Agonizing Demise MTG Card


Targets creatures efficiently, providing control and disrupting opponents’ strategies during crucial moments. Kicker ability enhances tempo, offering strategic depth and interaction with multiple spells in a turn. Instant speed allows surprise plays, turning duels in your favor by waiting for the optimal moment.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Kicker

Text of card

Kicker o1o R (You may pay an additional o1o R as you play this spell.) Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated. If you paid the kicker cost, Agonizing Demise deals damage equal to that creature's power to the creature's controller.


Cards like Agonizing Demise

Agonizing Demise holds a unique place among removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It carries a resemblance to cards such as Terminate, which also destroys a creature without the possibility of regeneration. Agonizing Demise offers versatility with its kicker cost that, when paid, allows the controller to also target creatures with shroud or hexproof. In contrast, Terminate offers no such additional reach and is a streamlined removal at a lower cost.

Looking towards Doom Blade, another synonymous spell, we notice a limitation in its application—it cannot destroy black creatures. Agonizing Demise does not discriminate on the basis of color, setting it a notch above in terms of universality. Murder is a more direct comparison since it allows the destruction of any creature at instant speed without restrictions. The chief difference here is that Agonizing Demise lets you deal damage, potentially triggering effects that benefit from it.

Assessing the landscape of removal spells, Agonizing Demise stands out with its potential for tactical advantage. Its damage-dealing capability combined with targeted removal makes it a versatile option in any MTG player’s arsenal.

Terminate - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Terminate - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Agonizing Demise by color, type and mana cost

Hurl Through Hell - MTG Card versions
Wrecking Ball - MTG Card versions
Macabre Mockery - MTG Card versions
Decadent Dragon // Expensive Taste - MTG Card versions
Hurl Through Hell - MTG Card versions
Wrecking Ball - MTG Card versions
Macabre Mockery - MTG Card versions
Decadent Dragon // Expensive Taste - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Agonizing Demise shines when it comes to eliminating threats on the battlefield. By targeting and destroying a creature, it effectively deals with opponents’ creatures, potentially disrupting their game plan and providing you with a tactical upper hand. This can be particularly impactful in formats where maintaining control of the board is crucial.

Resource Acceleration: While Agonizing Demise does not directly provide mana or acceleration, the evident benefit comes from its kick ability. By investing additional resources when you have the means, you can enhance its base effect, translating into a significant tempo gain when the situation calls for it.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Agonizing Demise at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This is crucial in strategic plays, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment to disrupt your opponent’s strategy or to surprise them during combat, potentially turning the tide of a duel in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Agonizing Demise demands you discard another card when kicked, posing a risk of depleting your hand, especially when seeking to capitalize on its full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for both black and red mana to cast can restrict its inclusion to only those decks that can reliably produce both colors, potentially excluding it from more versatile deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost that can reach up to four mana including the kick, this card’s expense for its removal capability might be seen as inefficient when compared to other, lower-cost options available in the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Agonizing Demise offers a flexible removal option as it can be used to target a wide range of creatures, making it a reliable card to deal with various threats on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Its kicker ability offers strategic depth, opening possibilities for synergy with cards that benefit from increased spell costs or casting multiple spells in a turn.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting landscape of the game, having efficient removal like Agonizing Demise can prove essential in dealing with dominant creature-based strategies.


How to Beat Agonizing Demise

Agonizing Demise is a spell card in Magic: The Gathering known for its multifaceted removal ability, impacting gameplay with its potential for targeted creature elimination. Often included in decks that emphasize control, this card requires thoughtful navigation if you’re on the opposing side. To effectively counter it, consider utilizing cards that provide indestructibility or hexproof to your creatures to prevent them from being viable targets. Cards like Blossoming Defense are exceptional for this purpose, as they not only shield your creatures but can also boost their power in a pinch.

Another strategy is to redirect the damage or the target of the spell itself. Utilizing redirect spells or shroud-granting effects can protect your creatures from being destroyed by Agonizing Demise. Keep in mind, when facing this kind of removal, having a backup plan is crucial. Ensure your deck resilience by including cards that can recover from the graveyard or generate value even in the face of creature destruction. With the right preparation and adaptive play, overcoming an Agonizing Demise becomes less of a trial and more of a calculated step towards victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Agonizing Demise MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas, 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 Agonizing Demise and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Agonizing Demise Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2011-09-02. Illustrated by Mark Brill.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 921997NormalBlackMark Brill
22011-09-02Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol BolasDDH 662003NormalBlackMark Brill

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Agonizing Demise has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal