Slighty better than Terror, in that it can destroy artifact creatures.
sir_dwar
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(12 votes)
Best thing about this card is the flavor text. MTG needs more classical literature references
jugglingguy
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(7 votes)
Draugnor:
oh, yeah, it IS slightly better than terror...not.
the extra mana is not worth it to destroy artifact creatures.
mdakw576
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(5 votes)
they're both worse than doom blade unless your target can regenerate.
jetzine
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(6 votes)
Maannn. *** Doomblade.
theblasterman
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
100 times better than terror. The artwork is way better too.
kowrip
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This is a solid card. I do think it's clearly better than Terror and slightly better than Doom Blade. First of all, the extra 1 mana is not really a big deal since it's only 3 CMC vs. 2 for Terror / Doom Blade. Secondly, with the introduction of the colored artifacts, there are a lot more artifact creatures to worry about nowadays. Doom Blade comes close, but regeneration is common enough where I'd rather pay the extra 1 to be SURE the creature stays dead. 4/5
ScepterofEternities
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I run a black-green destroy deck. It's all about killing things fast and hard. However, this is not a card that I'd ever put in it. Why? Because I have four putrefys in it. Same converted mana cost, except it's any creature or artifact. Not just artifact creatures. Oh, and they still can't be regenerated.
Gelzo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(14 votes)
It's funny that Shakespeare ends up raising a good point in the context of Magic. It's typically better to exile a creature than to destroy it.
applecorn
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
@Rikiaz
Exile was not a main mechanic when this card entered the game. Few older cards were capable of Remove from Game effects. even for more touching, look at the flavor text of the Tempest version. Sadly for how great the flavor speaks, it out-dates the card.
Concerned_Bystander
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
In my mono black removal deck I dispensed with the difficulty of choosing between Dark Banishing, Doom Blade and Terror by having four of each.
Be sure to pack a few Scuttlemutts into these decks too.
Me: I dark banish your pestilence demon.
Opponent: You can't, it's black.
Me: (taps Scuttlemutt) now he's blue.
Opponent: Damn.
Kryptnyt
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The man (woman?) in the art is clearly not a legal target for this spell.
AncientTimer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
One of the best removal spells of all times. A classic. 5/5
GlassJoetheChamp
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Kinda wish it said "Exile target non-black creature"
It would have made more sense flavor-wise, and it would've kept this relevent after Doom Blade/Go For the Throat
Rikiaz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
To go with the flavor text it should exile the creature it destroys, but then again exiling is whites cup of tea.
A really good article for people to read who want to understand why some Commons are even bothered to be given cardboard at all, even today.
"Common Limited Vanilla Creature at 3 Mana" actually hasn't changed by more than about 1 toughness for most of the period of the game. o.O We still get Riot Devils today, which is really just a Red Regal Unicorn!
The only thing I question about the Article is that I think either I don't know how good Dark Banishing is even post-Doom Blade, or this article is failing to be honest about the impact of Doom Blade on Design and Development...however it's worth noting that Go for the Throat is an uncommon.
SubstantiaNigra
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Instant classic, even though there are clearly better options out there, such as the also veteran Terror, the more recent Doom Blade and Go for the Throat, or my personal favourite: Rend Flesh.
Comments (18)
oh, yeah, it IS slightly better than terror...not.
the extra mana is not worth it to destroy artifact creatures.
Exile was not a main mechanic when this card entered the game. Few older cards were capable of Remove from Game effects. even for more touching, look at the flavor text of the Tempest version. Sadly for how great the flavor speaks, it out-dates the card.
Be sure to pack a few Scuttlemutts into these decks too.
Me: I dark banish your pestilence demon.
Opponent: You can't, it's black.
Me: (taps Scuttlemutt) now he's blue.
Opponent: Damn.
It would have made more sense flavor-wise, and it would've kept this relevent after Doom Blade/Go For the Throat
A really good article for people to read who want to understand why some Commons are even bothered to be given cardboard at all, even today.
"Common Limited Vanilla Creature at 3 Mana" actually hasn't changed by more than about 1 toughness for most of the period of the game. o.O We still get Riot Devils today, which is really just a Red Regal Unicorn!
The only thing I question about the Article is that I think either I don't know how good Dark Banishing is even post-Doom Blade, or this article is failing to be honest about the impact of Doom Blade on Design and Development...however it's worth noting that Go for the Throat is an uncommon.
4/5 (3.75 + 0.25 points for nostalgia)