Celestial Purge MTG Card
2009-02-06 - Number 5
2009-07-17 - Number 7
2010-07-16 - Number 9
2011-07-15 - Number 11
2015-05-22 - Number 11
2002-06-24 - Number 36859
2010-01-01 - Number 6
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Remove target black or red permanent from the game.
"This new chaos confounds us. We must fling it into our winds, our storms. These we can control." —Bezzit Plar, Esper stormcaller
Cards like Celestial Purge
Celestial Purge solidifies its role in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a targeted removal spell with a specific focus. This card efficiently exiles either black or red permanents, setting a strict boundary that parallels cards like Light of Hope and Disenchant. Both alternatives offer ways to deal with particular nonland permanents or provide additional flexibility but don’t have the exile mechanism that defines Celestial Purge.
On the other side of the spectrum stands Path to Exile, a powerful white removal that can exile any creature at the expense of granting its controller a basic land. While Celestial Purge doesn’t offer such broad targeting, it doesn’t compensate the opponent as Path to Exile does. Furthermore, Devout Decree is another similar card that can exile black or red creatures and also provides you with a scry opportunity, but unlike Celestial Purge, it can’t target enchantments or planeswalkers.
Evaluating the strengths of Celestial Purge and its allies, one can appreciate its unique role in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a combination of precision and efficiency in matchups where its specific targeting is most advantageous, markedly against decks heavily reliant on black or red permanents.
Cards similar to Celestial Purge by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Celestial Purge. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Esper Control | Modern | Esper Midrange | NRG Series $10,000 Showdown - Madison, Wisconsin (Modern) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Celestial Purge is valued for its precise removal, circumventing the need to use multiple cards to deal with problematic red or black permanents.
Resource Acceleration: While Celestial Purge does not directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost aids in efficient mana utilization, allowing you to commit to other plays in the same turn.
Instant Speed: The instant nature of Celestial Purge permits strategic flexibility, providing the opportunity to disrupt opponents’ actions during their turn or at the end of it, maintaining the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although not requiring a card to be discarded, Celestial Purge does necessitate a white mana, limiting its spontaneous inclusion in a multi-color deck, especially if the white source count is low.
Specific Mana Cost: Celestial Purge requires both white and generic mana, which might not seamlessly fit into a deck’s mana curve or strategy, especially if the deck relies on speed and mana efficiency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering removal options, Celestial Purge’s two-mana investment is seen as fairly priced, yet there are instances where one-mana removal spells could be more favorable for a swift response to threats.
Reasons to Include Celestial Purge in Your Collection
Versatility: Celestial Purge is a highly adaptable removal spell that can swiftly deal with black or red threats, crucial in a variety of game scenarios. Whether it’s a pesky creature, an enchantment causing you grief, or a planeswalker building up to a game-winning ultimate, Celestial Purge can handle it as long as it’s within its color targets.
Combo Potential: This card harmonizes well with strategies that aim to control the board and can be slotted into a sideboard plan for decks looking to pivot their removal package based on the opponent’s strategy. It serves as both a defensive and offensive tool, giving players a tactical edge.
Meta-Relevance: The card’s importance escalates in metagames dominated by powerful black or red permanents. In such an environment, being able to eliminate key pieces efficiently can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.
How to beat
Celestial Purge is a targeted removal spell in Magic: The Gathering, exclusively efficient against black or red permanents. A mainstay in players’ sideboards, it’s especially potent in metagames where such colors dominate. To effectively beat Celestial Purge, versatility in your deck’s color palette can be key. Including permanents outside the range of Celestial Purge’s color restrictions ensures that your essential pieces remain on the battlefield. Diversifying threats also confuses opponents, making it difficult for them to choose the right target.
Another strategy is to bait out the purge with less critical permanents, safeguarding more vital ones for the later stages of the game. Be mindful of the timing of playing your black and red spells when opponents have white mana available, as this conservative approach to casting can mitigate the impact of Celestial Purge. Lastly, counterspells or abilities that grant hexproof can provide an effective shield against this removal, securing your position and nullifying the purge’s potential blow to your game plan.
Overall, in the complex dance of Magic: The Gathering spells and counter-play, foresight and adaptability pave the path to outmaneuvering Celestial Purge’s purge.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Celestial Purge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Conflux, 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 Celestial Purge 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
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Printings
The Celestial Purge Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2015-05-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36859 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | ||
| 2 | 2009-02-06 | Conflux | CON | 5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Palumbo | |
| 3 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 7 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Palumbo | |
| 4 | Magic Player Rewards 2010 | P10 | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | ||
| 5 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 9 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Palumbo | |
| 6 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 11 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Palumbo | |
| 7 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 11 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Palumbo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Celestial Purge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Celestial Purge 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 | Lands are colorless (even if their frames have some colored elements to them). You can’t target a Swamp, a Mountain, or any other land with Celestial Purge (unless some other effect has turned that land black or red). |