TCG Playability
Creature — Insect
Deathtouch Whenever this creature attacks, another target creature you control gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Symptoms of a burrower bite include fevers, chills, gangrene, subcutaneous writhing, a growing urge to eat the flesh of the living, and if you're lucky, death.
Flesh Burrower is a compelling two-mana green creature that offers exceptional value for aggressive strategies looking to leverage the powerful deathtouch mechanic across multiple creatures. As a 2/2 body for just one green mana and a generic mana, this insect provides immediate board presence while its passive deathtouch ability ensures that even in a race scenario, it threatens to trade favorably against any opposing creature. The real power emerges from its triggered ability, which allows you to distribute deathtouch to another creature whenever Flesh Burrower attacks, essentially doubling your damage prevention capabilities and creating multiple board threats that opponents must respect. This makes it particularly valuable in limited formats like Draft where efficient creatures with evasive or protective abilities are highly sought after, and in constructed formats like Pioneer and Modern where deathtouch-focused strategies or go-wide creature decks can maximize its potential. The card fits naturally into green stompy decks, token strategies, and any archetype running multiple creatures that benefit from the deathtouch keyword, allowing smaller creatures to punch above their weight class. In Commander, Flesh Burrower serves as an exceptional utility piece in Golgari or Sultai deathtouch-themed decks, particularly alongside commanders like Hapatra or other creature-heavy strategies. With its broad format legality spanning Standard, Pioneer, Modern, and beyond, this affordable single offers both casual players and competitive deck builders an efficient way to incorporate meaningful evasion and combat advantage into their strategies at minimal cost.
Illustrated by Maxime Minard