Lacerate Flesh MTG Card


Lacerate Flesh disrupts opponents by forcing creature loss and potential tactical surprises at instant speed. Playing this card requires foresight due to the discard cost and its specific mana investment. Its exile effect is key in meta-games where graveyard recursion is prevalent, adding a strategic value.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Lacerate Flesh deals 4 damage to target creature. Create a number of Blood tokens equal to the amount of excess damage dealt to that creature this way. (They're artifacts with ", , Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")


Cards like Lacerate Flesh

Lacerate Flesh brings a fresh dynamic to removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It reminds us of other monored staples like Lightning Strike, both serving as swift answers to creatures on the board. While Lightning Strike offers instant speed interaction for the same amount of damage at two mana, Lacerate Flesh’s five mana cost is higher but it compensates by adding the potential to hinder an opponent’s late game with exile effect if the creature dies that turn.

Other counterparts such as Shivan Fire exist in red’s removal arsenal. Shivan Fire, designed with the kicker ability, provides versatility; it can be a one mana shock or a five mana flame – similar to Lacerate Flesh’s damage level when kicked. However, Lacerate Flesh deals more direct damage without extra payment. Furthermore, Lacerate Flesh’s exile clause sets it apart, providing a distinct edge over creatures that can recur from the graveyard, a tactical advantage Shivan Fire lacks.

To sum up, within the subset of red’s creature control tools, Lacerate Flesh stands out particularly for its potential graveyard disruption. Although higher on the mana curve, it provides a certain strategic depth, which might prove pivotal in matches where interrupting graveyard synergy is crucial.

Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Shivan Fire - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Shivan Fire - MTG Card versions

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Mogg Infestation - MTG Card versions
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Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lacerate Flesh delivers strategic depth by directly eroding your opponent’s creature base, potentially clearing the path for your own creatures or disrupting crucial plays from your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly related to resource acceleration, the card’s potential to remove key defensive creatures can indirectly pave the way for your attacks, potentially translating to a quicker victory and less need for resource accumulation over time.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Lacerate Flesh offers great flexibility, allowing you to selectively target creatures during your opponent’s turn. This can surprise an unsuspecting adversary or counteract combat tricks and abilities that may have turned the tide in their favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Lacerate Flesh requires careful planning due to its need for a discard, potentially leaving players at a resource disadvantage – a crucial factor to weigh in the heat of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana requirement for Lacerate Flesh necessitates a dedicated mana base, limiting its versatility amongst the diversity of MTG decks and strategies players might consider.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lacerate Flesh enters the battlefield with a mana cost that can compete with other key plays, making it essential for players to evaluate its impact before tapping those crucial lands.


Reasons to Include Lacerate Flesh in Your Collection

Versatility: Lacerate Flesh is adaptable to various deck builds that aim to control the board. Its utility in removing creatures ensures that it can be a valuable asset to those seeking to maintain a clear path to victory.

Combo Potential: This card may open up combo possibilities for decks that capitalize on damage spells or that might benefit from graveyard-triggered mechanisms—offering a seamless fit into strategies keyed into spell synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the focus on creature-centric strategies in the current MTG scene, a card like Lacerate Flesh offers the ability to mitigate opposing threats efficiently, hence maintaining its relevance in shaping the contours of competitive play.


How to Beat

Lacerate Flesh is a formidable spell that leaves an indelible mark in Magic: The Gathering, serving as a direct damage dealer to creatures. With its ability to potentially alter the course of the match, understanding strategies to counteract its impact is essential for any player. Unlike spells that deal damage to multiple targets, Lacerate Flesh focuses its power on a single creature, which can lead to a destructive outcome if not handled promptly.

Shielding your creatures from the destructive reach of Lacerate Flesh calls for a proactive approach. Utilising spells that grant hexproof or indestructibility can safeguard your valued creatures from being the victim of this potent removal card. Consider incorporating cards like Heroic Intervention or cards with the ability to regenerate your creatures to effectively nullify the threat posed by Lacerate Flesh. It’s also worth noting that instant-speed spells that boost toughness can be game-changers, transforming a critical hit into a survivable event.

In the context of competitive play, the key to surpassing the obstacle of Lacerate Flesh lies in the deployment of tactical defenses and the strategic preservation of your creatures. By investing in protective measures, your formidable force on the battlefield can withstand the assault and help secure your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lacerate Flesh MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Lacerate Flesh and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lacerate Flesh Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Pauline Voss.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 1662015NormalBlackPauline Voss
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 4332015NormalBlackPauline Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lacerate Flesh has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-11-19 A creature has been dealt excess damage if Lacerate Flesh deals more damage to it than the minimum amount of damage required to be lethal damage. In most cases, this means damage greater than the creature's toughness, but take into account any damage that was already dealt to it that turn.