Clash of Titans MTG Card

Clash of Titans - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Abilities	Fight
Released	2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set name	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set code	IKO
Number	111
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Viktor Titov

Key Takeaways

Clash of Titans offers effective board control by making opponents’ creatures fight at instant speed.
While powerful, its discard requirement and high mana cost can limit its use in certain situations.
Its potential for creature interaction makes it a valuable addition to red-oriented decks.

Text of card

Target creature fights another target creature. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)

"Let the brutes fight. If they kill each other, we lose no more soldiers today." —Orthion, Lavabrink captain

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Clash of Titans allows for tactical removal of multiple threats, effectively trimming the opponent’s board presence and potentially turning the tide in your favor with a single card.

Resource Acceleration: By enabling the removal of key blockers, this card can open the path for your other creatures to attack, indirectly speeding up your victory clock and preserving your resources for decisive plays.

Instant Speed: The capacity to cast Clash of Titans during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s action adds a layer of versatility, allowing for surprise engagements that can disrupt and dismantle your adversary’s strategies at pivotal moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Clash of Titans necessitates discarding a card from hand, presenting a potential setback when your hand size is already depleted. This can put you at a disadvantage especially when playing in longer, drawn-out matches where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s precise mana requirements could be restrictive as it demands a particular combination of mana types. Players running multicolored decks may find it challenging to meet the mana cost efficiently, impacting the card’s flexibility and timing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is considered high for its effect, Clash of Titans might not be the best choice when alternatives exist that can achieve similar outcomes with less investment. This raises concerns about its cost-effectiveness, a crucial factor in deck building and game strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Clash of Titans is a powerful instant that can be splashed into various red decks. It provides the ability to turn any creature stalemate into a sudden advantage, giving red decks a unique way to break through a defending line.

Combo Potential: When combined with creatures that have beneficial “when this creature deals damage” or “when this creature dies” effects, Clash of Titans can be the linchpin of some potent in-game combinations, leveraging your creatures for maximum value.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with creature-based strategies, this card emerges as a potential game-changer. It can swiftly alter the board state, knocking out key threats or removing blockers to pave the way for a decisive attack.

How to beat

Clash of Titans is a powerful instant that can turn the tide of battle in Magic: The Gathering by allowing two target creatures to fight each other. This card can be a game-changer when used strategically, especially in multiplayer games where it’s important to remove key creatures from the board without spending your own creature resources. When facing this card, timing is crucial. Since it’s an instant, it can be cast during either player’s turn at a moment’s notice, making it unpredictable.

To effectively counter Clash of Titans, consider holding back on deploying your most valuable creatures until you can protect them with counterspells or abilities that grant them indestructibility or hexproof. It’s also beneficial to manage creature power levels on the board, preventing your opponent from eliminating two strong creatures with a single card. Furthermore, instant-speed removal or blink effects can save your key creatures from this hostile engagement. Be mindful of open mana and potential bluffing from your opponent—you’ll want to be careful not to walk into a trap where Clash of Titans is waiting to resolve.

Overall, understanding the meta, predicting opponent’s moves, and maintaining control through smart play can neutralize the threat of Clash of Titans in your games.

Cards like Clash of Titans

Clash of Titans is an intriguing card in MTG, reminiscent of other high-impact red instants that alter combat outcomes significantly. It bears a comparison with cards such as Fight with Fire, which also grants the ability to direct damage towards creatures. Clash of Titans uniquely allows two target creatures to fight each other, potentially clearing two threats with a single card. Fight with Fire, contrastingly, focuses on flexibility with its kicker ability to scale damage and target multiple creatures or even players.

Another parallel can be drawn with the card Domri’s Ambush, which provides a similar effect but with an additional permanence in the form of a +1/+1 counter. This counter not only boosts a chosen creature but remains post-combat, unlike the immediate but temporary interaction caused by Clash of Titans. Additionally, Domri’s Ambush’s lower cost and lack of damage to the chosen creature make it a contender for decks needing reliable creature removal.

While considering the strategic uses of direct damage or removal in MTG, Clash of Titans is specially noted for its potential to turn the tide by forcing enemy creatures to engage in combat unexpectedly, making it a compelling choice for players favoring sudden and decisive plays.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Clash of Titans MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Clash of Titans and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Clash of Titans has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-04-17	Clash of Titans can target two creatures controlled by the same player.
2020-04-17	If either target is an illegal target as Clash of Titans tries to resolve, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage.