Lay Down Arms MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Exile target creature with mana value less than or equal to the number of Plains you control. Its controller gains 3 life.
She'll swing a blade all her life, but never again for war.
Cards like Lay Down Arms
Lay Down Arms introduces a tactical shift in creature control within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with similar cards such as Impeccable Timing which also deals with creatures during combat. However, Lay Down Arms brings to the table an unconditional dismissal, exiling the target creature if its power is 4 or greater, without needing to engage it in battle first.
Another card worthy of discussion is Gideon’s Reproach. This card, much like Impeccable Timing, does damage to a creature engaged in combat. Yet again, Lay Down Arms doesn’t wait for the clash of combat to settle the score. Swords to Plowshares is a classic comparison; it also exiles any creature at an even lower cost, but with the drawback of giving the creature’s controller life equal to its power, a significant downside Lay Down Arms avoids.
To wrap up, Lay Down Arms holds a distinct position among creature removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its preemptive strike capability without the need for battle and without the life gain benefit to the opponent gives it a unique edge in player arsenals for controlling the battlefield.
Cards similar to Lay Down Arms by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Lay Down Arms. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mono-White Poison | Standard | Mono-White Poison | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: May 20, 2024 | |
Azorius Control | Pioneer | Azorius Control | Pioneer League 2024-04-09 | |
Mono-White Midrange | Pioneer | Mono-White Midrange | Pioneer League 2024-04-02 | |
Mono-White Tokens | Standard | Mono-White Tokens | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: May 6, 2024 | |
Orzhov Midrange | Standard | Orzhov Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 | |
W | Modern | Modern Challenge 32 2024-05-02 | ||
Bant Control | Standard | Bant Control | Pro Tour Thunder Junction | |
Azorius Soldiers | Standard | Azorius Soldiers | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 | |
WG | Standard | Standard League 2024-04-22 | ||
Abzan Midrange | Explorer | The Pizza Box Open: Explorer |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When resolving Lay Down Arms, you’re effectively removing a creature from your opponent’s board. This potentially swings the balance in card advantage towards you, as you’re using one card to nullify an opponent’s threat without losing a creature in combat.
Resource Acceleration: While Lay Down Arms doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in the form of additional lands or mana abilities, efficiently handling threats can keep your mana open for other game actions. By using Lay Down Arms at a critical moment, you maintain tempo, potentially allowing you to progress your board state more rapidly than your opponent.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Lay Down Arms offers the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. This timely interruption can give you a significant strategic advantage, especially if it prevents key combat interactions or disrupts synergies reliant on the targeted creature.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lay Down Arms has no discard requirement, thus retaining your hand strength and avoiding a cost that could set you back, especially during moments when card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Lay Down Arms necessitates white mana, which could potentially restrict its integration into multi-color decks that might not always have the right mana available when it’s most needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s more on the expensive side for its effect, there might be times when playing Lay Down Arms could slow your momentum, potentially opening opportunities for your opponent to obtain an advantage.
Reasons to Include Lay Down Arms in Your Collection
Versatility: Lay Down Arms is a handy spell to have in your arsenal due to its broad utility. It can fit seamlessly into various decks including control and tempo formats where removing creatures is key to maintaining the upper hand.
Combo Potential: As a spell with the ability to neutralize a wide array of creatures, Lay Down Arms can be an essential part of combos that clear the board or need to deal with resilient creatures, allowing for smoother execution of your strategy.
Meta-Relevance: Given its efficient cost and effect, Lay Down Arms remains relevant in a constantly shifting meta, particularly in environments where creature-based decks are prevalent, granting you a significant tactical advantage.
How to beat
Lay Down Arms offers a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This card commands respect due to its ability to neutralize the most formidable creatures by removing all their abilities and reducing their power and toughness to 1/1. A key strategy to overcome this potent spell involves maintaining a diverse array of threats in your arsenal. By presenting multiple targets, you diffuse the impact of a single Lay Down Arms cast, as your opponent can only target one creature at a time.
Alternatively, be prepared with counterspells to intercept Lay Down Arms before it diminishes your creature’s prowess. It’s crucial to consider the mana investment needed for such defenses, ensuring you still have enough resources to advance your board state despite your opponent’s attempts to hinder your progress. Lastly, having a plethora of low-cost, high-impact creatures can also lessen the setback caused by Lay Down Arms. These creatures require less investment and therefore represent a smaller loss if transformed into a 1/1, allowing you to maintain an offensive stance in the game.
Employing these tactics forms a comprehensive approach to outmaneuvering an opponent’s Lay Down Arms, enabling players to maintain control and vie for victory in the multifaceted environment of Magic: The Gathering.
BurnMana Recommendations
Exploring Lay Down Arms can significantly influence your in-game decisions, bolstering your defensive tactics and tempo control. As this card ascends in popularity and sees play across various formats, it’s vital to recognize how it can tip the scales in your favor. Discovering the optimal moments for its deployment and synergies within your deck could be the difference between defeat and a masterful win. The MTG landscape is rich with strategies, and knowledge is the key to unlocking its full potential. Dive deeper with us into the intricacies of effective creature removal and enhance your command of the battlefield. Learn more and perfect your deck’s strategy to safeguard your victories against any challenge.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lay Down Arms MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War and The Brothers' War, 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 Lay Down Arms and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Lay Down Arms Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Liiga Smilshkalne.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 380 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Liiga Smilshkalne | |
2 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 11 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Liiga Smilshkalne |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lay Down Arms has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |