Death Wind MTG Card


Death Wind offers scalable threat removal, allowing players to manage their mana wisely. Its instant speed and versatile target selection make it a reliable card in many decks. In the right meta, Death Wind becomes a valuable tool for controlling the board.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn.

Leukin stared at the smoldering angel feathers. "Run!" he screamed to his patrol. "We don't stand a chance!"


Cards like Death Wind

Death Wind is a unique card in the arsenal of removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. It performs a simple yet tactical function – reducing a creature’s power and toughness for a potential knockout. In this context, it draws parallels with cards like Doom Blade, which straightforwardly destroys target nonblack creature at a lesser mana cost. However, Death Wind’s scalability and the absence of color restrictions make it versatile for a wider range of situations.

Cards such as Murder also come to mind, offering an unconditional creature removal at three mana. Although Murder doesn’t offer the flexibility of scaling with mana like Death Wind, it compensates with guaranteed removal. Finally, consider Go for the Throat, efficient against nonartifact creatures, but it’s this specificity that can sometimes limit its utility unlike the broad applicability of Death Wind.

When players weigh removal options, Death Wind is a robust choice for its ability to adjust to in-game economies of mana and its potency in taking down creatures regardless of color or type. This positions it as a strong, adaptable pick for any player looking to control the battlefield.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Death Wind by color, type and mana cost

Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
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Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Vendetta - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Death Wind doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it effectively works as a one-for-one trade, removing an opponent’s creature while maintaining your hand size. In some cases, if your opponent has invested resources like auras or equipment on their creature, Death Wind can result in a card advantage by undoing multiple of their cards with just one of yours.

Resource Acceleration: Death Wind itself doesn’t provide resource acceleration; however, it helps preserve your life total by removing threats, which indirectly saves resources that could be used for stabilization later on. This efficient removal ensures you’re able to play your game plan without having to dedicate extra resources to deal with large threats.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Death Wind gives you the flexibility to remove creatures on your terms. You can strategically wait for your opponent to commit more mana or resources to their creature before you cast Death Wind, maximizing its efficiency and tempo, and potentially leaving your opponent’s turn wasted.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Death Wind does not directly compel a discard from your hand, it’s important to consider that cards with a similar effect might necessitate such a trade-off, reducing your hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Death Wind’s mana cost requires at least one black mana, making it exclusively viable within black or multicolored decks, therefore reducing its flexibility in a format that prizes adaptability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s scaling effect is based on the amount of mana invested. While this offers flexibility, it means you’re often committing a large amount of mana to eliminate a single threat, which can be inefficient compared to other removal spells in MTG that can do the job for less.


Reasons to Include Death Wind in Your Collection

Versatility: Death Wind is a flexible removal spell that can target any creature, scaling with your available mana. This flexibility allows it to be slotted easily into a variety of black decks that require spot creature removal.

Combo Potential: This card becomes even more potent when combined with effects that benefit from creatures dying or when used in conjunction with graveyard-retrieval mechanics, strengthening your battlefield position while disrupting your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with sturdy creatures or indestructible threats, Death Wind excels by adjusting its strength to surpass any creature’s toughness, providing a reliable answer to otherwise difficult-to-handle creatures. It’s a useful tool for maintaining balance against aggressive and creature-heavy decks.


How to beat

Confronting the potency of Death Wind in a Magic: The Gathering matchup requires strategic maneuvering. This versatile black spell has the ability to scale its power by investing more mana, enabling players to shrink or outright eliminate virtually any threat on the board. Successful tactics against Death Wind include deploying creatures with indestructible or having +1/+1 counters in excess, as the spell’s effectiveness decreases against such resilient targets.

Cards with hexproof or shroud can also nullify Death Wind’s impact since they can’t be targeted by such spells. Moreover, staying aware of your opponent’s open mana and potential for surprise buff spells can be crucial. This will help time your plays to minimize the potential value of Death Wind. Utilizing instant-speed protection spells, like ‘Gods Willing’ or ‘Eerie Interlude’, can save your key creatures from being swept away by this formidable force.

Ultimately, while Death Wind’s flexible removal capabilities can be daunting, smart deck-building and sharp in-game decision-making provide effective countermeasures to mitigate its influence on the game’s outcome.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Death Wind MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Death Wind and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Death Wind Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 932003NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 952015NormalBlackNils Hamm
32016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1312015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
42021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3142015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
52022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 3942015NormalBlackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Death Wind has restrictions

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