Infernal Reckoning MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 102s
2018-07-13 - Number 102
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Exile target colorless creature. You gain life equal to its power.
"When these intruders are gone, Zendikar will be my throne, my palace, my playground."
Cards like Infernal Reckoning
Infernal Reckoning stands as a specific tool for players in Magic the Gathering, offering an answer to cards like Desolation Twin and Wurmcoil Engine. These powerhouse creatures are similar in that they present a significant threat due to their size or effects upon entering the battlefield or dying. Infernal Reckoning’s ability to exile a colorless creature, specifically, gives it a tactical edge in certain matchups, particularly against Eldrazi or artifact-heavy decks. This card provides black decks a much-needed answer to such threats without the usual life loss or sacrifice requirements common in black removal spells.
Examining removal spells in MTG further, we can compare Infernal Reckoning to the broader but less specialized Doom Blade. Doom Blade can target any non-black creature, offering versatility but it does not exile, leaving potential for graveyard shenanigans. Go for the Throat is another contender, unrestricted by color but cannot target artifact creatures, making it less useful against the mechanized menaces that Infernal Reckoning effortlessly banishes.
The strategic implication of Infernal Reckoning in a Magic the Gathering match can’t be overstated—it’s an indispensable card when facing decks that rely heavily on colorless creatures, providing black decks with a precise and cost-effective tool to maintain control of the game.
Cards similar to Infernal Reckoning by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Infernal Reckoning gives you a precise upper hand against decks with colorless creatures. By exiling one, you rid the battlefield of a potential threat without losing a card in the process. This one-for-one removal ensures you maintain card parity while disrupting your opponent’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it helps manage your existing ones efficiently. You can allocate mana to other spells and plays, knowing you have a cost-effective answer to a potential colorless creature threat.
Instant Speed: The utility of Infernal Reckoning increases with its instant speed. This allows for flexible play, where you can react to your opponent’s moves during their turn. You can hold up mana to cast it when your opponent commits a colorless creature to the board, keeping up the element of surprise and maximizing the timing of your plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Infernal Reckoning does not mandate discarding, its specific role can often leave players with a dead card in hand against non-Eldrazi decks. Holding onto it for the right moment can feel akin to discarding a valuable resource when faced with a different threat.
Specific Mana Cost: Infernal Reckoning requires a single black mana, which situates it comfortably in mono-black or black-inclusive decks. However, this specificity does bar it from decks not running black mana, potentially constraining your deck-building options to accommodate this niche answer.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the cost of one black mana can be considered low, the card natively addresses only a small subset of creatures—Eldrazi. Other removal spells at a similar or even lower mana cost are broader in application, making Infernal Reckoning’s efficiency questionable when not facing its intended targets.
Reasons to Include Infernal Reckoning in Your Collection
Versatility: Infernal Reckoning is a unique and powerful sideboard card. It can be slotted into any black-based deck, providing an instant threat removal for those troublesome Eldrazi titans or colorless creatures that commonly evade traditional removal spells.
Combo Potential: While it’s mainly a reactive spell, the one black mana cost of Infernal Reckoning allows players to maintain mana efficiency, keeping their options open for pivotal combo plays. It’s excellent for preserving tempo and opens the door for surprise switches in your strategy.
Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of MTG play, a card like Infernal Reckoning proves invaluable when colorless creatures dominate the field. It’s a targeted answer that helps maintain balance against decks that rely heavily on such threats, making it an asset in a metagame filled with powerful colorless opponents.
How to beat
Infernal Reckoning is a unique spell that can be a powerful tool against decks that rely heavily on colorless creatures. To navigate around this card’s effect in Magic: The Gathering, a flexible strategy and adaptive gameplay are key. Incorporating diverse mana costs in your creature base beyond colorless options reduces the risk of being vulnerable to this removal spell. It’s critical to blend in creatures of different colors, ensuring your deck isn’t singularly targeted by Infernal Reckoning.
Moreover, running cards that grant hexproof or that can counteract removal spells will also boost your defenses. Spell protection measures like counterspells, or enchantments that offer protection, can be pivotal in safeguarding your key creatures from targeted removal. It’s about maintaining a calculated approach, balancing your board presence without overextending into potential threats like Infernal Reckoning.
In essence, by diversifying your threats and using clever deck-building choices, you can dilute the potency of Infernal Reckoning and continue to command a formidable presence on the battlefield. Knowing when to deploy creatures and having a backup plan for your most crucial assets will ensure your deck thrives in the dynamic environment of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Infernal Reckoning MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 Promos and Core Set 2019, 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 Infernal Reckoning 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 Infernal Reckoning Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Bram Sels.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 Promos | PM19 | 102s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bram Sels | |
| 2 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 102 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bram Sels |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Infernal Reckoning 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 Infernal Reckoning card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | If the creature’s power is negative, you don’t lose or gain life. |
| 2018-07-13 | The amount of life gained is equal to the power of the creature as it last existed on the battlefield. |