Suffocating Blast MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Apocalypse
Set code	APC
Number	124
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Suffocating Blast offers card advantage and can change the game by managing threats efficiently.
Instant speed allows for flexible play, adapting to game dynamics and disrupting opponents.
Though powerful, it demands specific mana and could lead to a higher curve in your deck.

Text of card

Counter target spell and Suffocating Blast deals 3 damage to target creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Suffocating Blast can be a game-changer by allowing you to simultaneously handle an opponent’s threat while keeping your hand stocked. This card fits neatly into strategies that aim to outlast the opponent by maintaining superior card resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although Suffocating Blast doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its dual nature as both a counter and burn spell can save critical mana. This efficiency can effectively speed up your game plan by requiring fewer cards and less mana to deal with multiple threats.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Suffocating Blast at instant speed gives players the flexibility to adapt to the flow of the game. It allows for strategic decisions during the opponent’s turn, keeping them unaware of your capabilities until the last possible moment, potentially disrupting their strategy significantly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Suffocating Blast doesn’t directly ask you to discard a card, the necessity of having other cards to ensure its efficiency could feel like a hidden discard cost. Players need to manage their hand strategically to make the most out of this card.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding both blue and red mana, Suffocating Blast demands a dedicated color commitment. This requirement can complicate deckbuilding for players not running a blue-red combination, thus limiting the card’s versatility across the MTG multiverse.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana (one blue and two red), plus an additional generic mana, this card sits on the higher end of the mana curve for its immediate impact on the game. Competing with other four-mana spells that might offer more substantial board presence or card advantage, Suffocating Blast might not always be the most mana-efficient choice in your arsenal.

Reasons to Include Suffocating Blast in Your Collection

Versatility: Suffocating Blast offers a dual utility; it acts as both removal and direct damage. This two-in-one card can adapt to various scenarios on the battlefield, whether you need to eliminate an opponent’s creature or deliver a surprise finish to your adversary.

Combo Potential: With its instant speed, Suffocating Blast works well in combos where timing is crucial. It can disrupt opponent plays or can be paired with cards that capitalize on casting multiple spells in one turn, making it a sneaky threat in any spell-slinger’s arsenal.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies remain prevalent in the meta, having a reliable removal spell that can shift the game’s momentum is crucial. Suffocating Blast holds its ground by providing that pivotal tactical advantage against creature-heavy decks.

How to Beat

Suffocating Blast is a challenging card to face in a game of Magic: The Gathering. It combines targeted creature removal with the added bonus of direct damage to an opponent or planeswalker, making it quite versatile. Engaging with this card effectively requires tactical plays and proper timing. For instance, countering Suffocating Blast is one strategy. This not only negates its detrimental effects but also saves your crucial creatures and conserves precious life points.

Protective spells that grant hexproof or indestructible to your creatures come in handy as well. These include the likes of Dive Down or Heroic Intervention, providing a shield at critical moments during the game. It’s also beneficial to bait out the Suffocating Blast with less important creatures, preserving your key players for a more opportune time. Additionally, using instant-speed spells or abilities to remove your own creature in response can avoid giving your opponent the satisfaction of landing their spell effectively.

Filtering your strategy through the lens of anticipation and prevention can turn the tide against Suffocating Blast. By employing these countermeasures, you not only undermine the card’s power but bolster your position to claim victory on the battlefield.

Cards like Suffocating Blast

Suffocating Blast holds its ground in the realm of versatile instant spells within Magic: The Gathering. When examined next to similar cards like Electrolyze, we see that Suffocating Blast offers both a significant damage output and the ability to target and counter a spell all in one. Electrolyze, while dealing damage split between any number of targets, allows for card draw but lacks the countering capability.

Moving on to Izzet Charm, another card that offers multiple modes, we find flexibility. Izzet Charm can also counter spells or deal damage, but with lesser power and without simultaneous execution. It’s less mana-intensive, making it an option for early gameplay adaptation. Compare this to Suffocating Blast’s higher cost but greater potential impact, and strategic considerations come heavily into play.

Considering their unique capabilities when deployed on the battlefield, Suffocating Blast finds a distinct niche with its dual functionality. Its power to simultaneously disrupt and deal a hearty blow makes it a formidable inclusion in any deck that can accommodate its color and mana requirements.

Cards similar to Suffocating Blast by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Suffocating Blast MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Suffocating Blast and other MTG cards: