Disfigure MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 87
2016-09-02 - Number 46
2018-03-16 - Number 87
2019-07-12 - Number 95
2022-07-08 - Number 74
2022-11-18 - Number 91
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
"Brave scar or unfortunate tale? It all depends on your pain threshold."
Cards like Disfigure
In the nuances of removal spells within Magic: The Gathering, Disfigure holds its ground as a quick and efficient option. Similar to Fatal Push, which offers the potential to destroy larger creatures under certain conditions, Disfigure targets creatures of a smaller scale. However, Disfigure trumps in its low mana cost, allowing it to be played very early in the game to hinder an opponent’s early creature plays.
Then there’s Dead Weight, another card in the same vein, providing a -2/-2 debuff but as an enchantment that stays in play. While it may seem advantageous to have a persistent effect, Disfigure’s instant speed is a defining parameter, giving it the flexibility to impact combat at crucial moments. Lastly, considering Grasp of Darkness, it doubles the stat reduction effect at the cost of an additional black mana. This makes Disfigure the more mana-efficient choice for those critical early game plays.
Each of these cards offers unique advantages, but for players valuing quick and cost-effective solutions, Disfigure emerges as an excellent tool for controlling the early game board state. Its role is indeed pivotal in strategies that rely on tempo and maintaining early control.
Cards similar to Disfigure by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Disfigure. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WB | Pauper | Pauper League 2024-01-01 | |
| Orzhov Midrange | Pauper | Pauper Jungle | |
 | orzhov 8 inspector | Pauper | Fuguete League 167 | |
 | Decklist | Free form | 79#CS | |
 | WBG | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 64 2024-01-28 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Disfigure may not directly allow you to draw cards, but it provides a form of card advantage by effectively dealing with an opponent’s creatures. By eliminating a threat with a single mana, you maintain the cards in hand while impacting the board, potentially negating your opponent’s card investment.
Resource Acceleration: While Disfigure doesn’t produce additional resources in the form of mana or tokens, its low mana cost represents a form of tempo acceleration. This allows you to utilize your mana efficiently, possibly casting other spells in the same turn or saving resources for complex plays.
Instant Speed: Disfigure’s strength is amplified by its instant speed, giving you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn. This can be especially crucial when timing is key, such as in response to combat tricks or on the brink of lethal damage. The ability to act at instant speed ensures you can adapt to the dynamic flow of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Disfigure, while efficient, does not require discarding as part of its casting cost. However, it’s important to manage your hand properly to ensure you have this spell when you need it, as it’s crucial to have direct removal at the right moment.
Specific Mana Cost: Disfigure costs a single black mana, which restricts its play to decks that include black. This requirement means that it’s not always a fit for every strategy, particularly those not running swamps or mana-fixing capabilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Disfigure’s one black mana cost is quite low, in a game where speed can be of the essence, even this minimal cost might be considered a setback compared to zero-cost alternatives like Surgical Extraction or Gut Shot that can be played without mana and still affect the board state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Disfigure offers a swift response to early game threats, seamlessly integrating into various deck types. It’s a staple for control or tempo decks looking to manage the board and maintain an upper hand during the initial turns of the game.
Combo Potential: Its ability to weaken creatures on the fly allows it to synergize with mechanics that capitalize on creatures’ power or toughness being lowered, such as those activating morbid or enabling easier removal.
Meta-Relevance: With aggressive creature-based strategies frequently dominating, Disfigure serves as a cost-efficient tool to disrupt opponents’ momentum, making it a perennially relevant choice in sideboards or even main decks, depending on the format.
How to Beat
Disfigure is a well-known card in Magic: The Gathering, celebrated for its ability to provide a swift -2/-2 debuff to target creature for a single black mana. Its strength lies in its efficiency to neutralize key early threats or diminish larger threats to manageable levels. Strategically, it’s often used as a first line of defense against aggressive decks. When pitted against Disfigure, consider employing creatures with robustness that won’t falter to a mere two-point stat reduction or those with indelibility to negate its effects.
Disfigure’s limitation is evident in its singularity: it can only target one creature at a time and only those on the battlefield. Take advantage of instant spells that bolster your creature’s stats in response, ensuring their survival and diminishing the potency of your opponent’s Disfigure. Furthermore, look to permanents that regenerate or can be sacrificed for a greater purpose, thus reducing the impact Disfigure has on your overall strategy. To circumvent Disfigure’s menacing presence, maintain a higher curve of resilience in your creatures and adapt their play to outmaneuver this threat.
In essence, to get ahead when your opponent casts Disfigure, it’s vital to go for durability over numbers, introducing a game plan that converts a simple -2/-2 disadvantage into an opportunity to fortify and retaliate with mightier force, sustaining the pressure on your adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Disfigure MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis, 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 Disfigure and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Disfigure Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 87 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 2 | 2016-09-02 | Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis | DDR | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 3 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 87 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 4 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 95 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 6 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 91 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Disfigure has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |