Deadly Visit MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Surveil
Released	2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Guilds of Ravnica
Set code	GRN
Number	68
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Scott Murphy

Key Takeaways

Deadly Visit combines creature removal with deck manipulation through its surveil 2 ability for card advantage.
Mana considerations are key as the card’s double black cost can limit its use in multi-colored decks.
While expensive, its utility in controlling the battlefield and setting up future plays makes it a valuable asset.

Text of card

Destroy target creature. Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deadly Visit shines in creating card advantage by not only removing a problematic creature but also enabling a valuable surveil 2 action. This allows you to fine-tune your upcoming draws, ensuring you get the cards you need when you need them.

Resource Acceleration: Though Deadly Visit doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure, its ability to surveil can indirectly accelerate your resources by digging for key lands or spells that facilitate your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Deadly Visit operates at sorcery speed, this gives you the certainty that when your turn comes, the path will be clear of any threats that could have disrupted your strategy on the board. By planning around Deadly Visit, you can shape the flow of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Deadly Visit in your deck can pose a strategic conundrum because it does not involve discarding cards directly but instead requires a careful plan to optimize its Surveil 2 ability. This means you must be wary not to inadvertently place crucial cards from the top of your library into your graveyard unless you can benefit from such actions.

Specific Mana Cost: One of the drawbacks of incorporating Deadly Visit into your deck is its specific mana requirement. The card’s casting cost includes two black mana symbols, which makes it a less flexible option for multicolored decks that might struggle with consistent access to double black mana sources, potentially causing delays in its deployment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five, which includes two black mana as mentioned earlier, Deadly Visit stands on the higher end of the mana curve for removal spells. This can be a substantial setback when facing quicker, more aggressive strategies. There are alternate removal options available at lower mana costs that might offer a more immediate response or carry additional utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Deadly Visit is a valuable addition to any collection due to its flexibility. This instant speed spell not only eliminates threats by destroying any creature but also allows you to survey the top cards of your library, thus organizing your upcoming draws.

Combo Potential: This card is not just a simple removal but also synthesizes with strategies that capitalize on spell casting. It bolsters graveyard-centric decks, enabling setups for powerful reanimator spells or fueling escape mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy decks dominating many formats, having an efficient removal option like Deadly Visit ensures you can handle the wide array of threats on the battlefield and maintain the tempo needed to win games.

How to beat

Encountering Deadly Visit in a game of MTG can present a significant challenge. This card is known for its ability to dispatch creatures, providing a clear path for your opponent by removing potential blockers or threats on your side of the battlefield. Despite this power move, there are strategies to counteract the effects of Deadly Visit effectively. For starters, having counter spells ready can negate the initial casting of Deadly Visit, preserving your creature’s presence on the board.

Another tactic involves using cards of your own that benefit from being targeted or are more resilient to destruction spells. Creatures with abilities such as indestructible or hexproof can evade elimination, while others may offer you a benefit when they die, like triggering card draw or placing tokens onto the battlefield. Keeping a diverse lineup of creatures can minimize the impact of Deadly Visit, forcing your opponent to make tough decisions on which creature to target. Strategic play and well-timed responses can secure your position even when facing down this powerful removal spell.

Understanding the intricacies and potential answers to powerful spells such as Deadly Visit ensures that players can maintain control and pursue victory with confidence, regardless of the threats posed by their opponent’s deck in MTG.

Cards like Deadly Visit

Deadly Visit holds its own as a removal spell in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to Murder, a well-known spell capable of destroying any target creature for three mana. Deadly Visit, with its five mana cost, might seem less appealing at first glance, but it offers a strategic upside with its Surveil 2 ability, enabling players to filter their upcoming draws and set up their graveyard.

Looking into the deeper corridors of the deck, you’ll encounter Destroy the Evidence. This card not only demolishes a creature but also decimates a land, potentially crippling the opponent’s mana base. Even though it’s a more situational play compared to the direct impact of Deadly Visit, its dual function cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, there’s the card Final Death, offering exile over destruction at the same mana value. While exile ensures the creature can’t return from the graveyard, Deadly Visit’s added Surveil ability delivers card selection and graveyard setup that can be immensely valuable in longer games.

In summarizing the competitive landscape, Deadly Visit provides a measured blend of creature control and deck manipulation, securing its position as a reliable option for players seeking more than just immediate board impact.

Destroy the Evidence - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Deadly Visit by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deadly Visit MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Deadly Visit and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deadly Visit has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Deadly Visit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2018-10-05	Deadly Visit can target a creature that’s indestructible. It won’t be destroyed, but you’ll surveil.
2018-10-05	Some spells that instruct you to surveil require targets. You can’t cast a spell without choosing legal targets. If all of those targets become illegal, the spell doesn’t resolve and you won’t surveil.
2018-10-05	When you surveil, you may put all the cards you look at back on top of your library, you may put all of those cards into your graveyard, or you may put some of those cards on top and the rest of them into your graveyard.
2018-10-05	You perform the actions stated on a card in sequence. For some spells and abilities, you’ll surveil last. For others, you’ll surveil and then perform other actions.
2018-10-05	You’ll surveil before resolving any abilities that trigger on the target creature dying.