Exclude MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Instant |
Text of card
Counter target creature spell. Draw a card.
"I don't have time for you right now." —Teferi
Cards like Exclude
Exclude from Magic: The Gathering is part of the nuanced niche of single-target removal spells. When examined in the broader context, it stands in line with spells like Unsummon, which is traditionally a staple for its ability to return creatures to their owner’s hand, albeit without the exile mechanic at play. Exclude furthers its value proposition by offering card draw upon successfully exiling a creature.
Glimpse the Unthinkable, another familiar face in this landscape, lets you draw a card while targeting a creature spell, a subtle yet distinguishing factor given that Exclude requires the creature to be on the battlefield to take effect. Comparatively, Essence Scatter stands out by countering the creature spell entirely without the additional advantage of drawing a card as Exclude provides, emphasizing the utility of Exclude in longer games where card advantage can be crucial.
Considering the aspect of flexibility and added benefits, Exclude can be a formidable option for players aiming to gain control and maintain card flow. Its requirement for a creature to land on the field to be exiled may seem like a limitation, but this is balanced by its card draw feature, situating Exclude favorably among its counterparts.
Cards similar to Exclude by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Exclude. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ephemerate Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | Pauper Challenge 64 2024-02-25 | |
Flicker Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | 5° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana | |
Grixis teachings | Pauper | Tappa LP Comense Pauperissima "Road to Pisa" @Magic Akiba | ||
Four-color Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | Pauper Jungle | |
Five-color Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | C'mon! Pozna | |
Izzet Serpentine | Pauper | Serpentine Curve | Lega Pauper Canavese - Top8 Season Paupergeddon Winter Edition 2024 | |
Izzet Control | Pauper | Serpentine Curve | BLUE - SAT - 1PM - Chicago Pauper Cup |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The ability to selectively remove opponents’ threats while preserving yours assists in tipping the balance of the game in your favor. By excluding specific cards from play, you are effectively creating a card disbalance, often manifesting as card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly adding mana to your pool, efficiently dealing with an adversary’s resources can be tantamount to accelerating your own. By excluding key pieces of their strategy, you can further your development unimpeded.
Instant Speed: The versatility of acting at instant speed means you can adapt to the ever-changing battlefield without committing to a course of action too early. Keeping opponents guessing and making optimal decisions in response to their moves can yield significant strategic benefits.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Exclude card is that it necessitates the player to discard another card as part of its activation. This could potentially deplete your hand, reducing your ability to respond to future threats.
Specific Mana Cost: Exclude demands a precise combination of mana types for casting. This cost can be restrictive for multi-color decks that may not always have the necessary mana readily available, thereby decreasing the card’s versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s casting cost is relatively steep when considering its single-target effect. Other cards available at a lower mana cost provide similar or broader removal options, which might be more mana-efficient choices for your deck’s removal strategies.
Reasons to Include Exclude in Your Collection
Versatility: Exclude can be a flexible option in control decks, fitting smoothly into various game plans. Its ability to counter creature spells while drawing a card makes it a dual-threat in numerous situations.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies focused on spell-slinging or those that utilize a plethora of instants and sorceries to control the game pace, establishing advantageous board states or combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-heavy decks often populate the meta, having Exclude at your disposal allows for an adaptive response to opponents’ strategies, ensuring you are not caught off guard by a wide array of creature threats while maintaining card advantage.
How to beat
The Exclude card can pose significant challenges on the battleground by providing an efficient way to counter creatures while simultaneously drawing a card. The card shines when playing against decks that rely heavily on creature spells. To overcome the obstacle of Exclude, consider shifting towards spells that cannot be countered. Cards with the ‘cannot be countered’ clause are impervious to Exclude’s influence, allowing you to maintain board presence.
Another strategy is to bait out Exclude with less critical creatures, thereby saving your more impactful creatures for later when your opponent’s mana might be low or their counterspells used up. Alternatively, you can prioritize playing creatures with flash on your opponent’s end step, forcing them to choose between using Exclude or keeping mana open for other spells. Lastly, including cards that grant hexproof to your creatures or spells like Prowling Serpopard that make creature spells unable to be countered can effectively nullify Exclude’s control capabilities.
Understanding and anticipating the timing of Exclude is crucial; conserving spells for the optimal moment or overwhelming an opponent with multiple threats at once can often lead to outmaneuvering this potent control tool.
BurnMana Recommendations
The interplay of strategy and opportunity in MTG is as vast as it is thrilling. Mastering the art of excluding cards can shift the tides in your favor, but it’s the broader understanding of gameplay that truly carves the path to victory. With Exclude, you embrace the finesse of instant speed plays while balancing the scales with card advantage. It’s about more than one powerful card; it’s about crafting a deck that resonates with your unique playstyle and adapts to the competitive landscape. Keen to deepen your knowledge and refine your tactics? We’re here to guide you through the nuances of the game, ensuring that with every move, you’re not just playing – you’re outsmarting the opposition.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Exclude MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Magic Online Promos, 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 Exclude 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Exclude Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2000-10-02 | Invasion | INV | 56 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Romanoski | |
2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62477 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | ||
3 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 108 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
4 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 55 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
5 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
6 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 369 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
7 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 152 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
8 | The List | PLST | MH1-48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | ||
9 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Romanoski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Exclude has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Exclude card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2019-06-14 | Exclude can target a creature spell that can’t be countered. When Exclude resolves, that spell won’t be countered, but you’ll still draw a card. |