Putrefy MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 28 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Putrefy offers card advantage by disposing of threats and tipping scales in closely contested matches.
  2. Casting Putrefy at instant speed allows strategic plays, disrupting opponents during critical turns.
  3. Despite mana cost and color restrictions, its value in control decks and diverse builds remains high.

Text of card

Destroy target artifact or creature. It can't be regenerated.

"All matter, animate or not, rots when exposed to time. We merely speed up the process." —Ezoc, Golgari rot farmer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Putrefy stands out by offering the ability to eliminate key threats, effectively reducing your opponent’s resources while maintaining your own card count. This can tip the scale in your favor during a tense match.

Resource Acceleration: Although Putrefy doesn’t directly accelerate resources, removing an opponent’s creature or artifact can slow down their game plan, giving you a relative increase in tempo and the opportunity to surge ahead.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Putrefy at instant speed allows for dynamic play. You can disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn or respond aptly to threats as they arise, making it a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Putrefy doesn’t force you to part with other cards in your hand, lacking this form of self-sacrifice can sometimes be less beneficial in decks that thrive on graveyard synergy or when trying to enable certain discard-related abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Putrefy demands both green and black mana to cast, which can restrict its flexibility outside of multicolored decks. Players exclusively running mono-green or mono-black decks will find this card incompatible with their strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including both black and green, Putrefy is not the leanest removal option on the market. There are spells available for lower total mana that can still remove creatures or enchantments, though potentially with more limitations.


Reasons to Include Putrefy in Your Collection

Versatility: Putrefy is not limited by deck archetype; it seamlessly integrates into a variety of builds, especially those that revolve around control and removal. Its flexibility to target either creatures or artifacts allows for a broad range of applications, making it a mainstay in decks that value adaptability.

Combo Potential: As a staple in graveyard-centric decks, Putrefy removes key threats while setting the stage for recurrence strategies. It pairs well with mechanics that care about the number of spells cast or conditions such as death triggers, providing more than just a simple destroy effect.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with high-value artifacts and resilient creatures, Putrefy maintains its importance. It’s a pivotal response to artifact-heavy decks as well as a way to deal with indestructible creatures, keeping your strategy aligned with the evolving meta.


How to beat

Putrefy is recognized within MTG circles as a robust removal option, adept at clearing the field of pesky creatures and artifacts. It’s akin to spells like Murder in its creature destruction capability but stretches further by targeting artifacts as well. The versatility Putrefy offers can be impactful, disrupting an opponent’s board and turning the tides during a match.

To overcome a card like Putrefy, players should consider diversifying their threats rather than relying heavily on a singular, potent creature or artifact. One might utilize indestructible creatures, which remain unaffected by Putrefy’s destruction clause, or recursive threats that can return from the graveyard. Veil of Summer is another strategic addition that can combat Putrefy, as it counters the spell when cast, and the cantrip effect maintains card advantage.

In essence, while Putrefy ranks as a formidable spell within MTG, it does not have the last word. Balancing the deck with versatile answers and protective measures ensures that a single Putrefy won’t unravel your game plan, pushing you closer to victory even when faced with this mighty Golgari spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

With its distinguished role in MTG gameplay, Putrefy’s ability to disrupt opponents by removing creatures and artifacts is essential for any player looking to gain a strategic edge. Its defining instant speed allows for unexpected plays, pivoting the match in your favor. Cultivating a deck that includes Putrefy proves advantageous in today’s meta, characterized by versatile threats. Whether weakening opponent’s boards or setting up for a comeback, integrating Putrefy could be the turning point in your next game. Interested in refining your strategy with this powerful card? Dive deeper into the world of MTG with us and ensure your decks are always a step ahead.


Cards like Putrefy

Putrefy is a staple in decks that weave both destruction and versatility into their strategy in Magic: The Gathering. A direct parallel can be drawn to other instant-speed removal spells like Mortify, which shares Putrefy’s ability to destroy a creature. However, Mortify extends its reach to enchantments, while Putrefy offers a different advantage by targeting artifact threats as well. This distinction can define a game, particularly in a meta cluttered with troublesome artifacts.

Assassin’s Trophy is another card that often comes to mind. It’s flexible, allowing players to destroy any permanent at the cost of granting the opponent a basic land. While Assassin’s Trophy offers broader destruction capabilities, Putrefy stands out by not providing the opponent with additional resources. Then there’s the card Hero’s Downfall, which can obliterate planeswalkers in addition to creatures, yet it doesn’t affect artifacts like Putrefy does. The strategic depth of choosing which removal spell to include in a deck hinges on the expected opposition and the player’s game plan.

When weighing the value of destruction spells, Putrefy commands significant respect with its instant speed, destruction breadth, and ease of integration into black and green decks, marking its undeniable utility in Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of cards.

Mortify - MTG Card versions
Assassin's Trophy - MTG Card versions
Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions
Mortify - Guildpact (GPT)
Assassin's Trophy - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Hero's Downfall - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Putrefy by color, type and mana cost

Consume Strength - MTG Card versions
Strength of Night - MTG Card versions
Grim Contest - MTG Card versions
Consume Strength - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
Strength of Night - The List (PLST)
Grim Contest - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Putrefy MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Putrefy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Putrefy Magic the Gathering card was released in 24 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 7 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 351662003normalblackRichard Sardinha
22005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 2212003normalblackJim Nelson
32006-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2006P06 52003normalblackRichard Sardinha
42010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 A1022003normalblackJim Nelson
52011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 732003normalblackJim Nelson
62012-09-07Duel Decks: Izzet vs. GolgariDDJ 712003normalblackClint Cearley
72013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 932003normalblackIgor Kieryluk
82015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2322015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
92016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2172015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
102017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1792015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
112017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1892015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
122018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1642015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
132018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1872015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
142018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 682015normalblackClint Cearley
152019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1972015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
162019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14662015normalblackClint Cearley
172020-04-17Commander 2020C20 2282015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
182020-09-26The ListPLST GK1-682015normalblackClint Cearley
192020-09-26The ListPLST KHC-912015normalblackClint Cearley
202021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 912015normalblackClint Cearley
212021-04-23Strixhaven Mystical ArchiveSTA 632015normalborderlessMinttu Hynninen
222021-04-23Strixhaven Mystical ArchiveSTA 1262015normalborderlessMagane Okuda
232023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1232015normalblackClint Cearley
242023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 442015normalblackClint Cearley
252024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3781997normalblackJim Nelson
262024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2122015normalblackJim Nelson
272024-03-08FalloutPIP 7472015normalblackIrina Nordsol
282024-03-08FalloutPIP 2192015normalblackIrina Nordsol

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Putrefy has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-02-01 This spell isn't Modal. When it resolves, it will destroy the target if it's a creature or an artifact, even if it changed from one to the other between targeting and resolution.

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