Expose Evil MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 19
2019-11-07 - Number 101
2020-09-26 - Number SOI-19
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Investigate |
Text of card
Tap up to two target creatures. Investigate. (Put a colorless Clue artifact token onto the battlefield with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
"Only the pure stand tall in the light." —Sigarda
Cards like Expose Evil
Expose Evil is a unique piece in the puzzle of tactical spells in MTG, offering a blend of opponent disruption and card advantage. It stands next to other spells like Pressure Point, which also taps a creature and draws a card. However, Expose Evil has the edge of hitting two targets instead of one, increasing its potential impact on the game state.
Comparatively, Glimpse the Sun God is another card that offers a tapping mechanic. It scales with your mana investment, allowing you to tap any number of creatures, but does not provide the immediate card draw. Expose Evil offers a set outcome of two tapped creatures and a card, making it a more predictable option.
Then there’s Blinding Beam, which can not only tap two creatures but also prevent them from untapping during the next untap step. Despite its power, Blinding Beam costs more mana and lacks the card draw feature of Expose Evil. The immediate card draw from Expose Evil can be a subtle yet notable advantage over Blinding Beam’s longer lockdown effect.
In the arena of creature control and draw, Expose Evil shines for its cost and double utility, proving its stature in MTG’s wide array of flexibility-based spells.
Cards similar to Expose Evil by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When using Expose Evil, players tap up to two target creatures, allowing for strategic gameplay that can open attacking lines or defend yours by disabling threats. Tapping creatures can be crucial to gain advantage over the battlefield, so when you play Expose Evil, it’s not just about the immediate effects—it supports your long-term strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Although Expose Evil does not directly produce mana or treasures, it aids in resource acceleration by potentially delaying opponent creatures and buying you time. Time is a resource, and in MTG, having more turns to draw the right card, or mana to cast it can be game-deciding.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Expose Evil at instant speed grants flexibility, allowing you to react to your opponent’s actions during their turn. You can choose the most opportune moment to surprise an opponent, whether that’s in combat or as they attempt to execute a combo, thus maintaining the tempo and control of the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Expose Evil doesn’t demand a discard to play, it’s important in strategic play to consider what cards to hold onto. Holding it might mean letting go of a more impactful card later on.
Specific Mana Cost: Expose Evil requires both white mana and generic mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in multi-colored decks that might not have a consistent source of white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its temporary tap-down effect, the mana cost could be seen as high when measured against other cards that provide similar or more permanent solutions for board control.
Reasons to Include Expose Evil in Your Collection
Versatility: Expose Evil is a card that provides tactical flexibility. Its ability to tap up to two target creatures can be crucial for controlling the battlefield tempo, making it a useful tool in a variety of decks that emphasize disruption and control.
Combo Potential: This card’s Investigate ability grants card draw by creating a Clue artifact token. It pairs well with strategies that gain benefits from creating artifacts or from the draw action itself, thus enabling multiple synergies within artifact-centric or card advantage decks.
Meta-Relevance: The simplicity and utility of Expose Evil keep it relevant, particularly in environments where aggressive creatures dominate. Its instant-speed nature allows players to react during an opponent’s turn, which can be a turning point in matches against creature-heavy decks.
How to beat Expose Evil
Expose Evil is a card known for its ability to temporarily stall opponents by tapping up to two target creatures. This mechanic can be a thorn in the side for players relying on creature-based strategies. To effectively counteract the impact of Expose Evil, one should consider building a deck with a strong emphasis on instant-speed interaction. Cards like Negate or Dispel are perfect for this role, as they can nullify Expose Evil’s effect while being cost-effective.
Another strategic approach includes utilizing creatures that can untap themselves or have vigilance, thus making Expose Evil less disruptive to your game plan. Incorporating such elements into your deck enhances resilience against tap-down tactics and allows for greater flexibility during your opponent’s turn. Moreover, since Expose Evil is a one-time effect that also grants a Clue token, it’s crucial not to overcommit resources to countering it unless it is pivotal to maintaining a dominant board state.
In conclusion, while Expose Evil can pose a challenge to creature-focused strategies, there are various ways to mitigate its impact. Prioritize adaptive deckbuilding and include instant-speed spells or self-sufficient creatures to maintain control over the game flow, thereby lessening the effectiveness of this particular control card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Expose Evil MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Mystery Booster, 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 Expose Evil 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
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Printings
The Expose Evil Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jama Jurabaev.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 19 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jama Jurabaev | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 101 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jama Jurabaev | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | SOI-19 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jama Jurabaev |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Expose Evil has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Expose Evil card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | If Expose Evil has at least one target and all of those targets become illegal, the spell doesn’t resolve and you won’t investigate. |
| 2016-04-08 | If you sacrifice a Clue for another card’s cost or effect, such as that of Angelic Purge or Tamiyo’s Journal, you can’t also pay and sacrifice it to draw a card. |
| 2016-04-08 | The token is named Clue and has the artifact subtype Clue. Clue isn’t a creature type. |
| 2016-04-08 | The tokens are normal artifacts. For example, they can be sacrificed to cast Angelic Purge or targeted by Root Out. |
| 2016-04-08 | You can cast Expose Evil with no targets if you only want to investigate. |