Extinguish the Light MTG Card


Instant speed removal provides strategic advantage by disrupting opponent’s plays on their turn. Discarding to cast may hinder hand advantage, affecting control or combo decks. Versatile and meta-relevant, excelling in decks that prioritize threat mitigation.
Extinguish the Light - Dominaria United
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2022-09-09
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria United
Set codeDMU
Number94
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byEkaterina Burmak

Text of card

Destroy target creature or planeswalker. If its mana value was 3 or less, you gain 3 life.

Jaya did not want to die, but of all the things to die for, Dominaria felt right.


Cards like Extinguish the Light

Extinguish the Light has carved its niche in the realm of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It compares with cards like Murder, a staple in black’s removal suite that also destroys a target creature at the cost of three mana. However, unlike Extinguish the Light, Murder can be utilized regardless of the creature’s power, giving it a broader range of targets.

Next to consider is Walk the Plank, another black spell that eliminates creatures. It’s cheaper at two mana, but it’s limited to non-Merfolk creatures, and it’s a sorcery, restricting its use. Extinguish the Light’s advantage is its instant speed, granting the flexibility to dispatch creatures during your opponent’s turn. Although it’s specific to creatures with power 3 or less, this condition balances the card well within strategies focused on early game control.

In summarizing the comparison, Extinguish the Light offers Magic: The Gathering players a cost-effective and timely answer to smaller threats on the battlefield. Its instant-speed capability elevates its position when considering removal options tailored for proactive defensive playstyles.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Extinguish the Light by color, type and mana cost

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Fatal Fumes - MTG Card versions
Cutthroat Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions
Empty the Pits - MTG Card versions
Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - 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
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Instill Infection - MTG Card versions
Launch Party - MTG Card versions
Grisly Spectacle - MTG Card versions
Fatal Fumes - MTG Card versions
Cutthroat Maneuver - MTG Card versions
Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions
Empty the Pits - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Extinguish the Light enables you to effectively deal with an opponent’s threat while potentially leaving you in a stronger position. It’s an efficient way to remove a creature or planeswalker and streamline your board control.

Resource Acceleration: Although Extinguish the Light does not directly produce additional resources, eliminating a key piece of your opponent’s strategy can inadvertently accelerate your game plan by reducing the pressure on your resources and enabling you to allocate them more effectively in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The versatility of being able to cast Extinguish the Light at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows you to adapt to your opponent’s actions by removing their threats during their turn or at a critical moment, keeping you one step ahead and preserving the surprise element of your strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Extinguish the Light’s effect mandates discarding another card, potentially diminishing your hand advantage, particularly harmful in control or combo-oriented decks where every card is a key to victory.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands specific mana types, this card might not fit seamlessly into every deck, notably those with a manifold color scheme where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, including both generic and specific, Extinguish the Light may compete for a slot with less mana-intensive removal spells, which could provide equal or greater utility without as significant an investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Extinguish the Light offers a unique flexibility by allowing players to remove any creature or planeswalker from the game. This card seamlessly fits into various decks, especially those geared towards control or midrange strategies where removing specific threats is crucial.

Combo Potential: Its ability to exile a target creature or planeswalker can be pivotal in decks that capitalize on the absence of certain cards. For instance, this can synergize with strategies revolving around graveyard manipulation, ensuring opponents can’t reuse their key components.

Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, Extinguish the Light proves its worth by countering diverse threats. If creature or planeswalker-heavy decks are dominating play, having this versatile answer in your collection can provide a significant edge.


How to beat

Extinguish the Light proves to be quite the challenge for MTG enthusiasts looking to maintain their strategic edge. This spell offers a streamlined solution to remove opposing threats by simply paying the life difference between you and your opponent. To effectively counteract this card, players should prioritize life gain strategies within their own deck to diminish the life gap and make Extinguish the Light less impactful. Employing instant-speed life gain spells right before the resolution of Extinguish the Light can render it ineffective.

It’s also wise to incorporate cards that provide hexproof to keep your crucial creatures from being targeted. This creates a robust defensive measure against not just Extinguish the Light but a wide array of removal spells. Finally, playing aggressively to reduce your opponent’s life total makes Extinguish the Light a costly choice for them. By being proactive in your approach and maintaining a high life total, you can preserve your board state against the potential threat posed by Extinguish the Light and secure your position in the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Extinguish the Light MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United, 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 Extinguish the Light and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Extinguish the Light has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal