Crushing Disappointment MTG Card


Provides card advantage and potential strategic shifts by drawing cards and inflicting life loss on all players. Demands strategic hand and mana management due to its discard requirement and specific mana cost. Versatile in decks using life total strategically and offers combo potential in the right MTG metagames.
Crushing Disappointment - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number68
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAndrey Kuzinskiy

Text of card

Each player loses 2 life. You draw two cards.

Most students could barely endure Dean Embrose's scrutiny for a semester or two; Killian lived with it his entire life.


Cards like Crushing Disappointment

Crushing Disappointment stands as an intriguing spell in the realm of life loss and card draw strategies in Magic: The Gathering. A spell to draw attention to when looking for parallels is Sign in Blood. This classic card similarly costs two mana and allows a player to draw two cards while losing 2 life, a direct trade of resources for advantage. What distinguishes Crushing Disappointment is its ability to affect each player, offering a unique strategic twist in multiplayer games.

Dark Deal is another card that shares thematic similarities. It also causes a loss of life while providing card draw, albeit in a roundabout way, forcing each player to discard their hand and draw that many cards minus one. However, it changes the dynamics of the game more drastically than the targeted effect of Crushing Disappointment. Conversely, the impact of Skulltap is more controlled, sacrificing a creature to draw two cards, which might be beneficial or detrimental based on board state.

Overall, players who weigh the finer points of various options will see that Crushing Disappointment holds a special place within the constellation of MTG spells that combine the dual-edged sword of card drawing and life loss, particularly in games with multiple opponents.

Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Dark Deal - MTG Card versions
Skulltap - MTG Card versions
Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Dark Deal - MTG Card versions
Skulltap - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crushing Disappointment enables players to draw cards while also causing each player to lose life, offering the potential to swing the game’s state to your favor through both replenishing your hand and whittling down opponent’s life totals.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct form of resource acceleration, by drawing cards with Crushing Disappointment, you effectively increase your chances of accessing more of your resources quicker, keeping the momentum on your side.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Crushing Disappointment at instant speed grants the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategies during their turn, or at the end of their turn to refresh your hand while minimizing the impact of the life loss on your own strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles in playing Crushing Disappointment is the discard condition tied to its casting. Players must discard a card, which compromises hand advantage—particularly detrimental when every card in hand is crucial to upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Crushing Disappointment comes with a specific mana alignment, demanding one black and one blue mana together with two other generic mana. This can be challenging for decks that don’t operate within the confines of those colors or for players struggling to achieve the right mana balance mid-game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For four mana, the cost to benefit balance of Crushing Disappointment is up for debate. In a game where tempo and efficiency are key, there may be alternative draw or disruption options that provide similar or better effects without such a steep investment, making it a potentially less appealing choice in highly competitive settings.


Reasons to Include Crushing Disappointment in Your Collection

Versatility: Crushing Disappointment fits well in a variety of decks, particularly those that make use of life total as a resource. It can be a key component in decks designed to manipulate both players’ life totals while maintaining card flow.

Combo Potential: This card has the ability to synergize with strategies that capitalize on both life loss and card draw. Any deck that rewards you for drawing cards or for dealing damage to an opponent can leverage the Crushing Disappointment for its dual functionality.

Meta-Relevance: As the game shifts and changes, cards that affect all players can be particularly useful. If the meta favors slower, more drawn-out games, the instant-speed impact of Crushing Disappointment’s life loss and card draw might swing the game in your favor at a crucial moment.


How to beat

Crushing Disappointment can be a turning point in a game, demanding each player lose two life and draw two cards. While this may seem beneficial at a glance, losing life can be a steep price to pay. The key to overcoming this card lies in strategic life management. By maintaining a healthy life total, you reduce the impact of the life loss, allowing you to benefit from the card draw without pushing you closer to defeat.

Another effective strategy is to employ cards that convert life loss into advantages. This could include cards that trigger effects upon life loss or gaining life, thus offsetting the downside of Crushing Disappointment. Also, be mindful of your opponent’s life total. In a tight match, the life lost could be the deciding factor, so timing could turn this card from a mild setback into a catastrophic blow for your opponent.

To sum it up, beating Crushing Disappointment requires foresight and life total management. By turning the tables and using its disadvantage to your favor, or by simply being prepared to absorb the impact, you can mitigate its effects and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering battles.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG games often hinge on card choices that resonate with strategic diversity and adaptability. Crushing Disappointment offers a blend of card draw and life loss that could fit snugly into control or attrition strategies, providing game-turning utility. From combo execution to maintaining card flow, balancing pros and cons is crucial for optimizing this card’s potential. We encourage players to consider the wider scope of their deck’s mechanics and how life manipulation can become an asset. Explore our in-depth insights to integrate cards like Crushing Disappointment into your arsenal, advancing your gameplay to new strategic heights.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crushing Disappointment MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Crushing Disappointment and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crushing Disappointment has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal