Launch Party MTG Card

Launch Party secures card advantage while disrupting opponents by combining removal with card draw. Instant speed permits strategic flexibility, allowing surprise defense or offense shifts. Mandatory discard and specific mana needs may limit its inclusion in diverse decks.

Return to Ravnica (RTR)
2012-10-05 - Number 69

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 248

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Launch Party, sacrifice a creature. Destroy target creature. Its controller loses 2 life.

Life's too short to not do the things you love.

Cards like Launch Party

Launch Party retains a fascinating slot in the range of removal options within Magic: The Gathering. Side by side with cards like Murder, it offers an alternative strategy for dispatching creatures. While Murder outright destroys a target creature for three mana, Launch Party demands the additional cost of sacrificing a creature, a nuance that can be turned into an advantage with the right deck.

Fleshbag Marauder invites a comparison, as it also hinges on both players sacrificing a creature upon entering the battlefield. This card edges out Launch Party in terms of mana efficiency but doesn’t offer the direct damage to a player that Launch Party does. Bone Splinters is another relevant comparison, and like Launch Party, it requires a creature sacrifice to destroy a target creature. However, its single mana cost makes it a more affordable option, albeit at sorcery speed, unlike the instant flexibility of Launch Party.

In essence, while evaluating removal spells and their unique mechanics, Launch Party offers a distinct blend of creature control and potential direct player damage, shaping it as a versatile tool in MTG player arsenals, especially when synergized with creature-focused strategies.

Cards similar to Launch Party by color, type and mana cost

Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions

When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions

Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions

Silence the Believers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Launch Party MTG Card offers significant card advantage by enabling the player to eliminate a viable threat from their opponent’s side while also drawing a card to maintain hand superiority.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with decks oriented around leveraging creature deaths, potentially accelerating your resources by triggering death-related abilities and setting up powerful combos.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Launch Party at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond during their opponent’s turn, thereby maximizing strategic depth and allowing for surprise removal of key threats at crucial moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Launch Party card necessitates discarding another card, posing a challenge when your hand is nearly empty and you’re clutching onto key plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding both black and generic mana, this card could constrain deck-building options, making it less versatile for multi-color strategies that may not prioritize black mana or have ready access to it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s requirement for three mana – two of which must be black – places it at a higher threshold, potentially slowing down your tempo against decks that capitalize on lower-cost, high-impact plays.

Reasons to Include Launch Party in Your Collection

Versatility: Launch Party offers a unique blend of removal and player interaction, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into deck strategies that thrive on disruption or require ways to deal with opponents’ creatures.

Combo Potential: This card sets the stage for various combos, especially in decks that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics or the benefits gained from killing creatures, such as morbid triggers or death-related abilities.

Meta-Relevance: Within a meta that’s creature-heavy or dominated by key creatures, Launch Party becomes an essential tool. Its ability to remove problematic blockers or attackers while potentially causing loss of life can turn the tides of a match.

How to beat

Launch Party is an intriguing removal option in Magic: The Gathering, placing opponents in a bind by forcing a sacrifice and potentially disrupting their board presence. Imagine pitting it against alternatives like Murder, which outright destroys a target creature without requiring a sacrifice on your end. Launch Party, in contrast, demands the sacrifice of a creature, yet this can be upturned into an advantage if you design your deck with sacrifice synergies in mind.

When facing off against Launch Party, cards like Supernatural Stamina can be your shield. By using such effects, you can temporarily save your creature from the graveyard, turning your opponent’s strategy on its head. Similarly, self-regenerating creatures or those with indestructible characteristics stand tall against such removal. It’s all about having the right counterspell or protective spell at the disposal, ensuring your creatures live to see another turn, despite your opponent’s attempt to upstage your game with a well-timed Launch Party.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s moves is key. With thoughtful strategy and a mindful eye on preserving your creatures, Launch Party can be diminished from a party spoiler to an invitation to outmaneuver and outplay your opponent.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Launch Party MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Jumpstart, 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 Launch Party and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Launch Party Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-10-05	Return to Ravnica	RTR		69	2003	Normal	Black	Lucas Graciano
2	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP		248	2015	Normal	Black	Lucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Launch Party has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2012-10-01	If the target creature is an illegal target when Launch Party tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No player will lose 2 life.
2012-10-01	If you sacrifice an attacking or blocking creature during the declare blockers step, it won’t deal combat damage. If you wait until the combat damage step, but that creature is dealt lethal damage, it’ll be destroyed before you get a chance to sacrifice it.
2013-04-15	Players can only respond once this spell has been cast and all its costs have been paid. No one can try to destroy the creature you sacrificed to prevent you from casting this spell.
2013-04-15	You must sacrifice exactly one creature to cast this spell; you cannot cast it without sacrificing a creature, and you cannot sacrifice additional creatures.