Invest in these now. As long as its legal in some format it will see play.
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Don't we all just love the word permanent? This is great in all formats, especially Legacy. Vindicate and Maelstrom Pulse are already good, and we have this at 2 mana and instant speed. 5/5
Try4se
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This will probably be banned.
Superllama12
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
This is really, really good, but I think it will become a "must have" for Legacy, Modern, and Standard. I don't like that they made it rare, but as an uncommon it would have busted drafts
Cyberium
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
So many Legacy format cards would die to this card, and since it can't be countered, Faeries would have trouble handling it. (or, use it, since color restriction is equal to naught in that format)
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(5 votes)
It's Smother, but ridiculously better. This will be a Legacy staple, mark my words.
ThisisSakon
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Personally, I like it so much I almost don't like it. I have no idea how this is possible, but the overpowering beauty of this card is almost... disgusting... 4.5/5
IUHoosier
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@Lotsofpoopy A pro who doesn't know how to spell "planeswalker?"
Tezz
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(7 votes)
@IUHoosier, a wild troll aproaches! (read LotsOfPoopy's other posts)
djflo
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
The only thing stopping this from being broken is that you can't have more than four of them in a deck.
Trygon_Predator
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
What do you get when you combine the hate of creatures and the hate of enchantments and artifacts? Something that kills a whole list of permanents cheaply and efficiently.
I guess the rarity makes sense - as an uncommon it would be far too powerful in drafts. The uncounterability clause is just gravy.
A3Kitsune
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@DarthParallax: Yes! Death Eaters fits much better as a name for the graveyard-loving Golgari, then it ever did as a name for Voldemort's gang of troublemakers.
majinara
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's not as powerful as vindicate. But beeing instant and costing two mana instead of three still makes this a very solid card. Not for all formats though. For example, I wouldn't put it into Commander decks.
This card is fantastic.I know this, because I am a pro. It even kills cheap planeswalkers like Ajani, Caller of the Pride.
rollinsclone
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I can see Legacy decks splashing just to use this. It's that good.
pedrodyl
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
There is a lot of rare removal in this set.
ninjaboy05
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Trygon_Predator said it best. This is way too powerful at uncommon especially in limited.
Eternal_Planeswalker
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I KNOW that this and Detention Sphere are going to be two giant pains in my *** region for many years to come. :D
This is absolutely worthy of being on Isochron Scepter. FEAR THE STICK!!
It has a powerful card design and effect, awesome flavour text, good art, and it's an instant destruction of lots of stuff for black and green. Like they needed anymore spells to blow crap up. hahaha!
YawgmothsWish
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Insane in any format.
bowlofgumbo
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Cards like this make the avid, albeit budget-oriented, players deeply question whether or not it's worth it to create the most fair and diverse limited environment at the expense of keeping the secondary market in check. Everything people are saying is true about the potential for warping limited, but if I could get the 5 dollar uncommon instead of the 20 dollar rare I wouldn't really mind about the guy next to me opening up an Abrupt Decay in draft.
blindthrall
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is now number one. Suck it Mishra!
True_Mumin
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Ah, Jesus. I'm never going to buy a playset am I. This thing's price is already through the roof... ...As it should be. This spell is insanely good. 5/5
Valtiaal
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
I can't believe that Wizards thought printing this was a good idea.
This is power creep on such an insane level, within 5 years I expect to see a card that does this exact same thing but for 1 colorless mana.
MMT
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Liliana of the Veil, Jace Beleren, Ajani, Caller of the Pride, and Tibalt, Lord Jarad would like to have a word with you.
Also: Detention Sphere, Winter Orb, Blood Moon
lagg
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Lotleth Troll and this will be staples of any Golgari Zombies deck that approach T2.
ToAsTy42o
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@oddmonk no it doesn't. Nothing kills storm crow. how dare you...
Naftal
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Must be one of the best if not the best answer to Counterbalance
GruesomeGoo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Easily one of the best cards in the set. Borderline broken.
Kind of a pity this isn't Time Spiral. Split Second would have fit this card like a glove! That's mainly a flavor concern though, and they'd probably have had to up the cost to fit SS on there, and it's an excellent card anyway.
StreamHopper
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
The art should have depicted Carlos Mencia's career.
Jokes aside, a Smother for permanents (even without the no regeneration clause) is extremely potent. Whenever a single card is immediately expected to see legacy play, it usually worries me greatly; this however, seems fairly costed/balanced for some reason. As an additional Golgari answer to Rest in Peace (in combination with Golgari Charm), I think the creation of this card was almost essential for the swarm. While dealing with Rest in Peace is essential in standard, its limited applications include Detention Sphere, Lyev Skyknight, Loxodon Smiter, Stab Wound, any of the Keyrunes, Wayfaring Temple, Cryptborn Horror, Arrest, Paralyzing Grasp...
I could go on, but honestly... This is just one hell of a card, and certainly a top pick every time. I think I can chock this up as one of my favorite card designs in the set. Flavor, cost, effectiveness... This card has it all.
5/5
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
An uncounterable green spell that kills everything?
Two words: Avada Kedavra.
Two more words: Isochron Scepter.
Isochron Scepter + Abrupt Decay = Death on a Stick. DeathStick. The Wand of Destiny. The Elder Wand.
Potsofloopy
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I don't know about this card, it only kills 3cmc or less. But a novice like me knows to listen to the pros, so I guess I'll buy some.
lolcatonahottinroof
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
So... take an uncommon from the original Ravnica, make it more general, cheaper, and nigh-unstoppable during the first few (i.e. most important in many formats) turns of the game, and you have a rare. I see what you did there, Wizards.
Jack-o-Crow
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
A card that is just amazing in almost any format...
First in alphabetical order in RTR Currently top rated card in RTR this was planned all along wasn't it
Dabok
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I may not come out popular to legacy/power players out there by what I'm about to say. Like you, I think this card's good. That's obvious. But I think that there's a heck of a lot of cards in RTR that are strong but don't bring anything really new or exciting. This is an example of it, the other is Loxodon Smiter (there may be others still). Strong cards are good, but it's just like a new "chase card", nothing more, nothing less. For me at least. 5/5 because I'm not biased, but yeah, as a guy who gives importance to flavor and design, I find this card (and those of the same "type" as I've explained) lacking.
Will see Legacy and Vintage play. I have criticisms. In eternal formats, it's an Uncounterable. Instant speed. Almost-Vindicate. For 1 less mana. However, praise is also in order. (more specifically in the flavor of ) is underrepresented in Legacy at best, and very underrepresented in Vintage (to the point where Mox Emerald is less expensive by a good 50 dollars compared to the other Moxen). RTR broke the mold, the rules. It forged new ground, possibly even rippling Vintage in the years to come. For that, I really like this card.
Power level 5/5, though; I always hate seeing this come down in Standard.
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Mark my words, this will make its presence known in every format it's legal in.
Kagatob
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's good no doubt. Single target removal should never be $20 though. There's a lot of people blaming Wizards for it, all I see is a bunch of people scrambling to grab a rare during a print shortage. Looking forward to a month from now when this card is at it's proper price of ~$10.
:Edit 11/06/2012: Looks like I was right, $9.99 on SCG.com
NewerEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.1/5.0)(5 votes)
This Kills Master Of Etherium So It Must Be OP. Nothing Should Kill Master Of Etherium Because Then There Are No Masters Left To Train The Noobs
Gheridarigaaz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My two cents on the card? Since this came in, the meta has changed a bit... 4-drops and up are now more desireable. I think the change isnt too bad, it kinda means that decks like jund have a lot more to offer in terms of answers to threats... this deals with quite a few of the modern and legacy formats' staples, such as tarmogoyf and dark confidant... unfortunately it also means that the decks that run these colours also become considerably more favorable. I kinda don't like it cause it isn't blue, but i kinda really like it because it gives rock decks something to work with, and that's a deck I'd love to see more of in the format... It's an interesting archetype
I'm peeved that this can't deal with tron decks effectively, then again that's me being greedy, wanting a 2cmc land destruction card... that would be the straw that breaks the back of the definition of "Over Powered"... i'm considering running it in my "Ana's Modern Merfolk" deck... its already UG and in terms of what cards in the deck are black... there's Dismember, that's about it... a poor man's Path to Exile
this is definitely not a format-breaking card... maybe a format WARPING card in the fact that people are now willing to run higher costed creatures to dodge this, which is healthy for the format... but then again, it could also be correlated to the fact that Wild Nacatl got banned, hence a decrease in the number people running zoo decks...
it nerfs Counterbalance... that's good... right?
mdakw576
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
did this really need to be rare?
what could've been a 5 dollar uncommon is instead a 20 dollar rare
edit: and at the time of this post it's dropped down to about $5, which is interesting. I didn't foresee standard becoming a midrange grindfest revolving around thragtusk, where this card obviously doesn't shine.
It's still a force in legacy (idk how popular it is in modern) but at $5 it's definitely more reasonable.
Rezzy64
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
When my friend opened a booster with this card in it, he asked me why such an obviously terrible card was considered rare. I with a straight face said "Sometimes some rares are just not what you think they should be." He didn't understand what I meant, and then he passed it to me. Inside I was so happy to get my hands on this, but I never broke my poker like face. I built a Golgari themed deck while he built a Rakdos deck. This card always seemed to be there right when I needed it, and it was obvious to my friend how ridiculously helpful of a card it truly was. My friend although experienced, is still stuck in the "Rares should be insanely big,obviously powerful, cards that have nothing but pure gain." phase. He also proceeded to hand over two copies of Lotleth Troll, because he believes discarding cards is too steep of a price.
nerothewizard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
RANDOM CARD REVIEW - 12/21/12
There are some cards that people go nuts over the instant they're spoiled, but they fail to live up to their expectations. There are other cards that people don't appreciate at first, but once they've proven themselves in a tournament environment or on the international stage, they truly understand their power.
Then, there's Abrupt Decay.
What can I possibly say about this card that hasn't been bandied back and forth a hundred times already? When this showed up in the Return to Ravnica spoiler lists (complete with its own article), it was instantly on the radar of Standard, Modern, and Legacy players alike. It hasn't disappointed in the slightest. It's an instant-speed, easy-to-cast removal spell for any number of problems, and the fact that countermagic does basically nothing against it just makes it that much deadlier. Green-black is already a color combo capable of some pretty nasty things, and this has definitely been added to the list.
Aside from the card itself, the art, the flavor, and the rarity (I'm glad they made this rare and not mythic) make this one of the single coolest cards ever printed for the game of Magic. What else can I say except that it's fun, powerful, and definitely deserving of five stars?
FINAL RATING: 5/5
psychichobo
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Rare low cost removal spells like this annoy me, simply because I don't feel right using a rare to smack away some low cmc chump who's causing me grief. Anyone else get that feeling? Knight Exemplar I'll happily explode, but imagine having to use this on a centaur token or something...
RedAtrocitus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
2 mana, uncounterable, and destroys Counterbalance or Top (plus a billion other things in eternal formats)? 5/5 or .5/5 depending on what you play in Legacy or Vintage.
chrome_dome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Go ahead mage cast something. I triple dog dare ya!!!
Vandell
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Hmmn.. nice.
This is my first post, so I'm just testing. Sorry. :V
TheChort
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This card wasn't as popular in standard as initially expected, settling at around $5 or $6. But keep an eye on this one. With the advent of Gatecrash, very powerful cards like Boros Reckoner, Frontline Medic, and Domri Rade can be taken out with this.
So watch out standard; this might come back with a vengeance.
igniteice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is what Swerve is for, and given the colors, they are bound to have a <=3 CMC card out in Legacy/Classic.
BongRipper420
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Destroy target Delver deck.
SiamKor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wow. The price abruptly decayed from $20 to $5.
GlintKawk42
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The sky is the limit with this card. aside from hexproof and protection, there is so much this can remove, it'll be a staple in a ton of formats in almost any deck that can run it. 5/5
Lifegainwithbite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So versatile, so efficient and so unstoppable...
5/5.
Tittentei
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
It dies to Abrubt Decay!
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hey guys, the thing it's destroying is a Nivix Cyclops.
fujima04
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I can imagine this is a all time good card. But I won't think I will ever use it to Nivix Cyclops. Lol.
Interestingly, this one says "can't be countered by spells or abilities, while other cards like Supreme Verdict just say "can't be countered". Wizards has stated on several occasions that this was made as an answer to Legacy Counterbalance decks, and that shows in the wording.
Hits so many things for so cheap. IMO the second best removal spell out there (only Vindicate tops it). 5/5
TexasDice
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@MostlyLost: That's also because Counterflux, Slaughter Games and Decay have targets. If the target becomes invalid, for instance, by sacrificing the permanent while Decay is on the stack, the spell gets countered. Loxodon Smither and Supreme Verdict on the other hand, have no targets, so they can't become invalid.
Osprey_93
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
"this could have been an uncommon" LOL NOPE
This is an uncounterable removal spell in a standard environment built around control, where this hits any nonland permanent, AND bats away Nightveil Specters, Boros Reckoners, 5/5 instant speed worm tokens, detention spheres, pack rats, and so much more, In certain circumstances this even kills planeswalkers.
Ultimate price and Doom Blade are uncommon removal. This is a class of it's own.
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I splashed black in my Selesnya prerelease pack for this. And oh, it was sooo worth it.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In my opinion; this makes Legacy a more fun environment. Kira, Counterbalance, Chalice of the Void, or just busting stupid Energy Fields/Ensnaring Bridges/etc without Blue saying "Nuh Uh."
Sometimes the game just needs to say "Fuck you blue!", and that goes triple for eternal formats. To anyone still complaining about modern blue; let me just point out that Delver, Snapcaster, and Thassa, have seen to owning the last couple blocks *just fine.*
Antsache
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@MostlyLost Yeah, the wording doesn't indicate anything about intended uses or interactions with Counterbalance or other specific cards. As TexasDice noted, this is just the standard wording for a spell that can be countered on resolution due to invalid target selection. They use that wording to avoid the paradox that might stem from the situation where an "uncounterable" spell is countered by a state-based action. Supreme Verdict and other non-targeted cards are never going to be countered by a state-based action, so just saying "Cannot be countered" is fine in those cases.
Petertracy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is so unbelievably good in constructed. 5/5 melts my mind Golgari all day every day
Enelysios
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Its another $40 to play Jund now. If you play you can't afford not to run this in any remotely competitive environment anymore. Its a great card, but these days the standard and modern formats are getting as stupidly expensive and narrow as vintage is. I honestly think this kind of environment is why so many people are playing EDH and other casual formats now. (Though with EDH's new popularity, its becoming stupidly expensive now too, with decks that run $600 worth of non-basic lands.)
The card is a 5/5, but my interest in magic outside of the kitchen table is dwindling.
Comments (85)
A pro who doesn't know how to spell "planeswalker?"
I guess the rarity makes sense - as an uncommon it would be far too powerful in drafts. The uncounterability clause is just gravy.
This is absolutely worthy of being on Isochron Scepter. FEAR THE STICK!!
It has a powerful card design and effect, awesome flavour text, good art, and it's an instant destruction of lots of stuff for black and green. Like they needed anymore spells to blow crap up. hahaha!
...As it should be. This spell is insanely good. 5/5
This is power creep on such an insane level, within 5 years I expect to see a card that does this exact same thing but for 1 colorless mana.
Also: Detention Sphere, Winter Orb, Blood Moon
Jokes aside, a Smother for permanents (even without the no regeneration clause) is extremely potent. Whenever a single card is immediately expected to see legacy play, it usually worries me greatly; this however, seems fairly costed/balanced for some reason. As an additional Golgari answer to Rest in Peace (in combination with Golgari Charm), I think the creation of this card was almost essential for the swarm. While dealing with Rest in Peace is essential in standard, its limited applications include Detention Sphere, Lyev Skyknight, Loxodon Smiter, Stab Wound, any of the Keyrunes, Wayfaring Temple, Cryptborn Horror, Arrest, Paralyzing Grasp...
I could go on, but honestly... This is just one hell of a card, and certainly a top pick every time. I think I can chock this up as one of my favorite card designs in the set. Flavor, cost, effectiveness... This card has it all.
5/5
Two words:
Avada Kedavra.
Two more words:
Isochron Scepter.
Isochron Scepter + Abrupt Decay = Death on a Stick. DeathStick. The Wand of Destiny. The Elder Wand.
And yet it still can't kill Jace.
Currently top rated card in RTR
this was planned all along wasn't it
Like you, I think this card's good. That's obvious.
But I think that there's a heck of a lot of cards in RTR that are strong but don't bring anything really new or exciting. This is an example of it, the other is Loxodon Smiter (there may be others still).
Strong cards are good, but it's just like a new "chase card", nothing more, nothing less. For me at least.
5/5 because I'm not biased, but yeah, as a guy who gives importance to flavor and design, I find this card (and those of the same "type" as I've explained) lacking.
A friend pulled a foil one...DO WANT!!
pernicious deed, maelstrom pulse, meet your new buddy
Power level 5/5, though; I always hate seeing this come down in Standard.
:Edit 11/06/2012: Looks like I was right, $9.99 on SCG.com
I'm peeved that this can't deal with tron decks effectively, then again that's me being greedy, wanting a 2cmc land destruction card... that would be the straw that breaks the back of the definition of "Over Powered"... i'm considering running it in my "Ana's Modern Merfolk" deck... its already UG and in terms of what cards in the deck are black... there's Dismember, that's about it... a poor man's Path to Exile
this is definitely not a format-breaking card... maybe a format WARPING card in the fact that people are now willing to run higher costed creatures to dodge this, which is healthy for the format... but then again, it could also be correlated to the fact that Wild Nacatl got banned, hence a decrease in the number people running zoo decks...
it nerfs Counterbalance... that's good... right?
what could've been a 5 dollar uncommon is instead a 20 dollar rare
edit: and at the time of this post it's dropped down to about $5, which is interesting. I didn't foresee standard becoming a midrange grindfest revolving around thragtusk, where this card obviously doesn't shine.
It's still a force in legacy (idk how popular it is in modern) but at $5 it's definitely more reasonable.
I with a straight face said "Sometimes some rares are just not what you think they should be."
He didn't understand what I meant, and then he passed it to me. Inside I was so happy to get my hands on this, but I never broke my poker like face. I built a Golgari themed deck while he built a Rakdos deck. This card always seemed to be there right when I needed it, and it was obvious to my friend how ridiculously helpful of a card it truly was.
My friend although experienced, is still stuck in the "Rares should be insanely big,obviously powerful, cards that have nothing but pure gain." phase. He also proceeded to hand over two copies of Lotleth Troll, because he believes discarding cards is too steep of a price.
There are some cards that people go nuts over the instant they're spoiled, but they fail to live up to their expectations. There are other cards that people don't appreciate at first, but once they've proven themselves in a tournament environment or on the international stage, they truly understand their power.
Then, there's Abrupt Decay.
What can I possibly say about this card that hasn't been bandied back and forth a hundred times already? When this showed up in the Return to Ravnica spoiler lists (complete with its own article), it was instantly on the radar of Standard, Modern, and Legacy players alike. It hasn't disappointed in the slightest. It's an instant-speed, easy-to-cast removal spell for any number of problems, and the fact that countermagic does basically nothing against it just makes it that much deadlier. Green-black is already a color combo capable of some pretty nasty things, and this has definitely been added to the list.
Aside from the card itself, the art, the flavor, and the rarity (I'm glad they made this rare and not mythic) make this one of the single coolest cards ever printed for the game of Magic. What else can I say except that it's fun, powerful, and definitely deserving of five stars?
FINAL RATING: 5/5
This is my first post, so I'm just testing. Sorry. :V
It can also destroy older cards which are likely to become even more popular, like Champion of the Parish and Flinthoof Boar. Even Geist of Saint Traft or Invisible Stalker can now be hit, if you're up to playing Glaring Spotlight.
So watch out standard; this might come back with a vengeance.
5/5.
@ BongRipper420: Actually that will be a card called Skylasher.
Also, while uncounterable, there are still a variety of ways to answer it, including Redirect, Mizzium Skin, and Faith's Shield.
Hits so many things for so cheap. IMO the second best removal spell out there (only Vindicate tops it). 5/5
Loxodon Smither and Supreme Verdict on the other hand, have no targets, so they can't become invalid.
This is an uncounterable removal spell in a standard environment built around control, where this hits any nonland permanent, AND bats away Nightveil Specters, Boros Reckoners, 5/5 instant speed worm tokens, detention spheres, pack rats, and so much more, In certain circumstances this even kills planeswalkers.
Ultimate price and Doom Blade are uncommon removal. This is a class of it's own.
And oh, it was sooo worth it.
Sometimes the game just needs to say "Fuck you blue!", and that goes triple for eternal formats.
To anyone still complaining about modern blue; let me just point out that Delver, Snapcaster, and Thassa, have seen to owning the last couple blocks *just fine.*
Yeah, the wording doesn't indicate anything about intended uses or interactions with Counterbalance or other specific cards. As TexasDice noted, this is just the standard wording for a spell that can be countered on resolution due to invalid target selection. They use that wording to avoid the paradox that might stem from the situation where an "uncounterable" spell is countered by a state-based action. Supreme Verdict and other non-targeted cards are never going to be countered by a state-based action, so just saying "Cannot be countered" is fine in those cases.
5/5 melts my mind Golgari all day every day
The card is a 5/5, but my interest in magic outside of the kitchen table is dwindling.