Whether you’re playing Commander or constructed, tokens are commonly an incredibly powerful strategy in MTG. Often allowing single cards to create multiple threats, containing a token deck can become quite challenging. Using single-target removal will put you behind cards, while board wipes can sometimes come down too late.
Thanks to this, running silver bullets that address token strategies can be quite powerful, regardless of the format. When it comes to containing tokens, Pest Control, a surprisingly underrated card, is among the best.
MTG Pest Control
Released in Outlaws of Thunder Junction’s Big Score, Pest Control offers players a niche effect for an extremely good price. Not only is this a two-mana answer to massive token boards from Commanders like Cadira, Caller of the Small, but you can hit noncreature tokens, too. Whether you’re facing down Treasure Tokens, Food, or a combination of different things, Pest Control destroys them all.
While most of this card’s value comes from destroying Commander’s many token decks, it can also hit a surprising amount of format staples. Most of Commander’s best ramp pieces, including Mana Vault, Sol Ring, and Carpet of Flowers, are all taken care of by Pest Control. The same goes for a ton of common card draw options, like Mystic Remora and Esper Sentinel.
Thanks to this, Pest Control should find value on most Commander boards, but it is a rather narrow card at times. Fortunately, Cycling ensures that Pest Control will always have a use, turning itself into a different card at worst. At times, you can even use this to enable discard strategies for Commanders like Toluz, Clever Conductor, making Pest Control a relatively free inclusion there.
Considering all of this, Pest Control’s surprisingly low Commander play rate is rather surprising. Appearing in just 4,480 decks according to EDHREC, Pest Control sees a criminally low amount of play in the format. Considering that the card wipes out many common Commander powerhouses, Pest Control feels like a card that could easily find new homes across the format.
Surprisingly Expensive
Between its low play rate and its deceptive versatility, Pest Control seems like a great tech option to keep token decks in control at your Commander table. The card even sees some play in constructed formats, appearing as a Modern sideboard card for the likes of Affinity and Boros Energy.
Sadly, while Pest Control has the markings of an underrated Commander card, it’s not exactly a budget option. Thanks to being exclusively printed in The Big Score, there isn’t a ton of supply for Pest Control available. As a result, $4.40 is the absolute lowest you’ll find this card on TCGplayer. Even at this price, however, Pest Control is easily still worth the investment for your Orzhov decks.
Stick with us here at mtgrocks.com: the best site for Magic: The Gathering coverage. Be sure to check out our deckbuilder for your next big brew, and our brand new MTG Rocks Podcast!