Marsh Casualties MTG Card

Provides significant card advantage by weakening or removing several creatures with just one spell. Can free up mana for other uses by reducing the need for multiple removal spells. Offers a surprise element by potentially increasing its effect when kicking the spell.

Zendikar (ZEN)
2009-10-02 - Number 101

Marsh Casualties - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)

Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
2014-03-14 - Number 69

Marsh Casualties - Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi (DDP)

Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi (DDP)
2015-08-28 - Number 54

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Kicker

Text of card

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) Creatures target player controls get -1/-1 until end of turn. If Marsh Casualties was kicked, those creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn instead.

Cards like Marsh Casualties

Marsh Casualties stands as an intriguing sorcery in Magic: The Gathering, offering a subtle yet impactful way to weaken your opponent’s forces. Akin to cards like Shrivel, which also decreases the power and toughness of opposing creatures, Marsh Casualties steps up with an additional advantage for those wanting to control the board. Where Shrivel is an indiscriminate culling of small creatures, Marsh Casualties offers the choice of kicking the spell to magnify its effect, a flexibility that can turn the tide in your favor.

Another spell worthy of comparison is Electrickery, which for one red mana can ping all creatures for one damage. Similar in effect to Marsh Casualties’ base offering, its ability to be cast at instant speed gives it a timely edge. Yet, the lack in targeting only opponent’s creatures can be a double-edged sword. Zealous Persecution, meanwhile, serves as yet another alternative with a twist. It not only weakens your opponents’ creatures but simultaneously strengthens your own for a swift and potentially game-shifting swing.

Choosing between these options requires a careful consideration of your deck’s strategy and your matchup. Marsh Casualties whispers promises of surprise and control where its counterparts shout their brute force and immediate impact.

Cards similar to Marsh Casualties by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Casting Marsh Casualties can often result in a two-for-one or better exchange in your favor, particularly against decks with a swarm of low-toughness creatures. It enables you to weaken or clear multiple opposing threats with a single card, maintaining or even tipping the card advantage scale in your direction.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct form of ramp, the efficiency of Marsh Casualties can effectively act as resource acceleration. By potentially eliminating several of an opponent’s creatures, you free up mana that might have been spent on individual removal spells. This allows you to allocate resources elsewhere, advancing your board state more rapidly.

Instant Speed: While Marsh Casualties is a sorcery, its kicker ability can provide the feel of an instant-speed effect. By holding back enough mana, Marsh Casualties can be kicked to have an increased effect, akin to casting an unexpected, more potent spell during the main phase. This can disrupt your opponent’s calculations and combat strategies, making it a pivotal play when timing is crucial.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Marsh Casualties does not directly impose a discard requirement, which is typically seen as a plus. However, it’s essential to consider the opportunity cost of using a card that may not always provide efficient board control.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two black mana can be restrictive, as it demands a solid black mana base. This can make it challenging for multi-colored decks to include and cast Marsh Casualties consistently, especially in the early game where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its base cost is not excessively high, the kick ability of Marsh Casualties, which enhances its effect, requires an additional investment. In comparison to other sweepers or spot removals in the game, this can make it less mana-efficient and possibly a slower response to board threats.

Reasons to Include Marsh Casualties in Your Collection

Versatility: Marsh Casualties shines in its ability to be a flexible sideboard card against decks that deploy numerous creatures. Its spell effect, which weakens opposing creatures for the turn, can turn the tide of battle in games where your opponent relies on small to mid-sized creatures for victory.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well in decks that use creature death as a trigger for other effects, such as those found in black and sacrifice-themed strategies. This enables it to act as a setup for more significant plays, making it a key component in decks that capitalize on the removal of multiple creatures at once.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta crowded with aggressive creature-based decks, Marsh Casualties can serve as a cost-effective tool to curb the momentum of swarm strategies. By reducing the power of your opponents’ creatures, it helps in maintaining board control and can be decisive in winning games against decks that rely on boosting a wide array of creatures.

How to beat Marsh Casualties

Marsh Casualties can be a subtle yet powerful tool for controlling the board in MTG. This sorcery spell has the potential to weaken your opponent’s creature presence significantly. Its ability to give all creatures your opponents control -1/-1, or -2/-2 if kicked, can clear out swarms of small creatures or diminish the threat of larger ones.

To effectively counter this card, it’s important to diversify the toughness of your creatures. Relying on creatures with greater toughness ensures they can withstand the effect of Marsh Casualties without being swept away. Similarly, incorporating instant-speed buffs can quickly turn the tables on an unwary opponent, bolstering your creatures’ toughness in response to the spell. Another effective strategy is to employ counter spells or utilize abilities like hexproof to protect your key creatures from being targeted. Lastly, playing less into the board and maintaining a reserved creature presence can minimize the impact of Marsh Casualties, preserving your resources for a more opportune time to commit to the battlefield.

Understanding these strategies helps MTG players maintain resilience against board-wiping spells like Marsh Casualties. Proper deck building and tactical play are critical when facing this kind of disruption in order to navigate toward victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marsh Casualties MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Marsh Casualties and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Marsh Casualties Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2015-08-28. Illustrated by Scott Chou.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-10-02	Zendikar	ZEN	101	2003	Normal	Black	Scott Chou
2	2014-03-14	Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska	DDM	69	2003	Normal	Black	Scott Chou
3	2015-08-28	Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi	DDP	54	2015	Normal	Black	Scott Chou

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marsh Casualties has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal