Closing Statement MTG Card

Closing Statement provides card advantage through threat removal and enhancing your own board presence. Efficiency is key; it offers resource acceleration by reducing its casting cost at your end step. Its instant speed grants flexibility and surprise, crucial for disrupting opponents and strengthening strategies.
Closing Statement - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number169
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCraig J Spearing

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast during your end step. Destroy target creature or planeswalker you don't control. Put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature you control.

"In conclusion . . ."

Cards like Closing Statement

Closing Statement stands out in the realm of removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. When looking at cards with analogous effects, Oblivion Ring comes to mind as a classic exile card. Unlike Closing Statement, Oblivion Ring targets any nonland permanent and keeps it exiled as long as the Ring remains on the battlefield. This makes Oblivion Ring broader in its application but lacks the instant speed and the additional ability to put a +1/+1 counter that Closing Statement offers.

Mortal’s Ardor provides the ability to give a creature +1/+1 until end of turn but it’s limited compared to Closing Statement’s permanent +1/+1 counter and doesn’t offer a removal aspect. On the other hand, Swift Response also destroys tapped creatures at instant speed, mirroring Closing Statement’s primary function. However, its conditional requirement of the target being tapped makes it less flexible than Closing Statement, which can remove a creature during your turn or take advantage of your opponent’s end step to handle potential threats.

Assessing various gameplay scenarios, Closing Statement holds its own as a robust multitool card, efficiently combining removal while strengthening your own board presence, thus embodying a tactical advantage in any MTG player’s arsenal.

Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Mortal's Ardor - MTG Card versions
Swift Response - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Mortal's Ardor - MTG Card versions
Swift Response - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Closing Statement card strategically provides a dual utility. Not only can it eliminate a significant threat on the battlefield, but it also places a +1/+1 counter on one of your creatures. This effectively generates card advantage by impacting two game elements positively with a single card.

Resource Acceleration: Though it does not directly produce additional mana or tokens, Closing Statement allows for efficient use of resources. The card’s reduced cost in your end step grants a form of resource acceleration by enabling more impactful plays without spending a premium amount of mana during your own turn. This economical use of mana can be crucial in pivotal game moments.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Closing Statement allows for flexible play. It enables you to interact with the board unexpectedly, disrupt opponent strategies, and enhance your own position all without having to wait for your main phase. This can keep opponents guessing and enhance the element of surprise in your gameplay strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Closing Statement, much like other cards with a discard requirement, prompts you to part with another card from your hand. This can often reduce your strategic options and leave you at a disadvantage if you’re already grappling with a scarce hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The spell hinges heavily on a particular mana combination to cast – black and white. This may not synergize well with more diverse or color-variegated decks, inhibiting its general applicability across the wide spectrum of MTG playstyles.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing mana economy, Closing Statement has a relatively steep cost. It demands three mana of any color in addition to its black and white requirements. In the universe of MTG, where every mana point counts, you might find that other cards could provide similar utility without the heavy toll on your mana resources.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Closing Statement is a unique instant that can be a game-changer in a variety of decks, fitting well into strategies that require removal and combat tricks simultaneously.

Combo Potential: As an instant that can take out threats at a critical moment, this card can synergize with strategies hinging on timing and surprise, as well as those that reward you for casting spells during your opponent’s turn.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavily populated by creature-based decks, Closing Statement stands out for its ability to disrupt opponents’ plans while progressing your own board state, all at an opportune instant speed.

How to beat

Closing Statement is a unique inclusion to white-black decks in Magic: The Gathering, capable of disrupting opponents’ strategies during their most crucial turns. Its ability to target and remove creatures or planeswalkers at instant speed makes it a formidable tool in a player’s arsenal. However, its true potential is often revealed during your turn where it offers a lower cost for its potent effect.

To counter this impactful card, players should consider the timing of their plays. Since Closing Statement’s cost reduction activates during your turn, holding back significant creatures or planeswalkers until your opponent’s end step can minimize the card’s efficiency. Moreover, utilizing counter spells, indulging in hand disruption methods, or employing hexproof to shield your assets are effective strategies to blunt the impact of Closing Statement. Anticipating and playing around the card’s timing restrictions is essential for maintaining control of the game board and ensuring that your most valuable pieces remain in play.

Ultimately, adapting your play to mitigate Closing Statement’s strengths is key when navigating matches where this card is a known threat. By being judicious with your play sequence and using protective measures, you can reduce the influence Closing Statement has over the match outcome.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Closing Statement MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Closing Statement and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Closing Statement has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal