Demolish MTG Card
2001-10-01 - Number 183
2003-07-28 - Number 183
2003-07-28 - Number 183★
2003-08-07 - Number pk183sb
2005-07-29 - Number 179★
2005-07-29 - Number 179
2007-07-13 - Number 196
2009-10-02 - Number 121
2010-07-16 - Number 132
2012-05-04 - Number 132
2013-07-19 - Number 136
2013-09-27 - Number 118
2015-07-17 - Number 139
2016-09-30 - Number 113
2017-09-29 - Number 139
2019-05-03 - Number 123
2019-11-07 - Number 901
2024-01-12 - Number 106
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-139
| Card sets | Released in 19 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Destroy target artifact or land.
"Pound the steel until it fits. Doesn't work? Bash to bits." —Dwarven forging song
Cards like Demolish
Demolish has been a staple in the realm of land and artifact destruction within Magic: The Gathering. A common juxtaposition can be made with Stone Rain, which specifically targets lands. Demolish offers more flexibility, as it can destroy an artifact in addition to lands, giving players an added layer of versatility against a broader range of opponents’ strategies.
Another card that parallels Demolish in its destructive capacity is Shatter, aimed solely at artifacts. While Shatter is more mana-efficient, costing two mana as opposed to Demolish’s four, its limitation to artifacts gives Demolish an edge when the field of play calls for land removal. Molten Rain is a competitor that not only destroys lands but also deals damage to the land’s controller, presenting an aggressive strategy that Demolish lacks. Despite the higher cost, the damage output could be decisive.
Comparing these options, Demolish falls into a unique position. It might not be as cast-efficient as Shatter or as damaging as Molten Rain, but its broad scope for destruction ensures it remains a consideration in decks seeking versatile removal tools.
Cards similar to Demolish by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The strategic use of Demolish can be pivotal in delaying your opponent’s game plan, depriving them of valuable land or an artifact they rely on. This can indirectly contribute to card advantage by setting your opponent back and keeping you ahead in resources.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, by debilitating your opponent’s land base or removing key artifacts, you effectively hamper their ability to generate mana or benefit from artifact effects, giving you a relative increase in resource pace.
Instant Speed: Demolish, as a sorcery, requires careful planning to maximize its effect. Although it cannot be cast at instant speed, its ability to impact the board state is significant when timed appropriately, such as destroying a land before an opponent can tap it for crucial mana or eliminating an artifact that’s about to be activated for a game-changing ability.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although not requiring a card to be discarded to play, the Demolish card occupies a valuable slot in your deck that might be better served by cards offering immediate interaction with the game state.
Specific Mana Cost: Demolish requires both red mana and generic mana, which makes it exclusive to decks that can afford this specific mana combination, potentially limiting its flexibility across different deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Demanding a total of four mana for destruction of a single artifact or land, Demolish is often outclassed by other cards that could provide more strategic advantages or that cost less for similar effects.
Reasons to Include Demolish in Your Collection
Versatility: Demolish is a multifaceted card that can be a crucial part of any destruction-based strategy. It can target both lands and artifacts, allowing you to adapt to various threats on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: Within a deck built around land destruction or artifact removal, Demolish can work in tandem with other cards to efficiently dismantle your opponent’s game plan, disrupting their mana base or key artifacts.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where artifact-based decks or land-dependent strategies are prevalent, including Demolish in your deck can give you a significant advantage by hindering your opponents’ crucial plays.
How to beat
Demolish occupies a niche space within the realm of land destruction in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that can both shatter artifacts and raze lands to the ground, Demolish presents a dual threat, especially in formats where mana-fixing artifacts are common. The key to countering the potential devastation of Demolish lies in preemptive strikes and resource diversification.
Diversifying your land base and ensuring that you don’t overly rely on specific nonbasic lands can mitigate the impact of Demolish. Additionally, you could employ instant-speed land protection spells or effects that can regenerate lands, which are less common but can still nullify Demolish’s effect. Counterspells, particularly those that target noncreature spells, can also provide a straightforward solution to Demolish. Creating a swift and resilient board presence will often pressure opponents to deal with your threats instead of targeting your resources, reducing the chances of Demolish altering the course of the game.
Ultimately, Demolish has its place in MTG as a tool for disruption. Understanding your meta and preparing your deck with adequate protection and responses will not only help you weather the destruction but potentially use your opponent’s strategy to your advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Demolish MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Eighth Edition, 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 Demolish 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Demolish Magic the Gathering card was released in 17 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 7 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 183 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Gary Ruddell | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 183 | 2003 | Normal | White | Gary Ruddell | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 183★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Gary Ruddell | |
| 4 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | pk183sb | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Gary Ruddell | |
| 5 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 179★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Gary Ruddell | |
| 6 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 179 | 2003 | Normal | White | Gary Ruddell | |
| 7 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 196 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Gary Ruddell | |
| 8 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 121 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 9 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 132 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 10 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 132 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 11 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 136 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 12 | 2013-09-27 | Theros | THS | 118 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 13 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 139 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 14 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 113 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 15 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 139 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 16 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 123 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 17 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 901 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 18 | The List | PLST | XLN-139 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | ||
| 19 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 106 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Demolish has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |