A-The Meathook Massacre MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Enchantment |
| Released | 2021-09-24 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt |
| Set code | MID |
| Number | A-112 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chris Seaman |
Key Takeaways
- Blends board clearing with continuous life drain, shifting game balance and enhancing black mana strategies.
- Demands strategic deck construction and mana allocation due to its specific casting cost and scalability.
- Remains a meta-relevant card, with impactful combo and board control possibilities in competitive play.
Text of card
When The Meathook Massacre enters the battlefield, each creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Meathook Massacre provides a dual benefit by not only clearing the board of smaller creatures but also granting you draw potential through any creatures dying. This can significantly shift the balance in your favor by refilling your hand and depleting your opponent’s forces.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly serving as a resource acceleration tool, the life gained from The Meathook Massacre can indirectly contribute to your staying power in the game, allowing you to utilize your resources more effectively over a longer period without being pressured by your life total.
Instant Speed: Although The Meathook Massacre is a sorcery, its lingering effect persists after it’s been played, creating an environment where each creature death afterward can be a source of incremental advantage for you, effectively adding to your resources at any speed—even during your opponents’ turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Meathook Massacre demands a significant investment in board presence to extract value. Players without a creature-heavy strategy may find the discard requirement a notable setback, reducing hand advantage which is a critical component of winning strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: This card has a stringent black mana cost that necessitates a dedicated black mana base. Decks that are not mono-black or heavily weighted towards black mana might struggle to accommodate the specific requirements, thereby limiting the card’s versatility in multi-colored deck constructs.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Starting at two black mana and scaling with X, The Meathook Massacre can be cost-prohibitive in fast-paced games. While the sweep and life loss abilities are potent, the initial investment may delay other plays, leaving players vulnerable in the early to mid-game phases where board control and tempo are vital.
Reasons to Include The Meathook Massacre in Your Collection
Versatility: The Meathook Massacre offers flexibility for various deck builds, functioning both as a board wipe and a source of recurring life loss for your opponents. This allows it to seamlessly integrate into control decks or any black-centric strategies that can utilize its dual aspects.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks focused on sacrificing creatures, working to incrementally drain opponents’ life totals while supplying you with a steady stream of health. Additionally, it can be a part of combos that capitalize on creature deaths to secure game-winning positions.
Meta-Relevance: As creature-based decks are perennially popular, The Meathook Massacre holds significance in the current meta by providing a tool to mitigate opposing threats while penalizing opponents for playing into your sweepers. Its continuous impact on the board state keeps it relevant in diverse game situations.
How to beat
The Meathook Massacre stands out in MTG not merely as a potent board wipe but also as a resource for recurring life point trades. It shines in its versatility, able to decimate numerous creatures while simultaneously setting up a drain effect that targets both players. This card can swiftly tilt the game’s balance, often securing dominance for the controller. Taking it down requires strategic disruption and the swiftest removal tactics.
Countering this card effectively entails swift action before it takes hold on the battlefield. Players might look towards enchantment removal like Naturalize or the more versatile Beast Within, which can dismantle enchantments alongside various other permanents. Disenchant remains a classic go-to option in white, showcasing utility and efficiency. Additionally, direct counterspells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto can preemptively stop The Meathook Massacre from impacting the board. Players should consider maintaining open mana for these reactive measures, especially when anticipating high-impact cards of this caliber.
Ultimately, overcoming The Meathook Massacre calls for a blend of foresight, timing, and the right answers in your deck. A well-timed piece of removal or countermeasure can not only negate its initial threat but also swing momentum back into your favor as you navigate the intricacies of the game.
Cards like A-The Meathook Massacre
The Meathook Massacre stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique enchantment card with a potent board-wiping and life-draining ability. It bears semblance to Damnation and Toxic Deluge, both of which serve the role of clearing the battlefield. The key distinction is that The Meathook Massacre, while dependent on the amount of mana you pour into its X casting cost, provides an ongoing effect of draining life whenever a creature dies, which neither Damnation nor Toxic Deluge offer.
Considering other cards, we have Blood Artist, which shares the principle of life drain upon creature death but is limited as it’s a creature itself without the board wipe capability. Erebos’s Intervention, yet another black mana card, provides flexibility through life gain or creature removal. However, it doesn’t affect the entire board or establish a recurring presence, distinguishing The Meathook Massacre’s enduring influence throughout the game.
What sets The Meathook Massacre apart in MTG is its dual functionality. It not only clears the board to disrupt opponent strategies but also serves as an efficient life-siphoning engine over time, making it an invaluable tool in black mana decks that look to control the pace and flow of the game.
Cards similar to A-The Meathook Massacre by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-The Meathook Massacre MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 A-The Meathook Massacre and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-The Meathook Massacre has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |