Magic: The Gathering

Contagion

Alliances 45 • uncommon

Set: Alliances
Collector number: 45
Rarity: Uncommon
Mana cost: 3 generic mana black mana black mana
Type: Instant
Colors: Black
Artist: Mike Raabe
Market price: $2.30

Add this to your collection →Add to wishlist Buy this card on eBay

$2.30est. via TCGplayer

0collectors have this

0copies owned

3other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$2.30market price via TCGplayer · Aug 19, 2026$1.90 – $2.55 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Contagion; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

As an instant from the Alliances set, this card offers the tactical advantage of being played at any time, allowing for reactive disruption during a game. Its status as an uncommon find makes it a steady, functional piece of history that illustrates the specific visual style characteristic of its artist.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Card face

What it does

You may pay 1 life and exile a black card from your hand rather than pay this spell's mana cost.

Distribute two -2/-1 counters among one or two target creatures.

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperNot legal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
OathbreakerLegal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

Buy

Where to find one

Search for Contagion on the marketplaces collectors use.

Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Provenance

Where it came from

Contagion was released in 1996 as part of the Alliances expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Developed during a period of rapid growth for the game, the set was designed to explore themes of environmental decay and political instability within the lore of the Dominaria plane. The card functions as an instant, allowing players to manipulate the battlefield by placing -1/-1 counters on creatures, reflecting the set's emphasis on strategic, attrition-based gameplay.

The artwork was provided by Mike Raabe, who contributed several pieces to this era of the game. Raabe’s illustration captures a grim, visceral aesthetic intended to evoke the spread of a magical plague. While the card is often remembered for its mechanical utility in specific tournament formats during the late 1990s, the visual design remains a classic example of the dark, organic fantasy style that defined the mid-nineties aesthetic of the trading card game.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.

Nobody public has added this card yet — be the first.

About

About Contagion

Contagion is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Alliances 45 • uncommon. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

How many collectors track Contagion on collecto.rs?

Contagion doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.

Can I track my own copy of Contagion?

Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your card, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other magic: the gathering collectors. Your collection stays private by default.

Where does the Contagion catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Contagion is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.

Is collecto.rs cards tracking free?

Yes. Tracking your cards is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.

More to explore

Similar cards

Contact Other Plane // Contact Other Plane

Track every card you own

Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.