Excise the Imperfect MTG Card


Provides card advantage by filtering nonessential cards, bolstering your hand with strategic options in-game. Allows for instant speed play, offering tactical flexibility and a reactive edge in various game situations. Demands a specific mana setup and carries a high cost, which may limit its inclusion in diverse decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Incubate,Transform

Text of card

Exile target nonland permanent. Its controller incubates X, where X is its mana value.


Cards like Excise the Imperfect

Excise the Imperfect enriches the deck manipulation strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It can be measured against other selective card advantage spells such as the iconic Serum Visions. While Serum Visions allows you to draw a card first, then scry two, Excise the Imperfect offers pinpoint precision by exiling a specific nonland card from your hand and then letting you ponder three cards at the top of your library. The act of exiling a card provides a strategic depth that Serum Visions doesn’t, potentially interacting favorably with other mechanics in your deck.

Preordain is another notable card that facilitates deck sorting, allowing you to scry two before drawing a card. Unlike Excise the Imperfect, it does not require exiling from your hand, which makes it less disruptive to your hand’s composition. Conversely, strategic exile with Excise the Imperfect can potentially trigger synergies within graveyard-centric or exile-focused decks.

All things considered, Excise the Imperfect fits snugly into the pantheon of blue cantrips in Magic: The Gathering. It provides a unique spin on deck sculpting, serving players who are looking to exploit the synergy between hand and deck, as well as the exile zone.

Serum Visions - MTG Card versions
Preordain - MTG Card versions
Serum Visions - MTG Card versions
Preordain - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Excise the Imperfect by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Morale - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Afterlife - MTG Card versions
Abolish - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Generous Gift - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Morale - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Afterlife - MTG Card versions
Abolish - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Generous Gift - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Excise the Imperfect can be a key card for gaining an edge over your opponent by filtering out nonessential cards from your deck. This helps fortify your hand with more relevant options throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially sending cards to the graveyard, Excise the Imperfect may indirectly facilitate various kinds of resource acceleration. For example, certain strategies able to leverage graveyard mechanics might benefit from this influx of new ‘resources.’

Instant Speed: The card’s ability to be played at instant speed provides tactical flexibility, allowing players to respond to threats during the opponent’s turn or end phase. This adaptability can prove to be a strategic advantage, particularly in formats where timing is crucial.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Excise the Imperfect asks you to part with another card when you cast it, which can be particularly taxing when your hand is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and black mana makes this card inherently less flexible and more challenging to include in a diverse range of decks without a strong mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Demanding four mana, including two that are color-specific, Excise the Imperfect can be cost-prohibitive compared to other removal options available in the game that allow for more immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Excise the Imperfect can find a home in a variety of deck archetypes. As a spell that disrupts the opponent’s board, it is a valuable inclusion in control decks, but can also serve well in midrange builds that aim to clear the way for their threats.

Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergy within artifact-centric decks or strategies revolving around removal spells. It can pave the way for your own combos by dealing with key pieces on your opponent’s side, or it can be a set-up for game-ending plays by clearing blockers or threats.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the prevalence of creature-based strategies or creature-heavy metas, Excise the Imperfect might become an essential tool. It can be particularly potent in formats where high-value targets are common, ensuring that you have the means to disrupt your opponents’ plans.


How to beat

Excise the Imperfect emerges as a robust control tool in any MTG player’s arsenal. With its ability to exile a creature with a counter on it, it functions seamlessly in disrupting your opponent’s board presence. Structurally, Excise the Imperfect parallels cards like Path to Exile but offers a twist that requires a bit more setup. Path to Exile excels with its broader application of exiling any creature at a low mana cost, without the limitation of counters.

Similar to effects found in Oblivion Ring, which temporarily removes any nonland permanent until the Ring leaves the battlefield, Excise the Imperfect asks for a more specific condition to be met. It necessitates a strategic approach, ensuring your opponent’s creatures are tagged with counters. Players may consider pairing it with cards that distribute counters easily or manipulating the opponent’s counter placements to craft an environment where Excise the Imperfect can thrive.

In essence, overcoming the limitations of Excise the Imperfect involves embracing its specialty within a focused strategy. Its niche in handling creatures poised with counters both shapes its strength and delineates its application, making it a card that, while not universally adaptable like its predecessors, adds depth to gameplay where conditions align.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG isn’t just about playing the right cards; it’s about understanding their strategic value. Excise the Imperfect may come with its own set of challenges like the discard requirement and specific mana needs, but its strengths like card advantage and instant speed play make it a contender in certain decks. Tailoring your deck to leverage these advantages can give you the upper hand in various situations. If you’re curious about integrating Excise the Imperfect into your collection or want to learn how to optimize its use, delve deeper with us. Enhance your deck’s potential and elevate your gameplay strategies today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Excise the Imperfect MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Commander and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Excise the Imperfect and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Excise the Imperfect Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Denis Zhbankov.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1012015NormalBlackDenis Zhbankov
22023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 142015NormalBlackDenis Zhbankov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Excise the Imperfect has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 If the nonland permanent is an illegal target at the time Excise the Imperfect tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. Its controller won’t incubate.