Play of the Game MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Assist
Released	2018-06-08
Set symbol
Set name	Battlebond
Set code	BBD
Number	29
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jung Park

Key Takeaways

Exiling all nonland permanents provides a significant shift in game control and potential card advantage.
Assist mechanic reduces Play of the Game’s cost, offering strategic mana resource management.
Instant speed enables reactive plays, disrupting opponents’ strategies at critical moments.

Text of card

Assist (Another player can pay up to of this spell's cost.) Exile all nonland permanents.

The most sensational plays send everyone home breathless.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Play of the Game provides an opportunity to not only affect the board significantly by exiling all nonland permanents but also to share that effect with an ally through its assist mechanic, potentially leading to a massive shift in game dynamics and card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Play of the Game does not directly act as a resource accelerator, its assist feature can effectively reduce its casting cost, which can free up mana resources for other uses within the same turn or subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The instantaneous nature of this card gives players the upper hand as it can be cast in response to enemy actions, disrupting their strategies and protecting oneself from imminent threats at a pivotal moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Play of the Game, while powerful, demands a significant sacrifice. Players must discard a card to cast it, which can be especially taxing when hand size is critical to maintaining gameplay options and momentum. This requirement might deter players from including it in decks where card advantage is paramount.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Play of the Game is not only high but also specific, needing both white and blue mana. This specificity can be restrictive for decks that are not tailored to produce these colors consistently or for those that operate on a more diverse mana base, thereby marginalizing its inclusion in many strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: One of the biggest drawbacks is its relatively steep mana cost. In a game where speed and efficiency often prevail, the eight mana required to play can be a major hurdle. While its effect is undoubtedly impactful, there are other board-clearing or game-altering cards available that could be played much sooner, affecting the board state before Play of the Game can even be cast.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Play of the Game can be a game-changer in a variety of decks, particularly in ones that enjoy having ways to disrupt the battlefield on a grand scale. Its flexibility in removing multiple threats at once is a valuable asset.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on political play, allowing you to collaborate with other players to the benefit of your own endgame. It’s an excellent fit for multiplayer formats where shared costs can lead to unexpectedly powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that frequently sees the board clogged with a range of permanents, Play of the Game offers a way to reset the stage. Its presence alone can change the way opponents play, knowing that a sweeping clear could come at any moment.

How to Beat

Play of the Game is a unique card in the MTG universe, with the potential to significantly shift the dynamics on the battlefield. Mastering the art of effectively countering this card can be the key to maintaining the upper hand. Key strategies involve timing and resource management. Ensuring that you have counterspells such as Negate or Disallow ready can intercept Play of the Game and leave your opponent’s plans in disarray.

Maintaining a watchful eye on the board state and being aware of your opponent’s mana can also offer hints as to when Play of the Game might be played. Holding back some of your lesser threats and not overcommitting to the board can mitigate the impact, keeping your most valuable assets in reserve until after the card has been played. It’s also essential to prioritize threats and consider alternative removals that do not rely on destroying, which can be inefficient against Play of the Game’s exiling effect.

Being adept at playing around this high-impact card requires a blend of tactical patience and calculated risks, positioning you well to navigate past the sweeping effect of Play of the Game and lead you toward victory.

Cards like Play of the Game

Play of the Game is an intriguing card in the realm of collaborative plays in Magic: The Gathering. It stands alongside other powerful exiling spells such as Winds of Abandon that also remove multiple threats from the field. However, Play of the Game carries the unique advantage of the assist mechanic, allowing teammates to help cast the spell—a feature Winds of Abandon lacks.

Examining Expropriate, which is also a game-ending spell, shows differences in approach. While Expropriate can outright win games by taking extra turns and stealing permanents, Play of the Game focuses more on resetting the board, giving it a different kind of strategic leverage. A final piece for comparison is Tragic Arrogance, with its selective purging potential. This offers a different approach, as it allows you to control what’s left behind, whereas Play of the Game wipes the slate clean for nonland permanents indiscriminately.

Each of these spells casts a primary role in controlling the battlefield in their ways, but Play of the Game’s unique attribute of combining teamwork with impactful board resets positions it as a notable card amongst its MTG peers for multiplayer formats.

Cards similar to Play of the Game by color, type and mana cost

Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Play of the Game MTG card by a specific set like Battlebond, 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 Play of the Game and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Play of the Game has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Play of the Game card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2018-06-08	Assist allows another player to pay for any amount of generic mana. If an effect changes the cost of the spell, the amount that player may pay will be more or less than the amount in the spell’s reminder text.
2018-06-08	If an effect allows a player to cast a spell spending mana “as though it were mana of any color” or “of any type,” that player must still pay for the colored mana in that spell’s total cost. That cost doesn’t become generic.
2018-06-08	Only the generic mana portion of a spell’s cost can be paid with assist. Any colored mana costs must be paid by the spell’s controller, even if the assisting player paid mana of that color.
2018-06-08	You may reveal a card with assist and discuss how to pay for it before you begin to cast the spell. Targets are chosen for that spell before you choose another player to help you pay for it and before that player has committed any mana to doing so.