Tail Slash MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Number	161
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Efrem Palacios

Key Takeaways

Enables you to leverage existing board presence by turning creatures into removal tools.
Instant-speed casting offers flexibility and surprise factor in creature combat.
Choosing Tail Slash in your deck hinges on possessing creatures with sufficient power.

Text of card

Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature you don't control.

"Kneel before a dragon and you will be spared when it turns to leave." —Yikaro, Atarka warrior

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tail Slash is an efficient way to neutralize threats while maintaining your card equilibrium. By enabling creature fights, it can often handle an opponent’s valuable asset with something already on your board.

Resource Acceleration: Although Tail Slash doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can be seen as a way to preserve your creatures that generate mana or have other valuable utilities on the battlefield by removing potential threats.

Instant Speed: Tail Slash offers the strategic advantage of being cast at instant speed, giving players the flexibility to disrupt their opponents’ moves during their turn or at the end of their opponent’s turn to keep up the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Tail Slash doesn’t require discarding as a cost, it does necessitate having a creature with a power that is sufficient to deal the damage, which could be limiting if your board presence is weak or if your creature has been debuffed.

Specific Mana Cost: Tail Slash requires one red mana in its cost, potentially restricting its inclusion in multicolored decks that can’t reliably produce red mana or that prioritize other colors for more crucial spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, Tail Slash is relatively expensive for a targeted removal effect, considering there are more cost-effective spells available that could remove a creature without needing one of your own to be in play or untapped.

Reasons to Include Tail Slash in Your Collection

Versatility: Tail Slash provides a direct and flexible creature removal option that can slot into a variety of deck archetypes. Whether you are piloting a creature-heavy deck or you are including creatures with high power, this card can serve as a handy tool for clearing a path to victory.

Combo Potential: Tail Slash works exceedingly well in decks that are built around creatures with “when deals damage” or “when fights” triggers. By using this card, you can activate those abilities on demand, giving you both board control and synergy benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Tail Slash becomes a vital asset. Its ability to take out key creatures can dramatically shift the tide of battle in your favor, making it a relevant choice for decks aiming to compete with the current metagame dynamics.

How to beat

Tail Slash provides players with an effective tool for creature-based combat strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This instant card allows creatures with formidable power to turn into direct removal for the opponent’s threats. While it is a speed-bump for some battle plans, beating Tail Slash involves a few tactical maneuvers. One is to maintain a diverse board presence. With Tail Slash dependent on having a high-powered creature for its effectiveness, having a spread of smaller creatures could dilute its impact, as your larger threats remain shielded.

Another strategy is to utilize instant-speed removals or counterspells to disrupt the spell before it can resolve. This also includes flash creatures that can block or eliminate the attacking creature. Moreover, keeping combat tricks up your sleeve to boost your creatures’ toughness at instant speed can help survive the damage Tail Slash intends to deal.

Lastly, employing non-creature-based strategies like control or combo can effectively sidestep Tail Slash entirely. Favoring spells and abilities that don’t rely heavily on creatures minimizes Tail Slash’s potential damage and keeps your game plan intact. Overall, by diversifying threats and countering proactively, one can mitigate Tail Slash’s impact during a match.

Cards like Tail Slash

Tail Slash finds its place among the many instant combat tricks and removal spells in Magic the Gathering. Its closest analogue is the card Prey Upon, which also facilitates a fight between one of your creatures and an opponent’s creature. The key difference here is that Tail Slash ensures only your creature deals damage, somewhat like a one-sided fight, which can be a critical advantage in preserving your board state.

Another card worth mentioning is Rabid Bite, which compares favorably with Tail Slash given its lower mana cost for a similar effect. However, Tail Slash compensates for its higher cost with the ability to target creatures with power 3 or greater, potentially exerting more pressure in combat scenarios. Savage Smash shines in the comparison as well, being part of this battling spell family. While it requires a Creature that’s part of the Gruul clans to get the additional benefit of a power boost, it provides a more aggressive option for players using those guilds.

Assessing these cards against each other, Tail Slash offers a robust choice for MTG players looking to forge a path to victory by strategically removing threats while maintaining a strong presence on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Tail Slash by color, type and mana cost

Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - MTG Card versions

Path of Anger's Flame - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tail Slash has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tail Slash card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.