

Where do you run when the earth becomes your enemy?

Apprentice Necromancer (Urza's Destiny)
Pete Venters

{B}, {T}, Sacrifice this creature: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature gains haste. At the beginning of the next end step, sacrifice it.

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Fleshbag Marauder (Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.

Pandemonium (Exodus)
Pete Venters

Whenever a creature enters, that creature's controller may have it deal damage equal to its power to any target of their choice.

"If we cannot live proudly, we die so!" —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves

Goblin Mountaineer (Ninth Edition)
Pete Venters

Mountainwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Mountain.)

The only thing worse than a goblin is a goblin that knows his way around.

Daggerclaw Imp (Ravnica: Clue Edition)
Pete Venters

Flying This creature can't block.

The Simic use the claws as scalpels, while the Rakdos use them for tattooing and torture. The Gruul use them to pick their teeth after lunching on the rest of the carcass.

Spined Thopter (The List)
Pete Venters

({U/P} can be paid with either {U} or 2 life.) Flying

"I appreciate the depravity of noble designs turned to devious ends." —Tezzeret

Orcish Settlers (World Championship Decks 1998)
Pete Venters

{X}{X}{R}, {T}, Sacrifice this creature: Destroy X target lands.

They wouldn't know their house from a charred hole in the ground.

Clutch of the Undercity (Ravnica: City of Guilds)
Pete Venters

Return target permanent to its owner's hand. Its controller loses 3 life. Transmute {1}{U}{B} ({1}{U}{B}, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same mana value as this card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. Transmute only as a sorcery.)

Duress (Seventh Edition)
Pete Venters

Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

"Change your mind, or I'll change it for you."

Fists of the Anvil (Mirrodin)
Pete Venters

Target creature gets +4/+0 until end of turn.

Gron's mind reeled with possibilities, most of which are best left unmentioned.

Mogg Conscripts (The List)
Pete Venters

This creature can't attack unless you've cast a creature spell this turn.

"Torahn's horns! They've seen us. Now, statue, you must fight to save yourself!" —Tahngarth, aboard the *Predator*

Sadistic Glee (Battle Royale Box Set)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Whenever a creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature.

"First blood isn't as important as last blood." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*

Ensnaring Bridge (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

Creatures with power greater than the number of cards in your hand can't attack.

"I expected a fight, but I didn't expect it from the building itself." —Gerrard

Spoils of War (Ice Age)
Pete Venters

X is the number of artifact and/or creature cards in an opponent's graveyard as you cast this spell. Distribute X +1/+1 counters among any number of target creatures.

"This is the fun part!" —Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician

Yawgmoth Demon (Ninth Edition)
Pete Venters

Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.) First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) At the beginning of your upkeep, you may sacrifice an artifact. If you don't, tap this creature and it deals 2 damage to you.

Sheltering Ancient (Coldsnap)
Pete Venters

Trample Cumulative upkeep—Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature an opponent controls. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)

Grave-Shell Scarab (Ravnica: City of Guilds)
Pete Venters

{1}, Sacrifice this creature: Draw a card. Dredge 1 (If you would draw a card, you may mill a card instead. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.)

Searing Flesh (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

Searing Flesh deals 7 damage to target opponent or planeswalker.

Zemoo found out the hard way that "inflammable" and "flammable" mean the same thing.

Goblin War Strike (Scourge)
Pete Venters

Goblin War Strike deals damage to target player or planeswalker equal to the number of Goblins you control.

"Fire, aim, ready!"

Vulshok Berserker (Magic 2011)
Pete Venters

Haste (This creature can attack and {T} as soon as it comes under your control.)

He will carve out a legend for himself with his own two hands.

Reviving Vapors (Invasion)
Pete Venters

Reveal the top three cards of your library and put one of them into your hand. You gain life equal to that card's mana value. Put all other cards revealed this way into your graveyard.

Hero's Resolve (Tempest)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+5.

"Destiny, chance, fate, fortune—they're all just ways of claiming your successes without claiming your failures." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*

Invasion Plans (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

All creatures block each combat if able. The attacking player chooses how each creature blocks each combat.

Gerrard studied the globe as Mirri kept watch. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "This is Dominaria!"

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Eternal Masters)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Sunbillow Verge (Aetherdrift)
Pete Venters

{T}: Add {W}. {T}: Add {R}. Activate only if you control a Mountain or a Plains.

"Loot is free to go where he wants, so let's make sure the kid gets there in one piece." —Chandra Nalaar

Windfall (Battle Royale Box Set)
Pete Venters

Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.

"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard

Painbringer (Odyssey)
Pete Venters

{T}, Exile any number of cards from your graveyard: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of cards exiled this way.

Pale Moon (Nemesis)
Pete Venters

Until end of turn, if a player taps a nonbasic land for mana, it produces colorless mana instead of any other type.

Denizens of Rath had never seen the moon before. It was a symbol of change, not constancy.

Carnophage (Exodus)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, tap this creature unless you pay 1 life.

Eating is all it knows.

Boneknitter (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

{1}{B}: Regenerate target Zombie. Morph {2}{B} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

Nothing comes together as easily as it comes apart.

Sunbillow Verge (Aetherdrift Promos)
Pete Venters

{T}: Add {W}. {T}: Add {R}. Activate only if you control a Mountain or a Plains.

"Loot is free to go where he wants, so let's make sure the kid gets there in one piece." —Chandra Nalaar

Ward Sliver (The List)
Pete Venters

As this creature enters, choose a color. All Slivers have protection from the chosen color.

The first wave of slivers perished from the Riptide wizards' magic. The second wave shrugged off their spells like water.

Gaea's Avenger (Antiquities)
Pete Venters

Gaea's Avenger's power and toughness are each equal to 1 plus the number of artifacts your opponents control.

After the destruction of Argoth, Gaea was willing to instill a portion of her own powers into some of her more vengeful followers.

Debt of Loyalty (Weatherlight)
Pete Venters

Regenerate target creature. You gain control of that creature if it regenerates this way.

"I killed him because I had to," Starke lied to Gerrard. "But now I pledge my loyalty to you."

Moggcatcher (Nemesis)
Pete Venters

{3}, {T}: Search your library for a Goblin permanent card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

"They're not worth much, but they're easy to catch."

Kitsune Diviner (Champions of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

{T}: Tap target Spirit.

She who once led prayers honoring the kami adapted to use her influence to stay them.

Sage of Lat-Nam (Antiquities)
Pete Venters

{T}, Sacrifice an artifact: Draw a card.

Carnophage (Friday Night Magic 2001)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, tap this creature unless you pay 1 life.

"And in their blind and unattaining state their miserable lives have sunk so low that they must envy every other fate." —Dante, *Inferno*, trans. Ciardi

Phyrexian Dreadnought (Judge Gift Cards 2010)
Pete Venters

Trample When this creature enters, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice any number of creatures with total power 12 or greater.

Brainwash (The Dark)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack unless its controller pays {3}.

"They're not your friends; they despise you. I'm the only one you can count on. Trust me."

Fleshbag Marauder (The List)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, each player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Grixis is a world where the only things found in abundance are death and decay. Corpses, whole or in part, are the standard currency among necromancers and demons.

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Duels of the Planeswalkers)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Jodah's Avenger (Planar Chaos)
Pete Venters

{0}: Until end of turn, this creature gets -1/-1 and gains your choice of double strike, protection from red, vigilance, or shadow. (A creature with shadow can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Arcum Dagsson (Double Masters)
Pete Venters

{T}: Target artifact creature's controller sacrifices it. That player may search their library for a noncreature artifact card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

"Artifice sundered the world. It shall not again wreak such sorrow."

Plummet (Core Set 2019)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Plummet (Conspiracy)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Wrench Mind (The List)
Pete Venters

Target player discards two cards unless they discard an artifact card.

What is the sound of one head snapping?

Lhurgoyf (Eighth Edition)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Mercadia's Downfall (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

Each attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each nonbasic land defending player controls.

With an explosion that shook the foundation of the city, the *Weatherlight* burst from the underground hangar.

Raksha Golden Cub (Commander 2017)
Pete Venters

Vigilance As long as Raksha Golden Cub is equipped, Cat creatures you control get +2/+2 and have double strike.

Some believe that Raksha, youngest of the kha, is the reincarnation of Dakan, the first and mightiest of leonin leaders.

Homarid Warrior (Fifth Edition)
Pete Venters

{U}: This creature gains shroud until end of turn and doesn't untap during your next untap step. Tap it. (A creature with shroud can't be the target of spells or abilities.)

Jodah's Avenger (The List)
Pete Venters

{0}: Until end of turn, this creature gets -1/-1 and gains your choice of double strike, protection from red, vigilance, or shadow. (A creature with shadow can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Plummet (Magic Origins)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature with flying.

"Let nothing own the skies but the wind." —Dejara, Giltwood druid

Cleansing (The Dark)
Pete Venters

For each land, destroy that land unless any player pays 1 life.

Ebon Drake (Fifth Dawn)
Pete Venters

Flying Whenever a player casts a spell, you lose 1 life.

The deadliest killers serve only those who are not afraid to die.

Voice of the Woods (Duel Decks Anthology: Elves vs. Goblins)
Pete Venters

Tap five untapped Elves you control: Create a 7/7 green Elemental creature token with trample. (It can deal excess combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.)

The ritual of making draws upon the elves' memories and pasts. And elves have long memories and ancient pasts.

Lhurgoyf (Modern Horizons 3 Commander)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Stinkdrinker Daredevil (Commander 2015)
Pete Venters

Giant spells you cast cost {2} less to cast.

Boggarts constantly strive to outdo each other with the things they bring back to the warren, each hoping the exploit will become as well-known as those of Auntie Grub.

Tidings (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

Draw four cards.

"Though the letter was many pages long, I could tell all I needed to know from one look at the messenger's face." —Barrin, master wizard

Duress (World Championship Decks 2001)
Pete Venters

Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

"Change your mind, or I'll change it for you."

Phyrexian Ghoul (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Phyrexia wastes nothing. Its food chain is a spiraling cycle.

Bone Saw (The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts)
Pete Venters

Equipped creature gets +1/+0. Equip {1} ({1}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

"When metal instruments are scarce, a saw constructed from the subject's femur will suffice for a craniectomy." —Ashnod, research notes

Jodah's Avenger (Time Spiral Remastered)
Pete Venters

{0}: Until end of turn, this creature gets -1/-1 and gains your choice of double strike, protection from red, vigilance, or shadow. (A creature with shadow can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Heightened Awareness (Prophecy)
Pete Venters

As this enchantment enters, discard your hand. At the beginning of your draw step, draw an additional card.

"It startles me how alive one feels on the edge of death." —Barrin, master wizard

Phyrexian Ghoul (Battle Royale Box Set)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Phyrexia wastes nothing. Its food chain is a spiraling cycle.

Crypt Champion (The List)
Pete Venters

Double strike When this creature enters, each player puts a creature card with mana value 3 or less from their graveyard onto the battlefield. When this creature enters, sacrifice it unless {R} was spent to cast it.

Wall of Shadows (Legends)
Pete Venters

Defender (This creature can't attack.) Prevent all damage that would be dealt to this creature by creatures it's blocking. This creature can't be the target of spells that can target only Walls or of abilities that can target only Walls.

Heart of Yavimaya (World Championship Decks 1997)
Pete Venters

If this land would enter, sacrifice a Forest instead. If you do, put this land onto the battlefield. If you don't, put it into its owner's graveyard. {T}: Add {G}. {T}: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Wandering Mage (Alliances)
Pete Venters

{W}, Pay 1 life: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. {U}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target Cleric or Wizard creature this turn. {B}, Put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target player or planeswalker this turn.

Psychic Frog (Modern Horizons 3)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player or planeswalker, draw a card. Discard a card: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Exile three cards from your graveyard: This creature gains flying until end of turn.

Gnat Alley Creeper (Dissension)
Pete Venters

This creature can't be blocked by creatures with flying.

Despite its diminutive name, Gnat Alley is the longest street in Ravnica. Mile after twisting mile, it threads its way among the broader, safer thoroughfares like a parasite.

Laquatus's Disdain (Judgment)
Pete Venters

Counter target spell cast from a graveyard. Draw a card.

"The first time was amusing, but now you're getting tiresome."

Circle of Protection: Red (Pro Tour Collector Set)
Pete Venters

{1}: The next time a red source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Phyrexian Ghoul (Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Phyrexia wastes nothing. Its food chain is a spiraling cycle.

Flametongue Kavu (World Championship Decks 2002)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay

Rocket Launcher (Summer Magic / Edgar)
Pete Venters

{2}: Rocket Launcher deals 1 damage to any target. Destroy Rocket Launcher at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only if you've controlled Rocket Launcher continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

What these devices lacked in subtlety, they made up in strength.

Coercion (Tempest)
Pete Venters

Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a card from it. That player discards that card.

"There's very little that escapes me, Greven. And you will escape very little if you fail." —Volrath

Nocturnal Raid (Seventh Edition)
Pete Venters

Black creatures get +2/+0 until end of turn.

The Eastern Paladin doesn't attack at night for the tactical advantage. He does it for the sheer joy of fighting beneath the moon.

The Dark Barony (Planechase Anthology Planes)
Pete Venters

Whenever a nonblack card is put into a player's graveyard from anywhere, that player loses 1 life. Whenever chaos ensues, each opponent discards a card.

Cache Raiders (Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of your upkeep, return a permanent you control to its owner's hand.

What the current doesn't take, they do.

Putrid Raptor (Scourge)
Pete Venters

Morph—Discard a Zombie card. (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

It eagerly gobbles up bits of its own rotting flesh as they fall to the swampy ground.

Tahngarth's Glare (Apocalypse)
Pete Venters

Look at the top three cards of target opponent's library, then put them back in any order. That player looks at the top three cards of your library, then puts them back in any order.

Hulking Goblin (Starter 1999)
Pete Venters

This creature can't block.

The bigger they are, the harder they avoid work.

Circle of Protection: Red (Pro Tour Collector Set)
Pete Venters

{1}: The next time a red source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage.

Oppression (The List)
Pete Venters

Whenever a player casts a spell, that player discards a card.

"Do not presume to speak for yourself." —Gix, to Xantcha

Thelon's Curse (Fallen Empires)
Pete Venters

Blue creatures don't untap during their controllers' untap steps. At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player may choose any number of tapped blue creatures they control and pay {U} for each creature chosen this way. If the player does, untap those creatures.

Mogg Infestation (The List)
Pete Venters

Destroy all creatures target player controls. For each creature that died this way, that player creates two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens.

Daggerclaw Imp (Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic)
Pete Venters

Flying This creature can't block.

The Simic use the claws as scalpels, while the Rakdos use them for tattooing and torture. The Gruul use them to pick their teeth after lunching on the rest of the carcass.

Cavern Crawler (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

Mountainwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Mountain.) {R}: This creature gets +1/-1 until end of turn.

Orcish Cannonade (Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning)
Pete Venters

Orcish Cannonade deals 2 damage to any target and 3 damage to you. Draw a card.

"Crispy! Scarback! Load another volcano-ball." —Stumphobbler Thuj, orcish captain

Deepwood Legate (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

If an opponent controls a Forest and you control a Swamp, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. {B}: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Sylvan Safekeeper (World Championship Decks 2002)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a land: Target creature you control gains shroud until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)

"How could someone so small cause so much trouble?" —Nomad sentry

Exiled Boggart (Lorwyn)
Pete Venters

When this creature dies, discard a card.

Among the boggarts, there is only one real rule: all new treasures and experiences must be shared. Those who hoard their gifts commit the one truly unforgivable sin.

Sylvan Safekeeper (Judgment)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a land: Target creature you control gains shroud until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities.)

"How could someone so small cause so much trouble?" —Nomad sentry

Cabal Archon (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

{B}, Sacrifice a Cleric: Target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

"You are weak. I am strong. The protocol is obvious."

Goblin Bowling Team (Unglued)
Pete Venters

If this creature would deal damage to a permanent or player, it deals that much damage plus the result of a six-sided die roll to that permanent or player instead.

Flog was out of his league—this game wasn't up his alley, but the team couldn't spare him if he split.

Cabal Slaver (Onslaught)
Pete Venters

Whenever a Goblin deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card.

"In its natural habitat, the goblin is stupid, yet devious. Now it's stupid, devious, and powerful."

Crovax the Cursed (Stronghold)
Pete Venters

Crovax enters with four +1/+1 counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Crovax. If you don't, remove a +1/+1 counter from Crovax. {B}: Crovax gains flying until end of turn.

Fists of the Anvil (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

Target creature gets +4/+0 until end of turn.

Gron's mind reeled with possibilities, most of which are best left unmentioned.

Phyrexian Ghoul (Planechase)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Phyrexia wastes nothing. Its food chain is a spiraling cycle.

Death Pit Offering (Eighth Edition)
Pete Venters

When this enchantment enters, sacrifice all creatures you control. Creatures you control get +2/+2.

"Kill them all and feed them to the new recruits." —Crovax, ascendant evincar

Purge (Darksteel)
Pete Venters

Destroy target artifact creature or black creature. It can't be regenerated.

For the first and last time, the horrific creature experienced terror.

Leonin Squire (Fifth Dawn)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, return target artifact card with mana value 1 or less from your graveyard to your hand.

"I may be kha, but without my soldiers, my people, I am nothing." —Raksha Golden Cub

Giant Strength (Tempest)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.

"Crovax seems filled only with shadows," thought Orim. "Where does his strength come from?"

Threaten (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

Untap target creature and gain control of it until end of turn. That creature gains haste until end of turn. (It can attack and {T} this turn.)

Goblins' motivational techniques are crude, but effective.

Phyrexian Portal (Alliances)
Pete Venters

{3}: If your library has ten or more cards in it, target opponent looks at the top ten cards of your library and separates them into two face-down piles. Exile one of those piles. Search the other pile for a card, put it into your hand, then shuffle the rest of that pile into your library.

Lightning Talons (Shards of Alara)
Pete Venters

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +3/+0 and has first strike. (It deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)

"This is going to hurt a lot, but on the bright side, you'll be dead soon." —Sedris, the Traitor King

Goblin (Unglued Tokens)
Pete Venters

Phyrexian Ghoul (Masters 25)
Pete Venters

Sacrifice a creature: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Phyrexia wastes nothing. Its food chain is a spiraling cycle.

Orcish Spy (Fallen Empires)
Pete Venters

{T}: Look at the top three cards of target player's library.

"You idiot! Never let the spies mingle with the Orcish regulars after completing a mission. Now we'll never get them to fight!" —General Khurzog

Demon (Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic Tokens)
Pete Venters

Flying

Warren Soultrader (Modern Horizons 3)
Pete Venters

Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")

"The living take their souls for granted. The dead know what they're worth."

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Lorwyn)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Goblin Psychopath (Scourge)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature attacks or blocks, flip a coin. If you lose the flip, the next time it would deal combat damage this turn, it deals that damage to you instead.

The destruction he causes is nothing next to the chaos in his mind.

Afterlife (The List)
Pete Venters

Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated. Its controller creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.

Facets of life, reflections of the soul.

Goblin Fireslinger (Magic 2012)
Pete Venters

{T}: This creature deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker.

A rock between your eyes hurts. A burning rock between your eyes ruins your whole day.

Exile into Darkness (Saviors of Kamigawa)
Pete Venters

Target player sacrifices a creature of their choice with mana value 3 or less. At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have more cards in hand than each opponent, you may return this card from your graveyard to your hand.

Jumbo Imp (Unglued)
Pete Venters

Flying As this creature enters, roll a six-sided die. This creature enters with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the result. At the beginning of your upkeep, roll a six-sided die and put a number of +1/+1 counters on this creature equal to the result. At the beginning of your end step, roll a six-sided die and remove a number of +1/+1 counters from this creature equal to the result.

Psychic Frog (Modern Horizons 3)
Pete Venters

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player or planeswalker, draw a card. Discard a card: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Exile three cards from your graveyard: This creature gains flying until end of turn.

Some frogs poison the body. Some frogs poison the mind.

Pithing Needle (Magic 2010)
Pete Venters

As this artifact enters, choose a card name. Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.

It disables with pinpoint accuracy.

Natural Affinity (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

All lands become 2/2 creatures until end of turn. They're still lands.

As long as the dryads are a part of the forest, the forest is a part of the army.

Lhurgoyf (World Championship Decks 1997)
Pete Venters

Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

"Ach! Hans, run! It's the lhurgoyf!" —Saffi Eriksdotter, last words

Frazzle (Guildpact)
Pete Venters

Counter target nonblue spell.

The chant was interrupted, the components cooked, and Zok worried that it was his brain he smelled smoking.

Bone Saw (The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts)
Pete Venters

Equipped creature gets +1/+0. Equip {1} ({1}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

In a world where death is always violent, cruel weapons are as common as rocks.

Gix (Vanguard Series)
Pete Venters

{3}: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.

Through ruthlessness and raw ambition, Gix rose through the Phyrexian regime to the exalted rank of praetor. Even while overseeing many of Phyrexia's most important undertakings, Gix continues his own quest for supremacy . . . for in Phyrexia, the weak become fodder for the strong.

Vulshok War Boar (Darksteel)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice an artifact.

It must eat its weight in metal daily, or its furnacelike belly will consume itself for lack of fuel.

Nomad Decoy (Dominaria Remastered)
Pete Venters

{W}, {T}: Tap target creature. Threshold — {W}{W}, {T}: Tap two target creatures. Activate only if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.

If you can take something from a nomad, it's probably bait.

Flametongue Kavu (Planeshift)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay

Grandmother Sengir (Homelands)
Pete Venters

{1}{B}, {T}: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

"Rarely have power and madness been so delightfully wed as they have in our dear Grandmother." —Baron Sengir

Saprazzan Breaker (Mercadian Masques)
Pete Venters

{U}: Mill a card. If a land card was milled this way, this creature can't be blocked this turn.

Lys Alana Huntmaster (Commander Anthology)
Pete Venters

Whenever you cast an Elf spell, you may create a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token.

From the highest tiers of Dawn's Light Palace to the deepest shade of Wren's Run, the silver notes of the horn shimmer through the air, and all who hear it feel its pull.

Ancestor's Chosen (Tenth Edition)
Pete Venters

First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) When this creature enters, you gain 1 life for each card in your graveyard.

Flametongue Kavu (Friday Night Magic 2005)
Pete Venters

When this creature enters, it deals 4 damage to target creature.

"For dim-witted, thick-skulled genetic mutants, they have pretty good aim." —Sisay

The Abyss (Legends)
Pete Venters

At the beginning of each player's upkeep, destroy target nonartifact creature that player controls of their choice. It can't be regenerated.

"An immense river of oblivion is sweeping us away into a nameless abyss." —Ernest Renan, *Souvenirs d'Enfance et de Jeunesse*

Thran War Machine (Urza's Legacy)
Pete Venters

Echo {4} (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.) This creature attacks each combat if able.

Wolf (Lorwyn Tokens)
Pete Venters

Goblin Hero (Fifth Edition)
Pete Venters

"When you're a goblin, you don't have to step forward to be a hero—everyone else just has to step back!" —Biggum Flodrot, goblin veteran