Contagion Clasp

Contagion Clasp was first released in 2010 as part of the Scars of Mirrodin expansion, a set centered on the return to the metallic plane of Mirrodin and its corruption by the Phyrexians. Within the game's lore, the Clasp represents the spreading influence of Phyrexian oil, a substance that transforms living and non-living matter into part of their collective. Mechanically, it was designed as a versatile tool for decks utilizing the proliferate mechanic, allowing players to incrementally advance their game state by adding counters to their permanents or players.

The card's artwork, illustrated by Anthony Palumbo, captures the aesthetic shift of the setting. Palumbo rendered the artifact with a cold, biomechanical precision, emphasizing the unsettling marriage of metallic construction and biological infection that defined the Scars of Mirrodin block. Upon its release, it became a staple in limited environments and casual formats due to its ability to manipulate counter-based strategies, eventually finding its way onto 'The List,' a curated collection of cards re-inserted into booster packs to celebrate the history of Magic: The Gathering.