Murder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Murder ensures card advantage by removing opponent’s creatures, tilting matchups in your favor during play.
  2. It’s instant-speed nature allows unexpected plays, offering strategic advantage and effective resource management.
  3. While versatile, the specific mana cost and three mana requirement can limit Murder’s inclusion in various decks.

Text of card

Destroy target creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Murder, you can eliminate a potential threat from your opponent’s battlefield, swinging the balance towards your side. This action secures an edge over the enemy, warding off potential losses and giving you the upper hand during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: Murder does not generate any extra resource on its own. However, by eliminating a significant threat, you might be paving the way for your creatures to attack more freely or your spells to take effect without hindrance, indirectly accelerating your gameplay resource.

Instant Speed: One reassuring aspect of Murder is its instant-speed characteristic. This allows you to surprise your opponent at any point within a turn, disrupting their strategies and gaining you the tactical upper hand. Its immediacy enables you to manage your resources wisely and respond to unfolding situations on the battlefield effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Murder does not require you to discard a card, presenting an advantage in retaining your hand’s value; however, the reliance on your mana pool to execute might leave you resource-deficient in other areas of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Murder necessitates two black mana and an additional one which could restrict its usage to mainly black or multicolored decks, possibly limiting the card’s versatility in other deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The requirement of three mana for Murder might be considered steep, especially considering there are other removal cards that may provide the same effect for lower cost, potentially offering better mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Murder is a quintessential tool in any black deck. This instant speed kill spell is perfect for taking down any creature that stands in your way without restrictions, making it optimally flexible within different match situations.

Combo Potential: Whether you’re controlling the board in a game of Commander or just disposing of a pesky creature in a game of Standard, Murder smoothly interacts with other black cards that appreciate sacrifice fuel, graveyard infusion or death-trigger abilities, amplifying your game strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Regardless of the current Magic meta, having removal at your fingertips is never irrelevant. With Murder in your collection, you’re armed and ready for virtually any creature-based threat that emerges in the meta, guaranteeing perceptive deck-building decisions.


How to beat

Murder is one of the most utilized removal cards in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). It’s simple, efficient, and knocks off any creature for a cost of only three mana. Murder does not discriminate, any creature large or small, indestructible or fragile, is not safe. Being an instant, you can cast it at any time and voila, your opponent’s biggest threat is gone.

Given its prominence, players often plan strategies to counter this. Cards capable of offering hexproof or protection can be invaluable shields against Murder. Blossoming Defense is one such card that not only boosts your creature’s power but gives it hexproof as well. Similarly, Swift Boots or Lightning Greaves provide hexproof as a part of their equip mechanics. Protection-granting cards like Mother of Ruins can also be strong counters to Murder by making your creature immune to black -the color of Murder.

Alternatively, counter spells or cards that negate spell effects can be used. Dispel, Negate and Counterspell are all capable of denying Murder its deadly effect. Another option is using cards that put your creature out of Murder’s reach by increasing their toughness or bouncing them back to your hand.

Ultimately, strategic play and anticipation reverse the potent effects of Murder, turning the hunter into the hunted.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the art of MTG gameplay with our curated tips and insights. As you’ve seen, Murder is a staple for any player looking to enforce control on the battlefield. But why stop there? Enhance your understanding of gameplay dynamics, master the strategic use of removal spells, and discover how to protect your own creatures from such threats. As you journey through the layers of MTG, each card and tactic is a step towards becoming a more formidable adversary. Interested in optimizing your deck-building skills and outmaneuvering your opponents? Stay ahead of the curve and empower your MTG expertise with us.


Cards like Murder

The degree which Murder utilises immediate, unfettered removal makes it a compelling choice for Magic: The Gathering decks, particularly when compared to other removal spells in the game. Weapons like the iconic Doom Blade share common features with Murder, offering swift disposal of non-black creatures for a lesser mana cost. However, Murder’s ability to target any creature without restrictions balances out its higher cost at three mana.

In the same context, Go For the Throat is worth noting. It gives the player the ability to eliminate non-artifact creatures, a feature that augments its position in artifact-dense metas. Yet, its limitation against artifact creatures balances its mana cost advantage. On the rarer side of things, cards such as Hero’s Downfall share the unrestricted removal prowess of Murder with the extra ability to target Planeswalkers, but they require one coloured mana more.

To sum up, when we take a holistic view of the benefits and constraints of various removal spells, it is clear that Murder has secured a strong position amongst its peers through its broader applicability, regardless of a higher mana cost.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)
Hero's Downfall - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Murder by color, type and mana cost

Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Stench of Decay - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Hapato's Might - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Spoils of Evil - Ice Age (ICE)
Dark Banishing - Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic (DVD)
Stench of Decay - Alliances (ALL)
Carrion - Mirage (MIR)
Sick and Tired - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Corpse Dance - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Bone Harvest - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Slay - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hapato's Might - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Afflict - Odyssey (ODY)
Dismember - Modern Event Deck 2014 (MD1)
Body Count - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Reaping the Graves - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Execute - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kill! Destroy! - Unhinged (UNH)
Sudden Death - Time Spiral (TSP)
Footbottom Feast - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Fevered Strength - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Hideous End - The List (PLST)
Corpse Lunge - Innistrad (ISD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Murder MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2013, 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 Murder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Murder Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 692562003normalblackTyler Jacobson
22012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1012003normalblackAllen Williams
32016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 972015normalblackTyler Jacobson
42016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1432015normalblackAllen Williams
52018-03-16Masters 25A25 982015normalblackAllen Williams
62018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 1102015normalblackTyler Jacobson
72018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1102015normalblackTyler Jacobson
82019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 1092015normalblackAllen Williams
92019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7172015normalblackAllen Williams
102020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 532015normalblackTyler Jacobson
112020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 472015normalblackAllen Williams
122020-09-26The ListPLST M20-1092015normalblackAllen Williams
132020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 1342015normalblackAllen Williams
142022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 882015normalblackYongjae Choi
152022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 1342015normalblackDavid Astruga
162024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 3002015normalblackRichard Wright
172024-02-09Murders at Karlov ManorMKM 952015normalblackIsis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Murder has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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