Devastation MTG Card

Sweeps all creatures, artifacts, and lands, favoring strategies that recover quickly for a board advantage. Demands careful planning due to high mana cost and potential negative impact on a player’s own resources. Can turn the tide of the game when timed perfectly after opponents overcommit, leaving them resource-stripped.

Portal (POR)
1997-05-01 - Number 123

Starter 1999 (S99)
1999-07-01 - Number 94

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 112

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Destroy all creatures and lands. (This includes your creatures and lands.)

There is much talk about the art of creation. What about the art of destruction?

Cards like Devastation

Devastation is an impactful force in Magic: The Gathering’s realm of board-altering spells. It draws comparison to other game-changers like Armageddon. Both initiate the destruction of land bases, however, Devastation takes it a notch higher by destroying all creatures and artifacts as well. While Armageddon strictly targets lands, Devastation ensures no player has a foothold with any permanents.

Juxtaposing to Jokulhaups, another potent force, which also decimates lands, creatures, and artifacts, Devastation stands out with its straightforward mana cost and immediate impact. Jokulhaups, although broader in its sweep by hitting enchantments as well, requires careful timing and a higher mana cost, making it less efficient than Devastation’s immediate board wipe capability.

Assessing such spells in the MTG universe, Devastation secures a position as a relentlessly devastating option for players aiming for a clean slate strategy, stripping opponents of their battlefield presence swiftly and setting the stage for a commanding comeback or victory.

Cards similar to Devastation by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Quite notably, Devastation permits the exchange of one card for a sweeping effect, potentially disturbing multiple opponents’ boards. This creates a significant card advantage by impacting several of their resources at once.

Resource Acceleration: Though Devastation itself may not directly produce resources, it clears the battlefield of all creatures, artifacts, and lands. This can reset the game to a state where your prior resource accrual can lead to faster recovery and acceleration compared to opponents.

Instant Speed: While Devastation is a sorcery, it’s worthwhile to mention how impactful such a reset button would be at instant speed. It underscores the strategic timing of playing Devastation after opponents have committed their resources, thus maximizing the devastational impact you gain from your sorcery.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A key challenge with Devastation is its discard requirement. Players looking to cast this spell must weigh the potential board impact against the loss of a card from their hand. In situations where hand size is critical, this can be a tough cost to justify, especially if you’re sacrificing a card that might be more useful in the near future.

Specific Mana Cost: Devastation demands a rigid mana investment, typically requiring a heavy commitment to red mana sources in your deck which might not always be readily available. This specific mana cost can be particularly limiting for multicolored decks that need flexibility in their mana base to support a wider range of spells and strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the sweeping effect of Devastation can be game-changing, its mana cost is not to be overlooked. Players have to invest a significant amount of mana to utilize this card, which can impede your ability to perform other actions during your turn. Considering the high mana requirement, players must consider if the outcome is worth the steep investment when other cards may offer similar effects for less, allowing for a more streamlined and efficient gameplay experience.

Reasons to Include Devastation in Your Collection

Versatility: Devastation is a powerful card that can be included in a variety of decks. Its ability to destroy all lands makes it a game-changer in matches, offering a strategy to reset the board state to your advantage.

Combo Potential: This card’s destructive nature pairs well with strategies that benefit from land destruction or those that allow you to recover quickly, giving you a clear lead over your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that features decks heavily reliant on complex mana bases, Devastation can serve as a key disruptor. It’s particularly effective against decks that are slow to rebuild their mana resources.

How to beat

Devastation is a powerful card that has made its mark in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This potent red sorcery destroys all artifacts, creatures, and lands, reshaping the battlefield in a single move. When facing such sweeping destruction, a strategic approach is essential to come out on top. Countermeasures are critical, particularly ways to either negate the spell or recover swiftly from its effects.

To withstand Devastation, players can focus on instant-speed responses or lean on indestructible permanents that can weather the storm. Cards that grant your permanents indestructible, like Boros Charm, or counterspells that can interrupt Devastation, such as Negate or Counterspell, become invaluable. Another tactic is to favor exile effects that remove the card from the game or hand disruption to ensure it never hits the battlefield. Moreover, diversifying your threats across multiple card types and banking on resilient cards that can bounce back from the graveyard can mitigate the crippling reset Devastation causes.

Ultimately, a cool-headed approach that anticipates and prepares for the worst can turn a potentially game-ending spell like Devastation into a manageable challenge that could even play to your advantage.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Devastation MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Starter 1999, 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 Devastation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Devastation Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Steve Luke.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-05-01	Portal	POR	123	1997	Normal	Black	Steve Luke
2	1999-07-01	Starter 1999	S99	94	1997	Normal	White	Steve Luke
3	2011-01-10	Masters Edition IV	ME4	112	1997	Normal	Black	Steve Luke

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Devastation has restrictions

Format	Legality
Predh	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal