Last One Standing MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The essential benefit of Last One Standing lies in its ability to shift the board state dramatically. By potentially clearing the field of all but one random creature, you can find yourself eliminating multiple threats with a single card. This creates a considerable card advantage, as you’re likely to dispatch more of your opponent’s resources than your own.

Resource Acceleration: While Last One Standing doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, the indirect resource acceleration cannot be overlooked. By resetting the board to a more manageable state, the card allows you to utilize your mana more effectively in subsequent turns. This is particularly beneficial in midrange or control decks that tend to make every mana count.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Last One Standing may not have the flexibility of an instant, but the power it holds when cast at the correct moment can be as game-changing as any instant speed interaction. Planning your turn to accommodate the three mana cost can lead to devastating results for your opponent, ensuring you maintain the pace and control of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Last One Standing requires you to make a significant sacrifice, specifically discarding another card. In a game where every card in hand could be crucial to your strategy, this additional cost can leave you at a disadvantage, particularly if you’re already struggling with card availability.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost demands both Black and Red mana, making it less flexible for inclusion in a variety of decks. Players running decks without these colors are unable to benefit from Last One Standing’s potential, restricting its use to multicolored decks that can accommodate its mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, including both specific colored mana requirements, Last One Standing can be a heavy investment early in the game. There are alternatives that may provide removal or board control effects more cost-effectively, enabling players to keep pace with opponents without falling behind in resource allocation.

Reasons to Include Last One Standing in Your Collection

Versatility: Last One Standing offers a unique game-altering capability, able to reset the board dynamically in a variety of deck builds. Its low-cost requirement allows for its inclusion into diverse strategies, making it a universal solution for players facing overwhelming odds.

Combo Potential: This card can be pivotal in decks that manipulate the outcome of random selections or those that benefit from having a single, powerful creature in play. It’s an enabler for combos that profit from a clear board, giving players a chance to turn the tides in their favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with creature-heavy or token-based decks, Last One Standing becomes an efficient and cost-effective board wipe. Its place in your collection ensures you have a response to prevalent swarm strategies and can reclaim control against odds-stacking opponents.

How to beat

Last One Standing is a unique card that offers a drastic table reset potential in the Magic: The Gathering format. When facing this card, the key strategy is to anticipate its casting and prepare accordingly. Keeping mana open for counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can ensure that Last One Standing never resolves, securing your board presence. Another tactic is to maintain a diverse range of creatures, including those with hexproof or indestructible. Cards such as Selfless Spirit or Dauntless Escort can render your board invulnerable to such sweeping effects.

It’s also wise to not overcommit to the board if you suspect this card might be in an opponent’s deck. Playing conservatively and holding back key creatures in your hand can be beneficial. After Last One Standing is played, you can quickly rebuild your board state while your opponent may be left exposed. Finally, employing graveyard retrieval spells such as Eternal Witness or Regrowth allows you to return your valuable lost cards back to your hand, mitigating the impact of Last One Standing’s potentially game-altering effect.

BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves recognizing the versatility of cards like Last One Standing and understanding how they fit into your game plan. Whether it’s leveraging its board-clearing capabilities to turn the tide or employing strategic conservancy to recover post-cast, this card provides both challenges and opportunities. Engage with its complexities, consider its place in the meta, and explore its potential in your collection. For deeper insights into strategic applications and innovative deck building, dive with us into the engaging world of MTG. Elevate your gameplay and embrace the power of calculated risks in your matches. Join us to navigate your path to victory.