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The Phyrexians won
What this set is
New Phyrexia ends the Scars of Mirrodin block with the Phyrexians in control. Wizards kept its name secret through Mirrodin Besieged, because the name would have revealed which side won.
Phyrexian mana is the mechanic it introduced. A Phyrexian mana symbol can be paid with one mana of its color or with 2 life, so Dismember costs one generic mana plus two black or 4 life in any deck. That made colored cards castable outside their color in Constructed, and several of them were later banned there. For Commander, Phyrexian mana symbols still count toward color identity.
The five Praetors (Elesh Norn, Jin-Gitaxias, Sheoldred, Urabrask and Vorinclex) are the set's most-played legends, one per color. Karn Liberated, Beast Within and Phyrexian Metamorph are also from here.
Themes
Every mechanic in New Phyrexia
Phyrexian mana
Each Phyrexian mana symbol can be paid with one mana of its color or with 2 life. The card is still that color, and in Commander the symbol still counts toward color identity, so a Phyrexian black card needs black in your commander's identity.
Infect
Poison counters to players and -1/-1 counters to creatures, the Phyrexian mechanic carried through all three sets of the block.
Proliferate
Add one more counter of each kind already present on any permanents and players you choose. Back from Scars of Mirrodin.
Living weapon
Equipment that enters attached to a 0/0 Phyrexian Germ token. Back from Mirrodin Besieged.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
New Phyrexia shipped under a single code. It predates Pioneer, so the set is legal in Modern and the eternal formats, with three Modern bans.
Not Standard-legal; Standard only ever holds the last few years of sets. New Phyrexia cards are playable in Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander, except for three cards: Birthing Pod is banned in Modern, and Gitaxian Probe and Mental Misstep are banned in Modern and Legacy and restricted in Vintage. All three are Commander-legal. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Limited
The draft format
Drafted as New Phyrexia, Mirrodin Besieged, Scars of Mirrodin. Phyrexian mana loosened color commitments, since a drafter could play an off-color card by paying life.
Infect and proliferate
Poison
The block's poison plan at its strongest, with proliferate to turn a couple of poison counters into a clock.
Phyrexian mana splashes
Flexible
Cards like Gut Shot and Dismember go into any deck for life instead of mana, which let drafters take the best card rather than the on-color one.
Commanders
The most played commanders from New Phyrexia
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from New Phyrexia are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
How does Phyrexian mana work?
Each Phyrexian mana symbol can be paid with one mana of its color or with 2 life. The card keeps its color, so in Commander the symbol counts toward color identity even if you plan to pay life.
Which New Phyrexia cards are banned in Modern?
Birthing Pod, Gitaxian Probe and Mental Misstep. Probe and Misstep are also banned in Legacy and restricted in Vintage. All three are legal in Commander.
Who are the Praetors?
The five rulers of New Phyrexia, one per color: Elesh Norn (white), Jin-Gitaxias (blue), Sheoldred (black), Urabrask (red) and Vorinclex (green). Each has a legendary creature card in New Phyrexia, and new versions appeared in later sets.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. New Phyrexia released on May 13, 2011; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
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