Homicidal Seclusion MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Number	108
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Cliff Childs

Key Takeaways

Provides ongoing enhancement, making one creature significantly more formidable and harder to remove.
Despite its strength, the card’s play is vulnerable to targeted removal or counter strategies.
Best suited for decks that capitalize on solitary-creature strategies, creating a relentless threat.

Text of card

As long as you control exactly one creature, that creature gets +3/+1 and has lifelink.

"Damned crows and their endless squawking . . . blocks out the voices in my head . . ." —Hermit of Hanne Hall

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Homicidal Seclusion, players increase the value of each creature they control by making them significantly more difficult to deal with. This lone-creature focus can translate to a subtle form of card advantage as fewer creatures are needed to maintain a dominant board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Homicidal Seclusion doesn’t provide traditional acceleration like additional mana or tokens, it bolsters your resources by making a single creature a more powerful asset. The card aims to reduce the reliance on multiple threats, indirectly pacing the rate at which you need to play out resources from your hand.

Instant Speed: Although Homicidal Seclusion is not an instant, its impact compensates by enabling swift reactions to evolving game states. Once on the battlefield, it instantly boosts a creature, effectively catching opponents off guard and possibly swinging the tide of combat in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: High demands on your hand can lead to a loss of tempo, and Homicidal Seclusion necessitates maintaining a singular creature approach which may leave you vulnerable to removal spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both black mana and a total cost of five, Homicidal Seclusion can be restrictive in multi-colored decks, potentially causing delays in its deployment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s effectiveness is contingent upon a specific board state, which might not be justifiable by its five mana investment, especially in environments where lower-cost cards offer more immediate impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Homicidal Seclusion is an enchantment that can drastically alter the dynamics of a game when used in decks built around it. Its ability to amplify a single creature’s might makes it a game-changer in ‘loner’ or ‘Voltron’ strategies, where one powerful creature can dominate the board.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with creatures that have evasive or protective abilities. When paired with creatures that are difficult to block or remove, Homicidal Seclusion ensures that your solitary threat remains a continuous source of concern for your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players rely on an array of creatures, Homicidal Seclusion offers a unique way to pivot the game in your favor. It grants resilience against board wipes and spot removals, keeping your creature an ongoing menace while opponents scramble to address your unconventional threat.

How to beat

Homicidal Seclusion is a unique enchantment that can turn any single creature into a formidable threat on the battlefield. Particularly in formats like Commander, where games often hinge on nuanced interactions and board states, understanding the strategies to dismantle this card’s effects can be crucial. Dealing with Homicidal Seclusion requires a mix of preventative and reactive measures.

One approach is to reduce the card’s impact by maintaining creature parity. If you can keep multiple creatures on the battlefield, the enchantment’s benefits are negated. Removal spells are another answer; direct removal like Disenchant can easily dispatch Homicidal Seclusion, stripping your opponent of a boosted threat and potentially swinging the momentum. Counterspells like Negate are also effective for stopping the enchantment from hitting the field in the first place. Planning ahead and keeping removal or counters in hand when you suspect your opponent is playing this card can be the difference between a win and a loss.

Ultimately, knowledge of Homicidal Seclusion and keeping your deck equipped with answers to enchantments ensures you’re not caught off guard by its game-altering potential. Timely removal and clever play can keep this card from overwhelming you.

Cards like Homicidal Seclusion

Homicidal Seclusion is a unique enchantment card in the vast collection of Magic: The Gathering, echoing effects similar to cards that reward players for having fewer creatures on the battlefield. A card that mirrors its ability is Desperate Stand from the Journey into Nyx set. While Desperate Stand provides a temporary combat boost for a single creature, Homicidal Seclusion offers a continuous benefit as long as you control only one creature.

Another card that Homicidal Seclusion might be compared to is Deadly Wanderings from Dragons of Tarkir. Both cards increase the power and toughness of a solitary creature and provide lifelink. However, Deadly Wanderings gives the bonus to all your creatures, although still only effective if you control exactly one. While Homicidal Seclusion provides an ongoing advantage with its static buff, Deadly Wanderings requires more strategic timing to optimize its value.

Examining the mechanics of solitude-enhancing cards shows Homicidal Seclusion as a solid choice for decks that thrive on single-creature strategies, offering both a significant consistent buff and the valuable lifelink attribute for sustained board presence and survival in the game.

Cards similar to Homicidal Seclusion by color, type and mana cost

Curse of Death's Hold - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Homicidal Seclusion MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Homicidal Seclusion and other MTG cards: