Slaughter MTG Card


Slaughter - Exodus
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Buyback
Released1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set nameExodus
Set codeEXO
Number74
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byPete Venters

Key Takeaways

  1. Slaughter’s buyback keeps it on hand for recurrent threat elimination, enhancing long-term board control.
  2. Instant speed allows strategic responses to opponent’s moves, adding a layer of unpredictability.
  3. Despite its power, Slaughter’s discard requirement and high mana cost can constrain resource management.

Text of card

Buyback— Pay 4 life. (You may pay 4 life in addition to any other costs when you play this spell. If you do, put it into your hand instead of your graveyard as part of the spell's effect.) Destroy target nonblack creature. That creature cannot be regenerated this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Slaughter’s ability to destroy any creature, it maintains your control on the board by efficiently dealing with threats, ensuring your grip on the game remains strong. It’s a powerful removal tool to have, often swinging the game’s momentum in your favor as you dismantle key pieces of your opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Slaughter’s Buyback cost facilitates an ongoing source of threat management without depleting your hand. This enhances your resource management by keeping Slaughter available for repeated use while you continue to develop your presence on the board and commit other cards from your hand.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed spells can be a game-changer, and Slaughter is no exception. It allows you to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn, which can disrupt their strategy and keep them guessing about your remaining capabilities. It’s also perfect for use in those critical moments just before an opponent’s creature determines the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Slaughter comes with the steep price of requiring a card discard, which can set you back, particularly when your hand is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a specific mana cost that includes black, Slaughter may not easily find a home in decks that aren’t geared towards heavy black mana usage.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end of the spectrum, Slaughter competes with other removal cards that may be more cost-effective or provide additional benefits for the same investment.


Reasons to Include Slaughter in Your Collection

Versatility: Slaughter offers flexible removal options, allowing players to dispatch threats across various matchups. Its pay life alternative cost means it can be a strategic option even when mana is scarce.

Combo Potential: Its buyback capability ensures Slaughter can repeatedly be used, synergizing with decks that aim to maintain board control or that are built around spell recurrence and casting.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by creature-centric decks, Slaughter’s capacity to remove key creatures becomes invaluable. Its presence in a collection means you have a ready answer against creature-heavy opponents.


How to beat

Slaughter is a notable card that comes with built-in defenses in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to dominate the board through its buyback cost can make it appear overwhelming at first glance. But there’s a strategy to dismantle this obstacle. Primarily, it’s critical to manage your resources, ensuring that you don’t overextend your creatures on the battlefield. Since Slaughter targets one creature at a time, judicious play can mitigate its impact.

Another effective method is to use spells or abilities that protect your creatures from being targeted. Granting your creatures hexproof or shroud can nullify Slaughter’s capability. Additionally, since Slaughter is dependent on its buyback to be truly effective, disrupting your opponent’s mana base can also blunt its efficiency. Targeted land destruction or mana denial can slow down or even stop the buyback loop from being a consistent threat.

Relying on creature tokens or other expendable creatures can also be beneficial. By presenting less valuable targets for Slaughter, you can dilute its impact while setting up for a more significant play. In sum, overcoming Slaughter in MTG involves a combination of careful gameplay, resource management, and having the right counters at your disposal.


Cards like Slaughter

Slaughter in Magic: The Gathering offers a unique take on removal spells within the game. It bears similarity to other classic remove-on-demand cards such as Doom Blade or Go for the Throat. The primary feature that distinguishes Slaughter is its buyback cost, allowing players to reuse it from the graveyard by paying additional mana. Doom Blade offers no such recurrence but costs less to cast initially. Conversely, Go for the Throat does not have the buyback mechanic but has the upside of being able to destroy nonartifact creatures without any color restrictions.

Another comparable card is Diabolic Edict, which forces the opponent to sacrifice a creature. While Slaughter targets a specific creature, Diabolic Edict’s strength lies in circumventing indestructible creatures, something Slaughter can’t bypass. Moreover, Geth’s Verdict is an expanded version of this effect, but it also causes the opponent to lose one life, adding an extra layer of utility compared to Slaughter’s more straightforward approach.

In the realm of repeatable removal spells, Slaughter holds its ground by offering a balance between initial casting cost and the flexibility of buyback. It’s this versatility that can give players a recurring edge in managing the battlefield compared to single-use options.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Geth's Verdict - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)
Go for the Throat - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Diabolic Edict - Tempest (TMP)
Geth's Verdict - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Slaughter by color, type and mana cost

Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Death Bomb - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Insidious Dreams - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Hostile Negotiations - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Irradiate - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - MTG Card versions
Shriveling Rot - MTG Card versions
Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
Chill to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Trap - MTG Card versions
Snuff Out - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Makeshift Mannequin - MTG Card versions
Instill Infection - MTG Card versions
Sewers of Estark - HarperPrism Book Promos (PHPR)
Feast or Famine - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Nocturnal Raid - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Death Bomb - Planeshift (PLS)
Psychotic Haze - Torment (TOR)
Insidious Dreams - Torment (TOR)
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - From Cute to Brute (PCTB)
Hostile Negotiations - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Death Pulse - Onslaught (ONS)
Irradiate - Mirrodin (MRD)
Burden of Greed - Darksteel (DST)
Shriveling Rot - Darksteel (DST)
Hideous Laughter - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - Unhinged (UNH)
Chill to the Bone - Coldsnap (CSP)
Ravenous Trap - The List (PLST)
Snuff Out - Doctor Who (WHO)
Tendrils of Corruption - The List (PLST)
Makeshift Mannequin - Archenemy (ARC)
Instill Infection - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Slaughter MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Slaughter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Slaughter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 You can’t pay the buyback if you have less than 4 life, even if an effect would keep you from losing for having 0 or less life.

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