Final Death MTG Card

Exiling creatures with Final Death can decisively alter the board’s state, neutralizing key threats efficiently. Its instant speed and exile effect make it superior to similar removals, disrupting opponents’ strategies. Requires strategic hand management and mana planning due to its higher casting cost and card discard.
Final Death - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Number95
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohann Bodin

Text of card

Exile target creature.

The Underworld erodes memory, identity, and eventually the physical form, leaving only crumbling statues called misera—hollow monuments to mortal futility.

Cards like Final Death

Within the realm of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering, Final Death stands out with its definitive resolution to troublesome creatures. If we look at cards similar in effect, one might compare Final Death to Murder, a longstanding favorite that offers an easy three-mana solution to most creatures. What Final Death brings to the table is the exiling component, setting it apart by ensuring that creatures don’t just go to the graveyard, but are removed from the game entirely.

Another noteworthy spell is Unmake, aligning with Final Death in its exile effect. However, Unmake has the upside of a lower converted mana cost and being an instant, allowing players to respond swiftly on their opponent’s turn. Nevertheless, Final Death excels in the realm of limited formats like Draft or Sealed, where exile-based answers are less common but highly valuable in dealing with recursion or graveyard synergies.

In weighing the merits of Final Death against its cousins in creature control, it’s clear that the exile aspect is a pivotal advantage, despite its higher mana cost. In formats where permanence matters and creatures are recurring threats, Final Death has a definitive edge.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Unmake - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Unmake - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Final Death allows players to permanently remove a target creature with its exiling effect, ensuring that creature doesn’t return to the battlefield. This creates a one-for-one situation, often tipping the scales by removing key threats from your opponent’s side.

Resource Acceleration: Though Final Death itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, it helps maintain board control. By effectively handling large threats, it allows you to use your resources more efficiently in subsequent turns, indirectly contributing to a form of resource acceleration through effective management.

Instant Speed: The capability to cast Final Death at instant speed gives you the flexibility to react to opponents’ actions on their turn. This can be particularly advantageous, ensuring that you maximize the use of your mana each round and keep your adversaries guessing about your available options.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Final Death is its need for an additional card discard. In high-tension moments or late-game scenarios, where hand size may be dwindling, this requirement poses the risk of depleting your already scarce resources, potentially leading to a disadvantageous board state.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Final Death includes black mana, which may not be readily available in all types of decks. This cost structure necessitates a commitment to black mana sources in your deck construction, restricting the card’s flexibility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher end, Final Death’s requirement might be a little steep when other removal options are available. In the fast-paced environment of the game, using a significant chunk of your mana in a single turn for one removal effect can mean falling behind in the development of your board presence.

Reasons to Include Final Death in Your Collection

Versatility: Final Death is a standout card due to its ability to exile any creature. This makes it a valuable addition to various deck types, particularly in formats where indestructible and graveyard-based strategies are prevalent.

Combo Potential: While not a combo piece in the traditional sense, Final Death’s ability to permanently remove key creatures can disrupt your opponent’s combinations or pave the way for your own strategy to take center stage.

Meta-Relevance: Given that powerful creatures and recursion tactics often dominate the game, Final Death serves as a solid response. Its place in your collection ensures you have an answer to threats that other removal cards may not be able to address effectively.

How to beat

Final Death offers players a formidable removal option in games, capable of permanently eliminating even the most troublesome creatures from the battlefield. Its strength lies in the ability to exile targets, thus bypassing typical graveyard recursion strategies that many decks rely on. Unlike instant speed removals such as Murder, Final Death is more costly at five mana and operates at sorcery speed, which requires a more strategic approach when planning your moves.

Countering this card is best achieved by prioritizing the protection of key creatures or the timely use of counterspells. Cheap and efficient solutions like Negate or Dispel can prevent Final Death from resolving in the first place. Additionally, playing creatures with hexproof or indestructible characteristics can render Final Death ineffective, as it cannot target or exile creatures with such abilities. Cards like Lazotep Plating can also provide a swift and temporary safeguard by granting hexproof to your creatures and yourself.

Understanding when to deploy creatures onto the battlefield against decks that may contain Final Death is critical. By being cautious and resourceful, such as holding back creatures when you suspect your opponent has enough mana to cast this powerful spell, you can mitigate its impact and maintain your board presence.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Final Death MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Final Death and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Final Death has restrictions

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