Toxic — what does it mean?
If this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player also gets the listed number of poison counters in addition to the damage.
Toxic appears on 43 cards.
How does Toxic work?
Toxic is a static ability written as toxic N. When a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a player, that player gets N poison counters in addition to the damage's normal result. So the player still loses life as usual, and on top of that gets a fixed number of poison counters. A 3/2 with toxic 1 that connects costs your opponent 3 life and gives them 1 poison counter. Ten poison counters means a loss, regardless of life total.
The poison is fixed, not tied to power. Pumping a toxic creature makes it deal more damage, but not more poison. It only works on combat damage to a player: damage to creatures, planeswalkers and battles is normal, and noncombat damage from the creature gives no poison. The creature has to actually deal damage, so if all of it is prevented or the creature has 0 power, there's no poison. A creature with double strike deals combat damage twice, so it gives poison twice. With trample, the excess that reaches the player also counts.
If a creature has more than one toxic ability, they add up to its total toxic value: toxic 2 plus toxic 1 is a total toxic value of 3. Some cards refer to that total directly. Toxic and infect use the same poison counters, so they stack toward the same ten. Proliferate adds another poison counter to every player who already has at least one. Toxic gives you two clocks at once: your opponent's life drops normally while the poison quietly builds up.
An example at the table
Your opponent is at 12 life with 6 poison counters. You attack with a 3/2 with toxic 2 and a 2/2 with toxic 1, and neither is blocked. They take 5 damage and drop to 7 life, and get 2 plus 1 is 3 poison counters, for 9 in total. If you had given the 3/2 +2/+0 first, they'd have taken 7 damage, but the poison would still be 3. Next turn, a single connecting toxic creature or one proliferate finishes the job.
Cards with Toxic
Skrelv, Defector MiteIllustration: Brian Valeza
Myr ConvertIllustration: José Parodi
Bloated ContaminatorIllustration: Johann Bodin
Blightbelly RatIllustration: Yeong-Hao Han
Venerated RotpriestIllustration: Brian ValezaCommon mistakes
- Thinking toxic gives poison equal to the damage. That's infect. Toxic gives exactly N poison counters, however much damage is dealt.
- Thinking toxic replaces life loss. The player loses life as normal and also gets the poison counters.
- Expecting poison from noncombat damage or from damage to creatures. Toxic only applies to combat damage dealt to a player.
- Pumping power to add poison. Extra power adds damage, not poison.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between toxic and poisonous?
- Toxic is a static ability and adds its poison as part of the combat damage. Poisonous is a triggered ability that triggers on combat damage to a player and uses the stack. Both result in a fixed number of poison counters.
- Does toxic stack?
- Yes. All toxic abilities on a creature add up to its total toxic value.
- Does toxic work with double strike?
- Yes. The creature deals combat damage to the player twice, so the poison is given twice.
Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 702.164. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.
Often seen with
ProliferateFlyingTrampleHasteDeathtouch
Which cards with Toxic do you own? →
Last updated: 26 October 2026