Grisly Ritual MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 116
2022-01-28 - Number 383
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Destroy target creature or planeswalker. Create two Blood tokens. (They're artifacts with ", , Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
"You can always tell who's new from the screaming." —Tinua, Skirsdag cultist
Cards like Grisly Ritual
Grisly Ritual finds its place among the removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes other spells like Murder, a straightforward card capable of destroying any target creature without any additional payoff. Grisly Ritual, on the other hand, has an added benefit that sets it apart – apart from handling an adversary’s creature, it also offers a card draw as a reward for your strategic elimination.
Looking at other comparable enactments, there’s Go for the Throat, which offers a more cost-efficient removal at instant speed, but strictly limits the devastation to non-artifact creatures. It lacks the card advantage that makes Grisly Ritual more appealing in certain decks. Then there’s the infamous Hero’s Downfall, which expands on the concept by targeting planeswalkers in addition to creatures, yet it does not provide the card draw that could turn the tide in a long game.
In summary, while assessing the range of removal options in Magic: The Gathering, Grisly Ritual has its merits for players seeking to combine creature control with card advantage, ensuring the spell not only disrupts but also propels their game plan forward.
Cards similar to Grisly Ritual by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grisly Ritual shines by allowing a player to exile a target creature. This removal not only hinders opponents but also offers the player an edge by potentially drawing a card if a creature with power 4 or greater is exiled, thus maintaining or tilting the card advantage in their favor.
Resource Acceleration: Although Grisly Ritual doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, its primary function of creature removal can indirectly accelerate resources. Eliminating a critical creature from the opposing side can reduce the opponent’s board presence, paving the way for faster victories and reducing the need for further resource investment into board control.
Instant Speed: The versatility of being able to cast Grisly Ritual at instant speed is a significant advantage. It allows players to adeptly navigate through complex board states, holding up mana for the perfect moment to disrupt an opponent’s strategy or as a defensive measure against incoming threats during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Grappling with a discard condition can often leave players in a tight spot, especially if their hand is brimming with key cards. Grisly Ritual mandates chucking a card from your hand, which could derail your strategy if you’re not prepared to part with resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Grisly Ritual’s demand for a precise combination of mana can pigeonhole it into specific deck archetypes. With its strict color requirements, it can be a clumsy fit in multicolored decks that may not reliably muster the necessary mana types in the heat of the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a fair chunk of mana to deploy, Grisly Ritual faces stiff competition from other cards that could potentially deliver a better bang for your mana buck. In an environment where every mana point matters, it is pivotal to weigh whether Grisly Ritual’s effects justify its mana investment over other options.
Reasons to Include Grisly Ritual in Your Collection
Versatility: Grisly Ritual shows its adaptability by fitting seamlessly into various deck archetypes. As a removal spell, it serves the dual purpose of disrupting your opponent’s strategy while also advancing your own game plan.
Combo Potential: This card becomes instrumental in enabling synergies with graveyard-based strategies or decks that capitalize on casting spells from the graveyard or punishing opponents for losing creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-heavy decks are dominant, Grisly Ritual’s ability to remove key threats can dramatically shift the momentum of a game in your favor, making it a crucial inclusion against specific meta trends.
How to beat
Grisly Ritual presents MTG players with a unique challenge due to its spell effect, which can sway the game by removing a key creature and peering into the opponent’s strategy. Competing against this powerful card requires a keen understanding of timing and resource management. Counterspells like Negate or creatures with hexproof can be efficient ways to neutralize Grisly Ritual’s impact, keeping your essential creatures safe and your game plan intact.
Strategically holding back on playing your most vital creatures until you have the means to protect them can also be effective. Alternatively, employing an aggressive strategy that pressures the Grisly Ritual player before they accumulate sufficient mana to cast it can limit its effectiveness. Keep in mind the graveyard as well, utilizing cards that can retrieve your fallen creatures can help mitigate the loss Grisly Ritual causes.
Ultimately, a flexible strategy and anticipation of key spells is essential when facing powerful removal cards like Grisly Ritual in MTG. Adaptability, defensive measures, and pressure can turn the tables in your favor, ensuring that Grisly Ritual becomes a mere bump in the road to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grisly Ritual MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Grisly Ritual 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 Grisly Ritual Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Anastasia Ovchinnikova.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 116 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anastasia Ovchinnikova | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 383 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anastasia Ovchinnikova |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grisly Ritual has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |