Defeat MTG Card

Defeat allows crucial creature removal, offering board control and disrupting opponent strategies at crucial moments. Instant speed plays enable flexible responses and strategic depth during opponents’ turns, increasing tactical advantage. Although mana-specific and requiring a card discard, its efficiency in mana usage strengthens versatile play styles.

Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
2015-03-27 - Number 97

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 619

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number DTK-97

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Destroy target creature with power 2 or less.

"Wars are decided one life at a time." —Gvar Barzeel, Kolaghan warrior

Cards like Defeat

Defeat is a targeted removal spell that offers players in Magic: The Gathering a way to deal with troublesome planeswalkers. It finds peers in other planeswalker-targeting spells like Never // Return and Hero’s Downfall. Never // Return allows you not only to destroy a creature or planeswalker but also to exile a card from a graveyard, giving it a slight edge in utility over Defeat. Meanwhile, Hero’s Downfall stands out with its instant speed, allowing for mid-battlefield adjustments by destroying any creature or planeswalker at a pivotal moment.

Another card to consider is Dreadbore, providing a similar function but with the caveat of being a sorcery. Dreadbore is more flexible than Defeat due to its ability to target either a creature or planeswalker, but this comes at a higher mana cost. Ruinous Path also destroys creatures or planeswalkers, with the added benefit of the awaken mechanic for a higher mana investment.

When evaluating these options, Defeat holds its position for players seeking a cost-effective and specialized tool against planeswalkers. Its lower mana cost than most of its counterparts offers a swift and narrowly focused solution, albeit with the trade-off of being limited to sorcery speed and targeting only planeswalkers.

Cards similar to Defeat by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Defeat provides a strategic edge by allowing players to remove a key creature from the game, effectively reducing the opponent’s board presence and swinging the momentum in your favor. This can be particularly advantageous if you target a creature that’s a pivotal part of an opponent’s combo or strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While Defeat does not directly accelerate your resources, efficiently managing your mana to disrupt your opponent can contribute to a form of indirect resource acceleration. By eliminating an opponent’s threat with a low-cost spell, you’re able to utilize your mana in more versatile ways each turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Defeat at instant speed gives you significant flexibility during the match. You can navigate the game strategically, waiting for the most opportune moment to remove a threat without having to commit to action in your own turn. This leaves your options open to react swiftly to your opponent’s moves, keeping them guessing and on the defensive.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Defeat card necessitates the player to discard one of their own cards, a challenging predicament when hand size is critical for maintaining strategic flexibility and options.

Specific Mana Cost: Defeat requires a precise combination of mana to cast. This means you’ll need both black and either white or red mana available, which could be tricky for decks that aren’t fine-tuned to provide such a mix consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While impactful, the casting cost of Defeat is on the high side, making it a potential bottleneck in your mana curve. In the early game, this can slow down your pace considerably, allowing your opponent to potentially gain a lead in board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The “Defeat” card is a flexible tool that can be seamlessly integrated into sideboards for various types of decks needing a reliable answer to planeswalkers.

Combo Potential: Its ability to target a specific walker type amplifies synergies in Super Friends decks or any strategy aiming to narrow the opponent’s field advantages.

Meta-Relevance: Given that planeswalkers frequently dominate games, having “Defeat” accessible can be crucial when facing decks that rely heavily on these powerful permanents.

How to beat

Defeat is a slick removal spell in the pantheon of MTG cards, offering a cost-effective way to deal with an enemy planeswalker. With Defeat, you are trading one for one, eliminating a potential threat at the low investment of a single mana, making it an ideal spell for tempo-based decks aiming to keep the board clear while developing their own game plan.

When playing against Defeat, it’s important to be aware of the card’s limitations—it targets only planeswalker cards, leaving creatures and other non-planeswalker permanents unscathed. Savvy players can capitalize on this by diversifying their threats, ensuring they’re not over-reliant on planeswalkers for victory. Moreover, employing cards that grant hexproof to your planeswalkers or utilizing counter spells can help safeguard your key pieces from being targeted by Defeat.

Ultimately, while Defeat can be a valuable tool in a player’s arsenal, its specific focus makes it less versatile. By understanding its confines and strategizing accordingly, one can navigate around it, securing the upper hand in MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Defeat MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Defeat and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Defeat Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-03-27	Dragons of Tarkir	DTK	97	2015	Normal	Black	Dave Kendall
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	619	2015	Normal	Black	Dave Kendall
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	DTK-97	2015	Normal	Black	Dave Kendall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Defeat has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal