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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Undercity Plague
Image from Wizards.com

 Undercity Plague
- Gatecrash

Reviewed April 11, 2013

Constructed: 2.70
Casual: 3.30
Limited: 3.50
Multiplayer: 2.67

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Undercity Plague

Six mana for a one-sided Smallpox. A NERFED one-sided Smallpox. I guess it has to be expensive because it's a potentially repeatable effect. What was the name of that 1/1 for B that can't block or be blocked? Wouldn't that be the perfect Cipher candidate? Is ti still in Standard? I guess the possibility of hitting a player with this every turn makes it pretty bombastic in Limited. In Multiplayer I like that you can attack one player and Plague another, thus spreading the hate and wearing down multiple opponents at once (but encouraging the table that you're the big threat in the process). Still, you have to play this via Cipher at least twice to get your mana's worth. Good luck!

Constructed- 3
Casual- 3.5
Limited- 4
Multiplayer- 3.75

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Undercity Plague

I don't mean to get on a soapbox right now, but cards like this are the poster child for why cipher cards are much more expensive than older non-cipher cards with similar effects. As it is now, Undercity Plague is more a card that prevents an opponent from getting back into a game later on than one that locks them out early, at least assuming you can get to the end game and they don't disrupt it (that's why it's called a strategy game, folks). Fortunately, you're in black and you also have your own disruptive spells. If this cost even one mana less, I'd be frightened of it; at six, I really think it's still playable.

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 3/5


Paul

Welcome back readers todays card of the day is Undercity Plague another six mana cipher spell this one however provides a slower less immediate impact on the board and its effect is more cumulative. It’s a hard to evaluate card as its effect is quite powerful but its asking price mana and a creature is a turn off. In standard as opposed to yesterday’s card I don’t foresee this one having a profound impact repeatable smallpox however is nothing to dismiss but it would take a ridiculous circumstance for this card to see some action perhaps in a slow control matchup this card could shine but maybe that’s wishful thinking. In modern and eternal formats this card is too expensive and slow and relies to heavily on a creature to be effective. In casual this card could prove powerful with evasive creatures. In multiplayer cipher is nice as it allows you to repeat spells and not suffer card disadvantage by doing so, this card however targets a specific player leaving the others in the game unaffected this may be good for political reasons and can cripple a threatening player but leaves other opponents unscathed for better or worse. In limited this card given a few turns can totally turn the tide of the game as long as its strapped to an evasive creature or played at a critical time. Overall a card that fills a niche but in casual, multiplayer or constructed formats its place remains to be seen.
 
Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 3.5
Multiplayer: 2.0

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Undercity Plague which is a six mana Black with Cipher that has target player lose one life, discard a card, and sacrifice a permanent.  The cost is very high outside of a control theme and it really requires an evasive target to have an impact.  Forcing the double sacrifice one turn is a decent enough play, but if the opponent doesn't have worthwhile cards in hand they may just lose two life and two lands.  Overall this just isn't strong enough for a competitive format and probably won't see much play.
 
In Limited this can be used with something evasive to apply pressure to the opponent, but for the cost it is fairly weak and not nearly as strong as other many rares in the set.  It can be a first pick in booster if Dimir is what you want to aim for or included in Sealed, though it is more often an annoyance than a serious threat.
 
Constructed: 2.5
Casual: 2.5
Limited: 3.0
Multiplayer: 2.5

  Undercity Plague

      Welcome to the Pojo.com card of the day section. Today we are looking at Undercity PLague from Gatecrash. Undercity Plague is a rare black sorcery that costs four generic and two black mana. Undercity Plague says target player loses 1 life, discards a card, and then sacrifices a permanent. Undercity Plague also has Cipher. 

      Now, six mana may seem like a lot of mana for this spell, and you might be right. But the benefits of casting Undercity Plague are worth it. Being able to force all of the on your opponent, and then Cipher it onto a potentially unblockable creature, which would allow you to cast it again are very much worth it to me. And Tormented Soul would be a great target for this card in a mono-black deck, let alone all the potential blue creatures if you wish to fully exploit the Dimir Cipher ability. 

    All in all, a solid card if you get to six mana. Of course in older formats Dark Rituals are always there to get this out second turn on a first turn drop Tormented Soul. 
 
Limited: 3/5
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Multiplayer: 2/5
 

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