Anarchy MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Anarchy offers a disruption advantage by forcing hand resets that can alter opponents’ strategies.
  2. The card serves as a strategic tool, providing significant tempo against white-heavy decks.
  3. While potent, Anarchy requires careful deck construction due to its higher mana cost.

Text of card

Destroy all white permanents.

"The Shaman waved the staff, and the land itself went mad." —Disa the Restless, journal entry


Card Pros

Card Advantage: By making each player discard their hand and then draw that many cards, Anarchy can potentially disrupt your opponents’ carefully planned strategies and even provide you with a fresh hand of options to proceed with your gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: In case Anarchy hits valuable permanents on the opponent’s side, it has the potential to slow them down, effectively giving you a form of resource acceleration as you may continue to develop your board while they recover from the setback.

Instant Speed: Although Anarchy is not an instant itself, understanding and preparing for the timing of this sorcery is crucial. Playing it at a pivotal moment right after an opponent’s significant spell resolves or before your next turn can tilt the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When casting Anarchy, players have to manage their resources wisely as the card mandates the forfeiture of another card. This could strain your hand, especially when you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Anarchy’s casting requirements are specifically tailored for red mana-aligned decks. Its restrictive mana cost makes it difficult to incorporate into multi-colored or non-red decks, potentially limiting its versatility in various strategic builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that stands on the higher end of the spectrum, Anarchy competes with other cards in the same mana range that might provide more immediate board impact or value. Players should consider their curve and the potential tempo loss associated with this card’s inclusion in their deck.


Reasons to Include Anarchy in Your Collection

Versatility: Anarchy is a potent spell for players seeking solutions against decks that rely heavily on white permanents. As a red spell, it can seamlessly assimilate into various red-based or multicolor strategies that need a way to clear out obstacles or level the playing field.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that protect your belongings or redirect destruction effects, Anarchy can become a cornerstone of a devastating combo that selectively dismantles your opponent’s board while safeguarding your own game state.

Meta-Relevance: This card shines in metas dominated by white strategies, including token generation, life-gain or control archetypes. Carrying Anarchy in your arsenal prepares you for a strategic pivot that can disrupt those prevalent game plans with just one well-timed cast.


How to beat

Anarchy, a vintage disruption tool in Magic: The Gathering, possesses the unique ability to dismantle white permanents en masse. This spell can drastically shift the tide of a match when deployed against decks that heavily rely on white for their strategies. When confronting a deck that includes Anarchy, it’s vital to diversify your color palette to mitigate its impact. Including non-white cards that provide similar functionalities can prevent you from losing your entire board presence.

Incorporating countermeasures like counterspells or instant-speed enchantment removal can be effective strategies to thwart Anarchy’s game-changing potential before it resolves. As it requires red mana, decks that can anticipate and react to red’s aggressive nature stand a better chance of enduring an Anarchy onslaught. Additionally, because Anarchy impacts all players, including its caster, one could craft a strategic deck that’s either sparse in white permanents or utilizes them in a way that their loss would be inconsequential or even beneficial. Ultimately, understanding your opponent’s potential to cast Anarchy and preparing for it both in deck building and gameplay are crucial steps in maintaining dominance in the face of such chaos.


Cards like Anarchy

Anarchy, from Magic: The Gathering, stands out with its ability to specifically target white permanents, removing all white permanents from the game. Its uniqueness comes from its quite explicit color-targeting, which is atypical among destruction spells. A card that comes close to such selective clearing is Perish, which destroys all green creatures and can’t be negated by regeneration—a narrow focus, much like Anarchy, but aimed at a different color.

Heading into a broader spectrum, we find the more universal wrath effects such as Wrath of God—synonymous with complete board wipes regardless of color. It’s non-discriminatory unlike Anarchy which selectively dismantles white permanents, allowing for more tactical plays depending on your opponents’ deck colors. Conversely, Anarchy can be a strategic play in a mono-white meta but less effective in diversified color schemes.

This targeted approach of Anarchy can be a double-edged sword, invaluable against white dominant decks but potentially a dead card in others. Each card’s potential must be evaluated based on the current meta and the spectrum of decks one expects to encounter.

Perish - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Perish - Tempest (TMP)
Wrath of God - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Anarchy by color, type and mana cost

Flashfires - MTG Card versions
Shatterstorm - MTG Card versions
Phoenix Heart - MTG Card versions
Reign of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Deadshot - MTG Card versions
Aftershock - MTG Card versions
Ruination - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Flood - MTG Card versions
Relentless Assault - MTG Card versions
Flameshot - MTG Card versions
Bend or Break - MTG Card versions
Scorching Missile - MTG Card versions
Reckless Crew - MTG Card versions
Draconic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Illuminate History - MTG Card versions
Demolish - MTG Card versions
Granulate - MTG Card versions
Touch and Go - MTG Card versions
Sunder from Within - MTG Card versions
Thoughts of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Flashfires - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Shatterstorm - Antiquities (ATQ)
Phoenix Heart - Celebration Cards (PCEL)
Reign of Chaos - Mirage (MIR)
Deadshot - Tempest (TMP)
Aftershock - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Ruination - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Flowstone Flood - Exodus (EXO)
Relentless Assault - Commander Legends (CMR)
Flameshot - The List (PLST)
Bend or Break - Invasion (INV)
Scorching Missile - Odyssey (ODY)
Reckless Crew - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Draconic Intervention - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Illuminate History - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Demolish - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Granulate - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Touch and Go - Unhinged (UNH)
Sunder from Within - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Thoughts of Ruin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Anarchy MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Anarchy and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Anarchy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Phil Foglio.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 1701993normalblackPhil Foglio
21996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC mj49sb1993normalgoldPhil Foglio
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1161997normalblackPhil Foglio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Anarchy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks