Mortify MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 24 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Mortify provides card advantage by removing creatures or enchantments, shifting the balance of play.
  2. Its instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing for surprise plays and better game control.
  3. It remains a relevant meta choice for its adaptability against common threats within various formats.

Text of card

Destroy target creature or enchantment.

The eyes let flow with tears, then blood, then the very soul—the whole wrung inside out, dripping down into the blackened puddle of the past.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mortify stands out by being an incredibly efficient answer to two types of permanents, vastly improving your ability to respond to threats on the battlefield without losing tempo. By removing key creatures or enchantments, you effectively devalue your opponent’s previous plays, tipping the card advantage balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Mortify doesn’t directly accelerate resources like land or mana, its cost-effective removal can be considered a form of indirect resource acceleration. By spending just three mana to eliminate crucial threats, you preserve the resources for deploying your own strategies more effectively.

Instant Speed: Mortify’s instant speed is one of its greatest strengths. The flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s game plan on their turn—or in response to a game-changing spell or ability—gives it a significant edge. This allows savvy players to keep up the pressure while still maintaining the element of surprise and strategic control.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Mortify doesn’t require you to discard a card, managing resources is still vital when including it in your deck. Players must be strategic about when to hold back versus when to play this removal spell, considering their hand and what threats may come.

Specific Mana Cost: Mortify calls for a precise blend of mana colors—both white and black—making it a less flexible option for decks that are not tailored to a Orzhov (white-black) mana base. This may exclude it from more mono-colored or differently-aligned multicolored decks that can’t accommodate its color requirements without compromising their mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, including two specific colors, Mortify can be considered to have a high cost compared to other removal spells in the game. This can be particularly relevant in fast-paced games or formats where tempo is crucial. Additionally, there are alternatives available at lower mana costs or with additional benefits, which might be a more efficient choice depending on the deck build and strategy.


Reasons to Include Mortify in Your Collection

Versatility: Mortify stands out as a flexible removal option. It allows players to address threats across two permanent types, being able to destroy both creatures and enchantments with a single card. This adaptability makes it valuable in a variety of game situations and deck builds.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on spell synergies or graveyard strategies, Mortify can be more than just a simple removal spell. It can disrupt opponents while setting up your own board for powerful late-game plays, acting as a catalyst in intricate combo chains.

Meta-Relevance: With creatures and enchantments often playing key roles in many MTG formats, having a reliable answer to these cards is crucial. Mortify fits perfectly in a meta where versatile and immediate answers are required to deal with common threats.


How to beat

Mortify has been a staple in MTG decks that run black and white mana. This instant spell is known for its flexibility, able to destroy target creature or enchantment with precision. Recognized for its efficiency, it becomes essential to have a strategy against it if you’re on the receiving end. Preparing your deck with hexproof or indestructible creatures can sharply diminish Mortify’s impact. Diversifying your threats also ensures that a single removal won’t disrupt your game plan.

Considering counterplay, employing cards that benefit from being in the graveyard can turn a potential setback into an advantage. Since Mortify targets only creatures and enchantments, using artifacts or planeswalkers can also circumvent its effect. Be mindful of baiting out removals; playing an expendable creature before your key threat often prompts opponents to use Mortify prematurely, paving the way for your game-changing cards to enter the battlefield safely. Lastly, instant speed counterspells or protection spells are your direct answer to negate Mortify altogether, ensuring your vital assets remain in play and maintain your momentum.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the ins and outs of Mortify is key to optimizing your MTG gameplay. With its ability to target creatures and enchantments at instant speed, it’s a powerful tool in any player’s arsenal. But every card has its nuances, and Mortify is no exception. To ensure you’re ready for any situation, consider incorporating strategies to mitigate its downsides. Whether you’re countering it or cleverly integrating it into your deck, knowledge is power. Dive deeper with us, enhance your deck-building skills, and stand prepared against every challenge. Expand your mastery over MTG – we’re here to guide you every step of the way.


Cards like Mortify

Mortify stands out in the realm of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It draws a close comparison to other cards like Putrefy, which also targets creatures or artifacts. Putrefy offers the advantage of destroying an artifact, a diversity that Mortify lacks, but Mortify compensates with a lower converted mana cost and the ability to dismantle enchantments.

Utter End is another card worth comparing. While it comes with a steeper mana cost, it carries the power to exile any nonland permanent, offering a broader reach than Mortify. On the other hand, Anguished Unmaking pushes the envelope further by exiling any nonland permanent at the cost of 3 life, a trade-off some players are willing to make for its versatility.

Assessing these options, Mortify is cost-efficient and its enchantment removal capability places it on a favorable spot on players’ decks, especially in formats where enchantments are prolific. Its place within removal spells in Magic: The Gathering remains solid for its balanced cost and flexibility.

Putrefy - MTG Card versions
Utter End - MTG Card versions
Anguished Unmaking - MTG Card versions
Putrefy - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Utter End - Khans of Tarkir Promos (PKTK)
Anguished Unmaking - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)

Cards similar to Mortify by color, type and mana cost

Unmake - MTG Card versions
Anguished Unmaking - MTG Card versions
Harsh Sustenance - MTG Card versions
Kaya's Guile - MTG Card versions
Treacherous Greed - MTG Card versions
Unmake - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
Anguished Unmaking - Fallout (PIP)
Harsh Sustenance - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Kaya's Guile - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Treacherous Greed - Murders at Karlov Manor Promos (PMKM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mortify MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Guildpact, 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 Mortify and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Mortify Magic the Gathering card was released in 22 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 350462003normalblackBrian Snõddy
22006-02-03GuildpactGPT 1222003normalblackGlen Angus
32007-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2007P07 32003normalblackBrian Snõddy
42011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2112003normalblackGlen Angus
52013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 252003normalblackNils Hamm
62014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1902003normalblackNils Hamm
72016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2122015normalblackNils Hamm
82017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1872015normalblackGlen Angus
92017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1822015normalblackNils Hamm
102017-11-24Explorers of IxalanE02 402015normalblackNils Hamm
112018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1632015normalblackNils Hamm
122018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1862015normalblackNils Hamm
132019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 1922015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
142019-01-25Ravnica Allegiance PromosPRNA 1922015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
152019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14572015normalblackNils Hamm
162020-09-26The ListPLST C18-1862015normalblackNils Hamm
172020-09-26The ListPLST P07-32003normalblackBrian Snõddy
182021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3811997normalblackGlen Angus
192022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1612015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
202022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2252015normalblackBilly Christian
212022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 225★2015normalblackBilly Christian
222023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1222015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
232023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 3372015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
242023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2692015normalblackIlker Yildiz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mortify 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 Mortify 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 enchantment, even if it changed from one to the other between targeting and resolution.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks