Ashes to Ashes MTG Card
1994-08-01 - Number 39
1995-04-01 - Number 119
1995-04-01 - Number 119
1995-08-01 - Number 47
1996-05-02 - Number ll33sb
1997-03-24 - Number 141s
1997-03-24 - Number 141
2009-09-07 - Number 58
2010-11-08 - Number A37
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Ashes to Ashes removes two target non-artifact creatures from the game and does 5 damage to you.
"All rivers eventually run to the sea. My job is to sort out who goes first." —Maeveen O'Donagh, Memoirs of a Soldier
Cards like Ashes to Ashes
Delving into the realm of spot removal options within MTG, Ashes to Ashes serves as an intriguing point of comparison. Like its kin, Go for the Throat, it offers the straightforward utility of obliterating a creature from the game. However, the significant difference lies in Ashes to Ashes’s capacity to exile two creatures at the cost of 5 life, which isn’t required by Go for the Throat. This makes it an effective tool, particularly against graveyard-based strategies where exiling cards is crucial.
Alternatively, there is Vindicate, another versatile removal spell. While it lacks the specific creature focus that Ashes to Ashes has, Vindicate presents the advantage of targeting any permanent. This flexibility can be instrumental in the right deck. When looking at efficiency, Snuff Out is another card that can eliminate a creature at no mana cost, provided you pay 4 life and control a Swamp, which might fit better in a faster-paced game than the dual-exiling Ashes to Ashes.
Evaluating Ashes to Ashes in the panorama of removal spells, we see it brings a unique blend of aggressive board impact and strategic depth, cementing its status as a potent choice for players looking to efficiently deal with multiple threats in MTG.
Cards similar to Ashes to Ashes by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ashes to Ashes. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Orzhov Control | Pauper | Liga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 2 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ashes to Ashes offers a distinct edge by allowing you to remove two creatures from the game, effectively handling multiple threats with a single card. This can tilt the balance in your favor, as you deal with potential problems using fewer resources than your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, the efficient removal of two creatures can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By clearing the way, you pave a path for your attacks or pave the way for your own creatures to dominate the board without opposition.
Instant Speed: Ashes to Ashes operates at sorcery speed, which requires strategic planning for its use. This characteristic encourages players to think ahead and use the element of surprise to their advantage. The timing of this card’s usage is critical, as it can dramatically shift the game state when played smartly within your main phases.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with this card means accepting a discard trade-off. To activate its effect, you have to sacrifice some of your own life points. This exchange can be detrimental, especially if you’re already under pressure from your opponent’s strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: It’s not just mana, but the precise colors that bind the hands of deck architects. The requirement of both black mana and its quantity makes this card a bit of a misfit in decks that aren’t deeply steeped in the swamp’s essence.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana might not seem like much in isolation, but when viewed through the lens of the overall game, it’s a significant investment. Deck builders often have to weigh the benefits of obliterating two creatures against other available options that might not erode their life total in the process.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ashes to Ashes offers a unique and powerful option for removal in decks that can manage its life payment cost. It’s able to exile two creatures for a single card, bypassing indestructibility and graveyard-based strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combos that benefit from the exile mechanic, enabling you to pair it with cards that punish opponents when their creatures leave the game or to clear the way for your own combo pieces to work unimpeded.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies dominate, Ashes to Ashes can be a game-changer. The ability to remove key creatures from the equation without a return possibility can tilt the scales in your favor, making it a strategic asset in such environments.
How to beat
Ashes to Ashes is a distinctive removal spell in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. It’s known for its ability to exile two nonartifact creatures for the cost of just three mana, an effect that can significantly alter the board state in your opponent’s favor. Despite its efficiency, the card comes with a drawback, costing the caster 5 life points. This life payment is an important factor to consider when planning your counter strategy.
To effectively overcome Ashes to Ashes, consider using cards that grant you hexproof or protection abilities to safeguard your creatures from being targeted. Artifacts or creatures with indestructible are also immune to its effects, preserving your board presence even if your opponent attempts to use the spell. Moreover, countermagic is your ally here; having blue spells like Counterspell ready can intercept and nullify Ashes to Ashes before it resolves. Lastly, consider leveraging life gain strategies to mitigate the life loss your opponent incurs, tipping the balance in your favor and forcing them to think twice before casting it.
Adapting your playstyle and card choices to counter the consequences of Ashes to Ashes can be the key to maintaining dominance on the MTG battlefield and outlasting your opponents.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ashes to Ashes MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition, 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 Ashes to Ashes and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Ashes to Ashes Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2010-11-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-08-01 | The Dark | DRK | 39 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 119 | 1993 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 119 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 47 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 5 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ll33sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Drew Tucker | |
| 6 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 141s | 1997 | Normal | White | Drew Tucker | |
| 7 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 141 | 1997 | Normal | White | Doug Keith | |
| 8 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 58 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
| 9 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | A37 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ashes to Ashes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ashes to Ashes card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If both of the targeted creatures are illegal targets by the time Ashes to Ashes resolves, it’s countered. It doesn’t deal 5 damage to you. |
| 2009-10-01 | If one of the targeted creatures is an illegal target by the time Ashes to Ashes resolves, it still exiles the other one and deals 5 damage to you. |