Attrition MTG Card


Attrition allows for strategic instant speed removal, disrupting opponent plans and maintaining board control. Activation requires both a creature sacrifice and black mana, posing a potential strategy constraint. Its versatility and combo potential make it a strong candidate for decks focusing on control and synergy.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

o B, Sacrifice a creature: Destroy target nonblack creature.

"I will trade life for life with the insurgents. Our resources, unlike theirs, are limitless." —Davvol, Evincar of Rath


Cards like Attrition

Attrition is an intriguing inclusion in the arsenal of control tools available in Magic: The Gathering. It shares a conceptual space with cards like Diabolic Edict, which mandates a player to sacrifice a creature. However, Attrition offers a repeatable effect, allowing you to selectively control the board by sacrificing your creatures to destroy your opponents’ creatures, a notable deviation from the single-use nature of Diabetic Edict.

Exploring further, we discover Grave Pact, which achieves a similar result in a roundabout way. With Grave Pact, whenever you lose a creature, each other player must also sacrifice a creature. Although not as immediate or direct as Attrition, it can still clear multiple creatures and often acts as a deterrent against removing your creatures. Meanwhile, another card often measured against Attrition is Dictate of Erebos. Boasting the same effect as Grave Pact, Dictate of Erebos comes with the added advantage of flash, allowing you to use it as a surprise during your opponent’s turn.

In essence, Attrition functions as a potent repeatable removal spell in Magic: The Gathering, positioned distinctly among cards with sacrifice mechanics due to its targeted and controlled impact on gameplay.

Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Grave Pact - MTG Card versions
Dictate of Erebos - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Grave Pact - MTG Card versions
Dictate of Erebos - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Attrition by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Demonic Embrace - MTG Card versions
Warped Devotion - MTG Card versions
Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Demonic Embrace - MTG Card versions
Warped Devotion - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Attrition offers a repeatable creature removal method, giving you significant board control while potentially depleting your opponent’s creatures. This can result in a favorable balance of creatures in your favor, enhancing your standing in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, Attrition effectively accelerates your resources by allowing you to use your expendable creatures for greater value. This recycling of creatures can be particularly powerful when you have tokens or creatures with death triggers to exploit.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Attrition at instant speed adds a layer of strategy to your play. You can decide when to eliminate a threat, whether it’s during your opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans or in response to an action they’ve taken, keeping them off balance and protecting your interests.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Attrition demands you sacrifice a creature to activate its ability, which can be detrimental if your creature presence on the battlefield is sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Attrition’s ability requires black mana, potentially restricting it to decks that can reliably produce that color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Attrition itself has a reasonable casting cost, the ongoing requirement for both a creature to sacrifice and black mana can make it a costly repeatable removal option compared to other alternatives in Magic the Gathering.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Attrition is a highly adaptable card that can seamlessly be integrated into various deck types, particularly those specializing in creature control. Its ability to repeatedly eliminate threats makes it a staple in commander and other long-form game formats.

Combo Potential: Attrition’s ability to sacrifice creatures opens up countless combo possibilities. It synergizes exceptionally well with decks focused on token generation, allowing for efficient removal while leveraging death-triggered effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies frequently dominate play, Attrition maintains a high level of meta relevance. It provides a consistent answer to opposing threats and can alter the battlefield in your favor, making it a formidable addition to any collection aiming to stay competitive.


How to beat

Overcoming Attrition in MTG gameplay demands strategic thinking and careful resource management. This enchantment poses a persistent threat by enabling its controller to systematically dismantle their opponent’s creature base, given enough creatures to sacrifice and mana to fuel its abilities. One method to counteract Attrition is to generate token creatures or use cards that can easily replace themselves, reducing the impact of Attrition’s targeted removal.

Additionally, employing enchantment removal such as Disenchant or Naturalize can efficiently dismantle the Attrition strategy directly. These cards not only deal with Attrition itself but also pave the way for you to regain board control. Another avenue is to capitalize on graveyard synergy by using your creatures that Attrition targets as a resource for other gameplay, with cards allowing you to reap benefits from creatures being sent to the graveyard, turning a seeming disadvantage into a potent advantage.

An important note is maintaining a strong creature count, limiting Attrition’s effectiveness since its ability requires a sacrifice. By incorporating these tactics, you can neutralize the Attrition threat and tip the scales in your favor, illustrating the depth of strategic complexity inherent in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

With Attrition in your MTG toolkit, you’re equipped to tackle the metagame with refined board control and a knack for value-based tactics. Implementing this card can shift the tides to your favor, exploiting token strategies and creature death synergies. To elevate your gameplay further, be inquisitive and absorb the nuances that make cards like Attrition pivotal in a competitive environment. Expand your collection, test diverse strategies, and witness how Attrition can multiply your wins. Dive deeper into the mechanics and strategies that make cards like Attrition a game-changer. Visit us for insights and tips to sharpen your MTG acumen.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Attrition MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Commander 2011, 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 Attrition and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Attrition Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2017-04-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-06-07Urza's DestinyUDS 521997NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 722003NormalBlackScott M. Fischer
32017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 192015NormalBorderlessJose Cabrera

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Attrition has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal