simply the best creature removal in the entire game.. and thankfully it has the right artwork this time! i hope i never have to look upon the abominable 'artwork' (term used very loosely) from elspeth vs tezzeret
The single best spot creature removal spell ever printed. Plus it has potential for one of the greatest eff-yous ever: tap out to invite them into a lethal alpha strike, use this on your creature, survive from the life gain, then kill them on your turn. There's just something about winning because of the tiny downside to a huge upside.
It's also funny that one of the most famous cards from an allegedly Satanic game comes from the Bible.
nabby101
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
This is the highest rated card in Gatherer that doesn't produce mana. Wow.
peaceoutside
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
If there were ever a functional reprint of this card, it should most definitely be called: "Spears to Pruning Hooks."
Gormaol
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(7 votes)
Swords to Muthafuckin' Plowshares!!!
bijart_dauth
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(9 votes)
I personally prefer path to exile, the kinda creature your likely to cast this on will often times grant so much life that you will be hard pressed to kill them. Unless of corse your planning on winning ether threw infinite or an alternative measure, such as milling or poison.
Gabriel422
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
It was a mistake. Why clone it a thousand times over?
Instead of trying to make balanced versions of Swords, why not forget about Swords and start making balanced white removal?
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
best removal
UsagiYojimbo
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
How do you think this wording would work with R&D's Secret Lair? "Removed from the game entirely", like would it make it so that card effectively didn't exist in Magic for the duration of play?!
There has got to be some way to exploit that.
CuriousThing
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Artifact decks now have Dispatch. Sorry, Swords to Plowshares.
TheWallinator74
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
And everyone talks about Doom Blade like it's the removal champ. Good thing this card is as ancient as the Power Nine.
DacenOctavio
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This and Path and Dispatch all have their uses. This is great in control decks because life is generally not a resource good in excess if your board position sucks. Mana is. Path gives them mana to curve out bigger spells and thins their deck, and pay for spells like Mana Leak and Rune Snag. Path also becomes a white instant Rampant Growth if you shoot your own blocker while chump blocking. Zoo needs to use Path because it intends to win by attacking them with lots of little guys, and can usually deal with whatever they curve out by just regrowthing their Path with Eternal Witness, or throwing Punishing Fire around.
Dispatch takes Affinity and makes it dumber than it already is. So does fricking Galvanic Blast.
Lueseto
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Gotta love playing this with kavu predator. Not only it's the best instant in the game, but you can take profit of it's drawback! That's just ridiculous
Psychrates
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Re-name this card 'Early Retirement'. Incredibly frustrating to your opponent, never get your creature back, forget the life gain. The ability to StP your own creats to prolong your life is under-rated, especially in white. Funny though, I don't play 'em anymore. It's almost cheating.
NoFatWizards
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
i feel bad for the guy in the pic, he doesn't look like he's dressed for rain.
and/or
the artist's name is one letter removed from "menses".
and/or
you can rearrange the letters to spell
"wasted sorrow splosh".
kiseki
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
POWER. I have never thought "I have too many of these in my hand". In fact, I am frequently torn when holding it. Do I really want to use a card that takes care of everything scary in my opponents deck on that creature? For just you can cataclysm AND rip your opponent's remaining creature.
gman92
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
I love the flavor of this card. It's like "Target creature becomes a farmer, therefore will never fight for you again. But, you get its first crop!"
bantar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like it in black and white with cheap power creatures in black like wretched anurid, phyrexian negator, treacherous pit-dweller, flesh reaver, and others. The idea is to attack them before they get good counter play and then, once they do, to remove your creature from the game to gain the life. It also doubles to take out one of the opponents creature's if necessary. Take that painter's servant, grindstone
Cyberium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Heal the world, make it a better place.
Tivoko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I love this card, wouldn't play a white deck without it for kitchen table games.
I know it's long been considered one of the best spot removals in the game (and hasn't been standard legal in a very long time) but my question is if now that more and more creatures are getting "enter the battlefield" effects (thus getting instant value for their mana spent), would such a spell as this be safe to see print in today's standard game?
ZaisConsultant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
since it's "Removed from the game entirely" Is it not in exile and therefore you can use wish cards to get the removed card?
That's why this card is awesome. Solves any creature based problem ever. Assuming Shroud/Hex proof isn't involved. But that's what Wrath of God is for.
RecurringMemories
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Grabriel422. Or they could just reprint it as IS.
@BongRipper420: That exact thing happened to me...though I used a Putrid Imp instead of Entomb... luckily I run 4 Jin-Gitaxias in a deck, still my friend did remove at least 2 of them that game.
Hunter06
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Greatest point removal spell ever.
5/5 Stars
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I'd really rather Path to Exile. EDIT: sorry, don't really know how to denote sarcasm through typing.
This card is the epitome of everything that a uber-powerful card should be. 1) Obviously, uber-powerful. 2) Uber-flavorful. 3) Not all upside. 4) Much of its power comes from protecting you from other uber-powerful cards. 5) Uber-Iconic.
Comments (34)
It's also funny that one of the most famous cards from an allegedly Satanic game comes from the Bible.
Instead of trying to make balanced versions of Swords, why not forget about Swords and start making balanced white removal?
There has got to be some way to exploit that.
Dispatch takes Affinity and makes it dumber than it already is. So does fricking Galvanic Blast.
he doesn't look like he's dressed for rain.
and/or
the artist's name is one letter removed from "menses".
and/or
you can rearrange the letters to spell
"wasted sorrow splosh".
I have never thought "I have too many of these in my hand". In fact, I am frequently torn when holding it. Do I really want to use a card that takes care of everything scary in my opponents deck on that creature?
For just
I know it's long been considered one of the best spot removals in the game (and hasn't been standard legal in a very long time) but my question is if now that more and more creatures are getting "enter the battlefield" effects (thus getting instant value for their mana spent), would such a spell as this be safe to see print in today's standard game?
Da Fu-
What?!
*Attempts to contain laughter and utterly fails*
Player 2: Plains > Swords to Plowshares
That's why this card is awesome. Solves any creature based problem ever. Assuming Shroud/Hex proof isn't involved. But that's what Wrath of God is for.
@BongRipper420: That exact thing happened to me...though I used a Putrid Imp instead of Entomb... luckily I run 4 Jin-Gitaxias in a deck, still my friend did remove at least 2 of them that game.
5/5 Stars
EDIT: sorry, don't really know how to denote sarcasm through typing.
1) Obviously, uber-powerful.
2) Uber-flavorful.
3) Not all upside.
4) Much of its power comes from protecting you from other uber-powerful cards.
5) Uber-Iconic.
Also, I just noticed you can abbreviate the name to "StoP". Pretty damn fitting.