Disaster Radius MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 141
2011-06-17 - Number 119
2015-11-13 - Number 150
2017-11-24 - Number 26
2018-06-08 - Number 92
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
As an additional cost to cast Disaster Radius, reveal a creature card from your hand. Disaster Radius deals X damage to each creature your opponents control, where X is the revealed card's converted mana cost.
Cards like Disaster Radius
In the diverse array of red spells within Magic: The Gathering, Disaster Radius stands out when it comes to sweeping damage capabilities. It shares a common goal with cards like Earthquake and Starstorm, which is to deal damage across the board. However, Disaster Radius distinguishes itself with its unique mechanic of revealing a creature card from the hand to determine the damage, giving it a noteworthy twist.
Flame Wave is another noteworthy comparison. This card, like Disaster Radius, deals damage to multiple targets but does so at a fixed amount rather than the variable damage Disaster Radius might unleash. Blasphemous Act also enters this arena as a cost-efficient board wipe if the board is crowded with creatures, in contrast to the mana-heavy Disaster Radius that requires strategic hand management.
When evaluating these red sorceries, Disaster Radius can be highly impactful in the right deck, offering a considerable advantage if a high-cost creature lurks in your hand ready to dictate the scale of your destruction.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Disaster Radius offers a significant edge by potentially removing multiple creatures from the battlefield in a single cast. This not only clears the way for your attacks but also depletes your opponents’ resources, often resulting in a gain in card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Disaster Radius doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can effectively reset the board, especially if you’re facing opponents who’ve outpaced you in creature development. This leveling of the playing field can shift momentum in your favor, allowing you to make more impactful plays.
Instant Speed: While Disaster Radius is not an instant, it’s strength lies in the impact it makes once it resolves. It allows you to spend your mana effectively on your turn, aligning with a strategy that focuses on big, game-changing plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One aspect that players need to consider is the discard requirement of Disaster Radius. In order to cast this spell, you must reveal a creature card from your hand and discard it, which could put you at a significant disadvantage by depleting your hand and reducing your future play options.
Specific Mana Cost: Disaster Radius comes with a specific mana cost that can be a hurdle in some decks. It requires a certain amount of red mana, making it less flexible for those who are playing multi-colored decks or those that don’t generate large amounts of red mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Furthermore, this card has a comparatively high mana cost. Requiring seven mana to cast means that Disaster Radius can be a late-game play only. This can be particularly challenging when up against strategies that aim to win quickly or establish board control early on, rendering the card inefficient for faster-paced games.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Disaster Radius is a unique addition to decks that thrive on dealing damage across the board. It can slide seamlessly into red-based control or ramp strategies, permitting players to clear multiple threats in a single spell while fostering board control. Its ability to select an instant target for its significant damage output makes it a flexible card for any collection.
Combo Potential: For players looking to exploit the synergy of spells and creature power, Disaster Radius offers a powerful interaction. The card pairs well with high-powered creatures, utilizing their strength to determine the scope of devastation. It can act as a lynchpin in combos aimed at turning the tide by crippling opponent’s creature-based strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by creature-heavy decks or those that amass large armies, Disaster Radius asserts its value. It serves as a potent response to overwhelming board states, enabling red deck players to maintain parity or recover from behind. Its capacity to skewer multiple targets with one cast can be a game-changer in such environments.
How to beat
Disaster Radius is a high-impact red sorcery that boasts the potential for widespread damage, targeting creatures your opponents control. Its unique ability lies in revealing a creature card from your hand and dealing damage to each creature your opponent controls equal to the revealed card’s mana value. This card thrives in decks with high-mana creatures, clearing numerous threats with a single cast.
To effectively counteract Disaster Radius, consider strategies that either reduce the damage dealt or render it obsolete. For instance, employing cards that grant your creatures indestructibility for the turn can nullify the effect of Disaster Radius. A timely counterspell is a direct solution, stopping the spell before it ever hits the battlefield. Utilizing hexproof or shroud as a protective measure can also safeguard your creatures from its reach. Moreover, playing creatures with a toughness higher than the highest mana value creature in your opponent’s hand ensures survival through the damage. Monitoring your opponent’s hand size and their available red mana can give you a strategic edge, letting you adjust your plays and maintain a robust board presence in anticipation of this potential disaster.
In deck construction, incorporating cards that can operate from the graveyard or have resilience against removal can circumvent the devastation that Disaster Radius attempts to unleash, keeping you in the game despite your opponent’s explosive plays.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Disaster Radius MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Commander 2011, 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 Disaster Radius 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
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Printings
The Disaster Radius Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by James Paick.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 141 | 2003 | Normal | Black | James Paick | |
| 2 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 119 | 2003 | Normal | Black | James Paick | |
| 3 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 150 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Paick | |
| 4 | 2017-11-24 | Explorers of Ixalan | E02 | 26 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Paick | |
| 5 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 92 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Paick |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Disaster Radius has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |