Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines | Illustration by Martina Fackova
Phyrexian text cards are MTG collectibles that look insanely cool, but also raise a bunch of questions the moment you see one. Are they real cards or just a novelty print? Can you actually play them at a tournament? And are they going to cost you a fortune if you want a full set? Let’s break it all down in plain English, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
What Are Phyrexian Language Cards in MTG?
Batterskull | Illustration by Mark Zug
Phyrexian language cards are official Magic: The Gathering printings where the card’s text is written in the fictional Phyrexian script instead of English. They play the same as the normal version, so nothing about the rules or mechanics changes; it’s just a stylistic swap. Wizards originally created the script for Scars of Mirrodin block, and it has been expanded over time with a full alphabet and grammar (led by Phyrexian linguist Mary Kathryn Amiotte-Beaulieu, with recent translations by Bella Guo). They’re tournament legal, but if someone doesn't know the card by heart (or doesn't read Phyrexian), they need to reference the oracle text.
Gallery and List of Phyrexian Language Cards
- Ajani, Sleeper Agent
- Batterskull
- Beast Within
- Blighted Agent
- Dismember
- Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Judge promo + Secret Lair)
- Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
- Glistener Elf
- Inkmoth Nexus
- Jace, the Perfected Mind
- Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
- Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant
- K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
- Lukka, Bound to Ruin
- Mental Misstep
- Nahiri, the Unforgiving
- Nissa, Ascended Animist
- Norn's Annex
- Phyrexian Arena
- Psychosis Crawler
- Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
- Sheoldred, Whispering One
- Tamiyo, Compleated Sage
- Urabrask, Heretic Praetor
- Urabrask the Hidden
- Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider
- Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
- Vraska, Betrayal's Sting
- Plains (two versions)
- Island (two versions)
- Swamp (three versions)
- Mountain (two versions)
- Forest (two versions)
What Sets Have Phyrexian Language Cards?
Phyrexian language cards show up in specific releases, not every set. The big one is Phyrexia: All Will Be One (January 2023). After that, they mostly appear in special products like Secret Lair drops or as one-off promos.
Phyrexia: All Will Be One (Jan 2023 Main Set)
- Jace, the Perfected Mind
- Lukka, Bound to Ruin
- Nahiri, the Unforgiving
- Nissa, Ascended Animist
- Vraska, Betrayal's Sting
- Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
- Plains
- Island
- Swamp
- Mountain
- Forest
- 36 Phyrexia: All Will Be One MTG Draft Boosters—the best boosters for drafting Phyrexia: All Will Be One
- 15 Magic cards per booster, including 1 card of rarity Rare or higher
- At least 1 Phyrexianized Land or Panorama Full-Art Land in every pack
- 1 Traditional Foil card in 33% of packs
- Glory to Phyrexia—resist the Phyrexian invasion or forfeit your flesh to join them in perfection
Phyrexia: All Will Be One – Bundle: Compleat Edition
- Phyrexian Arena
- Oil slick basics
- Bundle: Compleat Edition—contains cards with an Oil Slick Raised Foil treatment exclusive to the Compleat Edition
- 1 Compleat Edition booster—12 Oil Slick Raised Foil cards, with 2 Mythic Rares + 10 Basic Lands (2 of each type)
- 1 Exclusive Phyrexian Language Traditional Foil Rare promo card—Phyrexian Arena
- 40 Traditional Foil Land cards that celebrate the glory of Phyrexia—20 Phyrexianized Lands + 20 Panorama Full-Art Lands
- 12 Phyrexia: All Will Be One Set Boosters—the best MTG boosters to open just for fun
Secret Lair: Phyrexian Faves
- At MTG Decks & More we have over 50 years combined experience playing games including D&D, Magic the Gathering, and dozens of other table and board games. We use this experience with many hundreds of different games and gaming accessories over the decades to select only the highest quality products for sale. For sale is the exclusive secret lair drop: Secret Lair Phyrexian Faves (Foil)
- Contents: 1x Foil Phyrexian Blighted Agent, 1x Foil Phyrexian K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, 1x Foil Phyrexian Glistener Elf, 1x Foil Phyrexian Batterskull, 1x Foil Phyrexian Inkmoth Nexus
Secret Lair: Phyrexian Praetors – Compleat Edition
- Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
- Sheoldred, Whispering One
- Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
- Urabrask the Hidden
- Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
Promos
Miscellaneous
- Ajani, Sleeper Agent + Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Dominaria United)
- Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant + Tamiyo, Compleated Sage (Kamigawa, Neon Dynasty)
- Urabrask, Heretic Praetor (Streets of New Capenna)
- Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Kaldheim)
- Swamp (Jumpstart #58)
Where Can You Get Phyrexian Basic Lands?
If you’re hunting for Phyrexian text basic lands, there are really only two sources. Phyrexia: All Will Be One has the full-art basics in Phyrexian script, and you can pull them from ONE booster products, including Draft Boosters, Set Boosters, and Collector Boosters.
The Compleat Bundle has “Oil Slick” basics, which are also Phyrexianized but have different art.
The other one is a single Jumpstart land: Swamp (#58), which was printed with Phyrexian text. If you’re looking for the biggest guaranteed pile of ONE lands, the Compleat Bundle is the standout, since it comes with 20 of each Phyrexian basic land, plus you can still hit one in every Set Booster included in the box.
Are Phyrexian Language Cards Tournament Legal?
Yes. Phyrexian language cards are official Magic cards, so they are legal anywhere the normal version is legal. For example, a Phyrexian version of Jace, the Perfected Mind is legal in any format where Jace, the Perfected Mind is legal.
Tournament rules allow cards printed in other languages or scripts as long as you are not using them to confuse or mislead your opponent. If someone cannot read the card, a judge can provide the official Oracle text.
Are Phyrexian Language Cards Expensive?
It depends, but most aren’t that pricey. Many Phyrexian text cards are modern printings or promos, so they tend to be affordable. A few spike because people really want them, like Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, which is often around the high teens. Secret Lair printings, like those of Inkmoth Nexus and Batterskull, can land in the $10-15 range. Meanwhile, many others like the compleated planeswalkers sit at just a few dollars.
Wrap Up
Psychosis Crawler | Illustration by Stephan Martiniere
At the end of the day, Phyrexian language cards are 100% legit. They’re tournament legal anywhere the regular version is legal, and most of them aren’t nearly as expensive as people assume. The only real catch is practicality, since it can be a little inconvenient if your opponents aren’t familiar with the card and need to check Oracle text.
That said, the art and the Phyrexian treatment are just plain awesome. Personally, the one that really stands out to me is the Phyrexian version of Sheoldred, Whispering One, and I even use that style as my default in MTG Arena.
What about you? Which one is your favorite? And would you want a revisit the praetors so we can see more of these kinds of treatments in the future? Let us know in the comments.
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