Do All Slivers Have Poison? A Deep Dive into Slivers and Poisonous/Toxic in Magic: The Gathering
The simple answer is no, not all Slivers inherently have poison. The ability to grant poison counters to opponents has appeared on Slivers through specific cards, most notably through the Poisonous ability from Virulent Sliver. However, whether all Slivers have this ability at any given time depends entirely on the cards in play and the effects they generate. We’ll explore this in detail, along with a host of other common questions about Slivers and poison.
Understanding Slivers and Shared Abilities
Slivers in Magic: The Gathering are a creature type famous for their ability to share abilities with each other. If one Sliver has an ability, and nothing is preventing it, other Slivers on the battlefield effectively gain that ability too. This creates powerful synergies and makes Sliver decks a force to be reckoned with.
However, it’s crucial to remember that this shared ability mechanic is dependent on the printed text of specific Sliver cards. There isn’t a universal rule that all Slivers automatically have every ability ever printed on a Sliver. Instead, they gain abilities from Slivers that are currently on the battlefield.
Poisonous vs. Toxic: A Critical Distinction
Before diving deeper, let’s clarify the difference between Poisonous and Toxic. Both abilities result in an opponent receiving poison counters, but they function slightly differently.
- Poisonous N: This is a triggered ability. When a creature with Poisonous N deals combat damage to a player, that player gets N poison counters.
- Toxic N: This is a static ability. When a creature with Toxic N deals combat damage to a player, that player gets N poison counters.
The difference is subtle, but important. Poisonous’s triggered nature means it can be responded to with cards that counter triggered abilities, such as Stifle. Toxic, being a static ability, cannot be countered in the same way.
Virulent Sliver: The Poison Enabler
The key card for granting poison to all Slivers is Virulent Sliver. Its card text states: “All Sliver creatures have poisonous 1.” This means that as long as Virulent Sliver is on the battlefield, every Sliver you control will have the Poisonous 1 ability. If they deal combat damage to a player, that player gets a poison counter.
If Virulent Sliver leaves the battlefield, the other Slivers lose the Poisonous 1 ability, unless another card grants it to them.
The Endgame: Poison Counters and Losing the Game
A player loses the game when they have ten or more poison counters. This creates a fast-paced and sometimes devastating alternative win condition, making poison-based strategies particularly effective in formats like Commander where players start with a higher life total.
15 FAQs About Slivers and Poison
Here are some of the most common questions about Slivers and poison, answered in detail.
1. Do Slivers you control have Toxic?
Not unless a specific card is in play that gives them Toxic. Virulent Sliver gives them Poisonous 1, not Toxic. There might be other cards in the future that grant Slivers Toxic, but currently, it’s not an ability inherently tied to Slivers.
2. What is the poisonous rule in Magic: The Gathering?
Poisonous N means that whenever a creature with the ability deals combat damage to a player, that player gets N poison counters. Crucially, it only applies to combat damage.
3. Can you remove poison counters from yourself?
Removing poison counters is difficult. The text provided mentions Karn Liberated as a way to restart the game and effectively remove counters, and lists two other cards that remove your opponent’s poison counters instead of your own. Generally, prevention is better than cure when dealing with poison counters.
4. Do Virulent Slivers stack?
Yes, the Poisonous ability from multiple Virulent Slivers stacks. If you have two Virulent Slivers, each Sliver now has Poisonous 2. This means that if a Sliver deals combat damage to a player, that player gets two poison counters (one from each instance of Poisonous 1).
5. How does Virulent Sliver work?
Virulent Sliver gives all Sliver creatures the Poisonous 1 ability. As long as it’s on the battlefield, every Sliver gains this ability.
6. Why is Toxic instead of Poisonous in MTG?
Toxic and Poisonous are similar but function differently. Toxic is a static ability, while Poisonous is a triggered ability. This subtle difference can impact how the ability interacts with other cards and strategies. This impacts card interactions with cards like Stifle.
7. Can Aether Snap remove poison counters?
No, Aether Snap only removes counters from permanents (cards on the battlefield). Poison counters are placed on players, not permanents, so they are unaffected by Aether Snap.
8. Can you proliferate Toxic?
Yes, you can proliferate poison counters. Proliferate allows you to add another counter of a kind already present on a permanent or player.
9. What cancels out poison?
There aren’t many cards that directly “cancel out” poison counters. Melira, the Living Cure stops you from getting poison counters, acting like a strong defense. Proactive measures are often more reliable.
10. Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch?
The provided text states that if both creatures have Deathtouch, “Any two instances of the Deathtouch ability against one another cancel out the Deathtouch ability,” however, there is no official rule from Wizards of the Coast that states Deathtouch cancels out Deathtouch.
11. What is the rule of 7 in Magic: The Gathering?
The rule of 7 refers to the maximum hand size. At the end of your turn, if you have more than seven cards in your hand, you must discard down to seven. Some cards can remove this restriction.
12. What is the vanilla rule in Magic: The Gathering?
A vanilla creature is a creature with no rules text. A French vanilla creature has no rules text other than creature keywords (like deathtouch, flying, trample, etc.).
13. Do Slivers trigger themselves?
When a Sliver enters the battlefield, abilities it gives itself will trigger. The Sliver is the source of the ability.
14. Do Slivers have to be removed?
This refers to physical splinters/slivers, not the Magic: The Gathering cards. Seek medical attention if a splinter is deep, infected, or causing significant pain.
15. Does proliferate get around Hexproof?
Yes, proliferate does not target. Since you are “choosing” rather than “targeting,” permanents with hexproof or shroud can be chosen.
Building a Poisonous Sliver Deck
If you’re looking to build a Sliver deck focused on poison, here are some key considerations:
- Virulent Sliver: Absolutely essential for granting poison counters.
- Sliver Overlord: Allows you to search your library for Sliver cards, including Virulent Sliver, ensuring consistency.
- Overrun Effects: Trample is vital. If you use trample effects, every extra point of damage goes straight for poisoning your opponent.
- Proliferate Cards: Cards that allow you to proliferate poison counters, such as Contagion Engine or Throne of Geth, can rapidly accelerate your opponent’s demise.
Beyond Poison: The Versatility of Slivers
While poison-based Sliver decks can be powerful, don’t forget the incredible versatility of the Sliver creature type. They can be built around a variety of strategies, from aggressive combat to control-oriented decks.
Slivers are a fascinating and dynamic part of Magic: The Gathering, and understanding their mechanics and interactions is key to mastering this complex game. To learn more about the educational applications of games and game design, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. By exploring the intersection of games and learning, we can unlock new ways to engage and educate.
In conclusion, while not all Slivers have poison automatically, the Virulent Sliver makes the dream of a poison-based Sliver army a reality. Build wisely, proliferate strategically, and watch your opponents succumb to the venomous might of the Sliver hive.