Ill-Timed Explosion MTG Card
2024-02-09 - Number 416
2024-02-09 - Number 207
2024-02-10 - Number 207s
2024-02-10 - Number 207p
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Key Takeaways
- Instant speed allows strategic disruption, posing a threat even during an opponent’s turn.
- Offers versatility and combo potential across a variety of MTG decks, despite its downsides.
- Deck manipulation and meta shifts could greatly increase Ill-Timed Explosion’s value in gameplay.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ill-Timed Explosion. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five-Color Analyst | Standard | 4c Land Combo | Pro Tour Thunder Junction |
| Temur Analyst | Standard | Temur Land Combo | Pro Tour Thunder Junction |
| Grixis Reanimator | Standard | Grixis Reanimator | Pro Tour Thunder Junction |
| Temur Calamity | Standard | Temur Control | Pro Tour Thunder Junction |
| Domain Ramp | Standard | Domain | Pro Tour Thunder Junction |
| Domain | Standard | Domain | Standard League 2024-04-24 |
| Temur Land Combo | Standard | Temur Land Combo | Standard Challenge 64 2024-04-21 |
| 4c Land Combo | Standard | 4c Land Combo | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 |
| Izzet Control | Standard | Izzet Control | Standard Preliminary 2024-04-22 |
Text of card
Draw two cards. Then you may discard two cards. When you do, Ill-Timed Explosion deals X damage to each creature, where X is the greatest mana value among cards discarded this way.
Only too late did the Agency custodians realize the device had not been inactive—it was just waiting for the right trigger.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ill-Timed Explosion provides a noticeable benefit in card flow. It disrupts your opponent’s deck while potentially drawing you into more options for your next moves. This could pave the way for commanding the game’s pace and securing a strategic advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly create resources, Ill-Timed Explosion can set back your opponent’s mana curve. By potentially removing a key piece of their board, you can gain indirect resource momentum, providing a window to deploy your threats uncontested.
Instant Speed: One of the strengths of Ill-Timed Explosion is its ability to be cast at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to decide the best moment to disrupt your opponent, perhaps in response to them casting a crucial spell or in the midst of setting up a combo, which can be an unexpected setback for them and a game-changer for you.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of Ill-Timed Explosion is the mandatory discard of a card to play it. For players who are managing a tight hand or counting on all resources, this cost can be steep, potentially setting back their game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Ill-Timed Explosion demands a precise combination of mana, including red. This specificity can make it a challenging fit for multi-colored decks or those not heavily invested in red mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the explosive impact of Ill-Timed Explosion can be game-changing, its mana cost is on the higher side. Considering the pace of gameplay and available alternatives, players might find the card’s cost-to-effect ratio less favorable compared to other options in their arsenal.
Reasons to Include Ill-Timed Explosion in Your Collection
Versatility: Ill-Timed Explosion can be a game-changer in a wide array of decks, adding a strategic layer to control or burn strategies. It provides players with a disruption tool that can target creatures or even planeswalkers at key moments.
Combo Potential: The card is ideal for synergy with spells that benefit from dealing non-combat damage. It can also initiate chain reactions with cards that trigger upon damage being dealt, adding depth to combo decks.
Meta-Relevance: Cards that can skew combat calculations or manipulate the board state are often pivotal in shifting metas. Ill-Timed Explosion can be particularly effective if creature-heavy decks become predominant, allowing for efficient removal while your strategy unfolds.
How to beat
Ill-Timed Explosion is a spell that poses a unique challenge on the battlefield in the Magic: The Gathering landscape. Players facing this card should prioritize maintaining a strong board presence that isn’t too vulnerable to sudden removal spells. Since Ill-Timed Explosion can potentially disrupt your field, it’s prudent to deploy creatures that offer resilience, such as those with indestructible or creatures that generate value upon entering or leaving the battlefield.
Spell countering strategies using cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can also be highly effective against Ill-Timed Explosion. By keeping mana open specifically for counterspells, you can ensure that your opponent’s efforts to tip the game in their favor are thwarted. Furthermore, it’s wise to manage your life total vigilantly and keep it out of range where a sudden Ill-Timed Explosion could be lethal. Lastly, leveraging instant-speed removal or combat tricks can mitigate the impact if the spell resolves, allowing you to maintain momentum and eventually overpower the explosive tactics of your opponent.
When the dust settles, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategies are as crucial as the mechanics of any card. By planning and employing a careful approach, Ill-Timed Explosion can be overcome, paving the way to victory.
Cards like Ill-Timed Explosion
Ill-Timed Explosion follows a lineage of red damage spells in Magic: The Gathering that pack both unpredictability and potential. It’s somewhat akin to cards like Goblin Grenade, which offers an assured five damage to a target at the cost of sacrificing a Goblin. Ill-Timed Explosion, however, doesn’t carry the same guarantee, as the damage depends on the converted mana cost of the top deck card. This introduces an element of chance which can be both exciting and nerve-wracking in gameplay.
Cards like Volcanic Fallout also echo the explosive nature of Ill-Timed Explosion by dealing damage to each creature and player. However, Volcanic Fallout can’t match the potential high of flipping a high-cost card for devastating impact. On a less random note, we have Rift Bolt – a staple in many burn decks that deals a solid three damage after a one-turn delay, offering predictability over Ill-Timed Explosion’s variable outcome.
Ultimately, Ill-Timed Explosion finds its niche among red spells as a wildcard, potentially turning the tables when luck is on the player’s side. Its interaction with deck manipulation can edge out its standalone value, a high-risk high-reward choice for thrill-seeking strategists in MTG.
Cards similar to Ill-Timed Explosion by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ill-Timed Explosion MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Ill-Timed Explosion and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Ill-Timed Explosion Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-10. Illustrated by Aaron J. Riley.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 416 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron J. Riley | |
| 2 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 207 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron J. Riley | |
| 3 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 207s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron J. Riley | |
| 4 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 207p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron J. Riley |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ill-Timed Explosion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |