Savage Swipe MTG Card
2019-06-14 - Number 178
2021-08-26 - Number 630
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Fight |
Key Takeaways
- Efficiency in creature control while maintaining card parity is a hallmark of Savage Swipe.
- Limited to decks with creatures, its optimum use hinges on specific board presence.
- Its cost-effectiveness and synergy with strength 2 creatures cater to Green strategies.
Text of card
Target creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn if its power is 2. Then it fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)
Nine generations of metalworking skill are no match for nine hundred pounds of rage.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Savage Swipe by itself won’t net you extra cards, but its efficiency in dealing with creatures ensures that you’re maintaining card parity while potentially disrupting your opponent’s board presence.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing additional resources, Savage Swipe’s low mana cost aids in resource management, allowing you to allocate mana elsewhere and maintain tempo.
Instant Speed: Although Savage Swipe operates at sorcery speed, its inclusion in decks that operate on the philosophy of ‘fight spells’ allows for strategic creature removal on your turn, paving the way for cleaner attacks or pressuring the opponent’s defenses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Savage Swipe does not inherently require discarding a card, but it’s worth noting that it’s most efficient in a deck with plentiful creatures. Without a creature to target, its potential is greatly diminished, which can feel like a situation where you’re effectively down a card if you don’t have the board presence needed.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a green spell, Savage Swipe demands green mana. This requirement could limit deck-building options, as it needs a commitment to green mana sources, making it less versatile for multicolored decks that may not always have green mana readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Savage Swipe itself has a low mana cost, requiring only a single green mana, it necessitates having a creature with power 2 or greater on the battlefield to get the full benefit. If you’re playing a deck with few creatures or those with lower power, this card might not be as cost-effective compared to other removal options that don’t have such conditions.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Savage Swipe, as a low-cost removal spell, is highly adaptable to Green creature-based decks. Its ability to boost a creature’s power while also dealing with an opposing creature makes it extremely functional in a variety of gameplay situations.
Combo Potential: Notable in decks that focus on +1/+1 counters or creatures with static abilities, this card can act as a pivotal play, turning a simple creature buff into a game-changing removal. This can be a critical interaction for tempo plays and maintaining board control.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame filled with creature-centric decks, Savage Swipe provides an efficient answer to early threats. As it rewards you for controlling a creature with exactly strength 2, it synergizes well with popular Green creatures, maintaining its relevance in various competitive formats.
How to beat
Savage Swipe is a powerful spot removal option for players using green decks in Magic: The Gathering. At just one green mana, it’s not only cost-effective but also packs a punch by giving a +2/+2 boost to your creature if its power is two. Despite its efficiency, Savage Swipe can be overcome. A straightforward strategy to thwart this card includes using creatures with indestructible to negate the destruction effect, or those with hexproof to avoid being targeted.
Additionally, strategies that don’t rely on creatures as the cornerstone of the deck, such as control or combo decks, naturally sidestep the effectiveness of Savage Swipe. Counterspells are also a formidable roadblock, thwarting the spell before it can even take effect. Lastly, creature with a power different from two will not trigger the full potential of Savage Swipe, making it a versatile card in its niche, but one that can be played around with astute deck building and strategic in-game decisions.
By understanding the scenarios where Savage Swipe excels and where it falters, players can optimize their deck to either capitalize on its strengths or mitigate its impact when facing it on the battlefield.
Cards like Savage Swipe
Savage Swipe stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering removal spells for its efficiency and synergy with creatures. When compared to Prey Upon, which offers a similar creature-on-creature fight mechanic, Savage Swipe shines with its additional ability to boost your creature’s strength if it’s exactly power 2. This makes it exceptionally potent for decks centered around that power level.
Another similar spell in this arena is Epic Confrontation, which not only has your creature fight an opponent’s creature but also gives a minor power and toughness boost until the end of the turn. While this increment is guaranteed regardless of your creature’s power, the cost of two mana makes Savage Swipe more cost-effective for quick removal. Fall of the Hammer also enters the discussion, directing damage equal to your creature’s power to a target creature. While it doesn’t engage in a fight, thereby preventing your creature from taking damage, the upside of Savage Swipe’s lower cost and potential boost makes it a formidable choice for specific Green deck strategies.
Tailoring the right blend of cards for your MTG deck is crucial, and Savage Swipe has its niche, particularly in decks where matching the power condition can turn the tides of a duel with its low cost and the surprise advantage of a strength boost.
Cards similar to Savage Swipe by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Savage Swipe MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Savage Swipe 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 Savage Swipe Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by David Gaillet.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 178 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Gaillet | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 630 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Gaillet |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Savage Swipe has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Savage Swipe card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | If either target is an illegal target as Savage Swipe tries to resolve, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage. |
| 2019-06-14 | If the creature you control is an illegal target as Savage Swipe tries to resolve, no creature gets +2/+2. If that creature is a legal target but the creature you don’t control isn’t, it still gets +2/+2 until end of turn if its power is 2. |
| 2019-06-14 | The target creature you control gets +2/+2 only if its power is exactly 2 as Savage Swipe resolves. It’ll still fight if it doesn’t get +2/+2. |
| 2019-06-14 | You can’t cast Savage Swipe unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don’t control as targets. |
