Glyph of Destruction MTG Card


Glyph of Destruction - Legends
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released1994-06-01
Set symbol
Set nameLegends
Set codeLEG
Number150
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred bySusan Van Camp

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers indirect card advantage by forcing opponent discards, impacting their game strategy.
  2. Instant speed allows for strategic play, maintaining mana allocation flexibility and response readiness.
  3. Trample potential and power boosting make it a formidable addition to certain deck archetypes.

Text of card

Target wall you control gains +10/+0 when blocking. Any damage dealt to target wall is reduced to zero. Target wall is destroyed at end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Glyph of Destruction doesn’t directly let you draw more cards, it can disrupt your opponent’s hand by forcing discards. This kind of indirect card advantage can tip the scales in your favor by depleting your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: The Glyph of Destruction itself is not a means of resource acceleration. However, by removing key pieces from your opponent’s battlefield, it can slow them down enough to give you a relative speed advantage. This allows you to potentially outpace your opponent in deploying threats and answers.

Instant Speed: The beauty of this card lies in its instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react swiftly to threats or use it during your opponent’s end step. This characteristic ensures that you can always stay one step ahead, keeping your mana allocation versatile until the most opportune moment arises.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Glyph of Destruction requires players to discard a card as part of its casting cost. This extra cost can deplete your hand, making it less than ideal in situations where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana to play. The red mana requirement can restrict its integration into decks that aren’t heavily red or that can’t easily accommodate red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the power boost it provides is significant, Glyph of Destruction’s mana cost is also considerable. Other cards may provide similar or better effects at a lower mana investment, potentially making them more appealing options in a competitive deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Glyph of Destruction is flexible in its utility, primarily benefiting decks that capitalize on direct damage or those that aim to quickly dismantle opponents’ defenses.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that amplify spell damage or require spell casting to unlock potent combos, enhancing the overall potential of your plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where controlling the board is key, Glyph of Destruction can be a game changer by removing blockers or damaging key creatures, maintaining a competitive edge for your deck.


How to beat

The Glyph of Destruction presents a unique challenge on the battlefield due to its potential to massively boost a creature’s attack power. When facing such a card, it’s imperative to have a strategy to mitigate its impact. Proper deployment of instant-speed removal spells can be pivotal, ensuring that you can react swiftly to neutralize any threat emboldened by the card’s effect.

Controlling the board with counter spells is also an effective measure against the Glyph of Destruction. By denying its activation, you prevent your adversary from gaining the upper hand. It’s crucial to keep mana open, especially during the crucial combat phases when your opponent is likely to play their most aggressive moves. Always be prepared to disrupt the Glyph’s usage before it tips the scale.

Lastly, defensive measures such as enchantments or abilities that limit an opponent’s combat options can ensure safety against the heightened attack power. Employing creatures with ‘reach’ or ‘flash,’ which can block or appear unexpectedly, can also counter an opponent’s Glyph-enhanced attacker. Adaptability and predictive play are therefore key to maintaining control against this potent magic.


Cards like Glyph of Destruction

Glyph of Destruction stands out in the realm of sorcery spells that bolster combat capabilities in MTG. It can be likened to Brute Force, which also gives a creature a considerable power boost. However, Glyph of Destruction offers an additional edge by possibly granting trample if a target wall is controlled, a feature Brute Force does not possess. This can lead to impactful plays, especially in decks that utilize walls.

Comparably, Titan’s Strength is another spell that temporarily boosts a creature’s power, along with providing the benefit of scrying. Although lacking the potential trample effect, Titan’s Strength can be instrumental in setting up future draws. Then there’s the classic Giant Growth, which offers a similar power boost at an efficient mana cost, but without the conditional trample or scrying advantage.

In sum, Glyph of Destruction adds a unique twist to the classic power-increasing spells in MTG. It aligns well with specific strategies involving walls, adding an extra layer of tactical depth, while still maintaining its identity as a potent combat trick in any aggressive deck.

Brute Force - MTG Card versions
Titan's Strength - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Brute Force - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Titan's Strength - Theros (THS)
Giant Growth - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Glyph of Destruction by color, type and mana cost

False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fighting Chance - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
Burst Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fever Charm - MTG Card versions
Electrostatic Bolt - MTG Card versions
False Orders - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Chaoslace - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Red Elemental Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Tunnel - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Artifact Blast - Antiquities (ATQ)
Active Volcano - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Shock - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Lightning Bolt - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Panic - Ice Age (ICE)
Vertigo - Ice Age (ICE)
Hearth Charm - Visions (VIS)
Pyroblast - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Fighting Chance - Exodus (EXO)
Shower of Sparks - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Heat Ray - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Overload - Invasion (INV)
March of Reckless Joy - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Burst Lightning - Zendikar (ZEN)
Fever Charm - Onslaught (ONS)
Electrostatic Bolt - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glyph of Destruction MTG card by a specific set like Legends, 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 Glyph of Destruction and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glyph of Destruction has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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