Terror MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 29 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Terror excels in card advantage, efficiently dealing with creatures and their attached investments.
  2. Its low casting cost aids in mana management, allowing diverse plays while maintaining a threat response.
  3. Understanding its instant speed uses and limitations informs effective deck building against targeted removal.

Text of card

Destroys target creature without possibility of regeneration. Does not affect black creatures and artifact creatures.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Terror gives you a clear pathway to deal with threats on the board efficiently. By removing a creature from the game, you effectively negate any card investments your opponent may have made in that creature, such as enchantments or equipment, leading to a potential advantage in card economy.

Resource Acceleration: Although Terror itself does not directly contribute to resource acceleration, its low casting cost allows you to maintain mana availability. This means you can continue to develop your board presence or hold up mana for other responses after casting Terror, keeping the tempo of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: The power of Instant speed spells like Terror lies in their flexibility. You can wait until the opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to act, which can disrupt their strategy. This surprise element can also force your opponent to play more conservatively, not committing to their full potential for fear of your removal spell.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to using the Terror Magic: The Gathering card comes from its inherent lack of versatility in being a targeted removal spell. Unlike other flexible removal options, Terror doesn’t offer additional benefits beyond the destruction of a non-artifact, non-black creature, and can be dead weight against decks that don’t rely heavily on those.

Specific Mana Cost: For those crafting a multi-colored deck, the necessity for one black mana may pose a constraint. This requirement may not fit seamlessly into all deck archetypes, particularly those that are mana-intensive or that aim for a quick and agile mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although two mana may seem reasonable, in the fast-paced modern game environment, more efficient spells exist. This card could be considered slow when compared to the vast array of one-mana removal spells that could be slotted into a deck for a quicker response to threats.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Terror is a classic removal spell that can be slotted into any deck running black mana. Its ability to destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature without regeneration offers a straightforward and cost-effective way to deal with threats.

Combo Potential: This card can play a pivotal role in control or attrition-based strategies, working seamlessly with other cards that benefit from cleared battlefields, such as those that trigger when a creature dies or when creature cards enter the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: Given its straightforward destruction ability, Terror remains relevant in various formats where creatures play a central role. It can be a key card for staying ahead or stabilizing the board against aggressive creature decks.


How to beat

Terror is a classic removal card from Magic: The Gathering renowned for its efficiency in dealing with creatures. To successfully navigate around Terror, you’ll want to focus on its limitations. The card cannot target artifact creatures or black creatures, immediately suggesting a strategy to counter it. Including these types of creatures in your deck can provide a safeguard against such targeted removal.

Employing creatures with hexproof or shroud can also prove effective. Since Terror requires a creature to be a valid target, abilities that prevent targeting from spells or abilities grant your creatures resilience against removal. Deck-building with the inclusion of indestructible creatures can pose another obstacle for Terror, as even though they can be targeted, they won’t be destroyed by the spell.

Defense against removal spells like Terror isn’t limited to creature selection only. Counterspells can be a direct way to protect your creatures, negating Terror as it’s being cast. Lastly, instant-speed hexproof-granting spells can catch an opponent off guard when they attempt to use Terror, leaving them at a disadvantage. Understanding the restrictions and counters of Terror can greatly enhance your ability to withstand it during gameplay.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up our discussion on the Terror MTG card, it becomes evident that while it has its constraints, its place in your collection could be pivotal. Understanding the cards’ ins and outs is key, from leveraging its cost-effective creature removal to skillfully dodging its limitations. MTG isn’t just about what cards you play; it’s how you play them. We encourage you to deepen your strategic horizons with insights like these. Dive further into deck-building strategies and learn to counter with finesse by joining our MTG community. Together, let’s transform challenges into victories on the battlefield.


Cards like Terror

Terror has long been a staple in Magic: The Gathering for creature removal. Its ability to destroy target non-artifact, non-black creature is a straightforward execution of power. A card like Doom Blade shares this black-aligned characteristic, offering a slightly more restricted approach by only targeting non-black creatures. But unlike Terror, it can affect artifact creatures without discrimination.

Go for the Throat is another card that helps players deal with threats on the board. Similar to Terror, it prevents targeting of black creatures but takes it a step further by excluding artifact creatures as well. However, its mana cost is the same, preserving its place as an efficient removal card. The Murder spell extends what Terror initiated, presenting a less restrictive condition that allows players to destroy any creature at a higher mana cost.

Considering the competitive landscape of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering, Terror holds its ground. Its balance between cost, power, and few limitations provide a solid example of functionality that has influenced similar cards throughout the game’s evolution.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)
Go for the Throat - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Murder - Magic 2013 (M13)

Cards similar to Terror by color, type and mana cost

Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Shallow Grave - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
Toxic Stench - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Goryo's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Command - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Diabolic Edict - Masters 25 (A25)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
Soul Rend - Mirage (MIR)
Shallow Grave - Mirage (MIR)
Wicked Reward - Visions (VIS)
Urborg Justice - Weatherlight (WTH)
Imps' Taunt - Tempest (TMP)
Rapid Decay - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Tainted Pact - Odyssey (ODY)
Toxic Stench - Judgment (JUD)
Doom Blade - The List (PLST)
Go for the Throat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cast Down - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Goryo's Vengeance - Ultimate Box Topper (PUMA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Terror MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Terror and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Terror Magic the Gathering card was released in 26 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1301993normalblackRon Spencer
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1311993normalblackRon Spencer
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1311993normalwhiteRon Spencer
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1311993normalblackRon Spencer
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1311993normalblackRon Spencer
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1321993normalblackRon Spencer
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1321993normalwhiteRon Spencer
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1321993normalwhiteRon Spencer
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1641993normalblackRon Spencer
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1641993normalwhiteRon Spencer
111996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 241993normalwhiteRon Spencer
121996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 251993normalwhiteRon Spencer
131997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1961997normalwhiteRon Spencer
141999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1601997normalwhiteRon Spencer
151999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 871997normalwhiteRon Spencer
162000-01-01Friday Night Magic 2000FNM 21997normalblackRon Spencer
172000-10-01Beatdown Box SetBTD 331997normalwhiteRon Spencer
182002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 314832003normalblackRon Spencer
192002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 359481997normalblackRon Spencer
202003-10-02MirrodinMRD 792003normalblackPuddnhead
212005-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2005P05 22003normalblackRon Spencer
222007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1822003normalblackAdam Rex
232010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 342003normalblackAdam Rex
242010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 A501997normalblackRon Spencer
252011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 991997normalblackRon Spencer
262022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4241997normalblackRon Spencer
272022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1272015normalblackRon Spencer
282023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1032015normalblackAdam Rex
292023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3121997normalblackAdam Rex

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Terror has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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