Crash MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Number	186
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Doug Chaffee

Key Takeaways

Crash offers game-changing card advantage and controls the pace by removing opponents’ key resources.
Instant speed of Crash allows for flexible disruption, giving players a substantial tactical edge.
Despite its advantages, Crash’s required discard and specific mana costs can limit its use.

Text of card

You may sacrifice a mountain instead of paying Crash's mana cost. Destroy target artifact.

Gerrard shook his head as the ground rushed to meet him. "This," he thought, "is not the start I was hoping for."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The strength of Crash in your deck revolves around its potential to disrupt your opponent’s strategy while maintaining your card flow. By targeting their key artifacts or enchantments, you’re effectively removing their resources while preserving yours, leading to a pivotal shift in control of the game’s pace.

Resource Acceleration: Crash brings more to the table than just removal. It provides you with an opportunity to accelerate your resources. By using Crash to dismantle an opponent’s mana-generating artifact, you’re not just impeding their development but potentially opening the door for your own strategic plays without losing momentum.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Crash is where its versatility shines. Being able to cast it during your opponent’s turn grants you the flexibility to disrupt their plays as they happen. This tactical advantage ensures that your resources are allocated efficiently, and you can react to threats immediately, keeping your opponents on their toes and giving you the upper hand in the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Crash card calls for the player to discard another card from their hand, which can lead to a precarious situation if hand size is already depleted or if the playable options are critical for upcoming turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Crash necessitates a precise mana arrangement that may not always align with multicolor decks craving versatility. This can pigeonhole the card to decks that can reliably produce the necessary mana hues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Possessing a mana cost that could be deemed steep relative to the card’s impact on the game, Crash might often be passed over for more cost-effective alternatives, especially in an environment where resources are of the essence and faster plays are pivotal.

Reasons to Include Crash in Your Collection

Versatility: Crash adds value to decks that aim to dismantle opponent strategies by targeting key artifacts or enchantments. This makes it a practical choice for sideboards and main decks alike.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that capitalize on the destruction of permanents or benefit from it, Crash can be a linchpin for turning the tides in a game, particularly in a deck that functions on synergistic destruction.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of artifact or enchantment-based strategies in many competitive formats, Crash can be an effective and cost-efficient tool for players to disrupt their opponents’ plans and maintain the upper hand in matches.

How to Beat

Overcoming the card Crash in Magic: The Gathering requires a strategic approach. Given its direct damage ability, able to dismantle creatures or planeswalkers, it is vital to employ methods that counter or neutralize instant spells. One of the most straightforward tactics is to use counter spells to prevent Crash from resolving. Cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can be particularly effective against such disruptive instant spells.

Another way to dull the impact of Crash is by utilizing hexproof or indestructible creatures. Since Crash targets a single creature or planeswalker, creatures with hexproof are immune to its effect. Meanwhile, those with indestructible, like Darksteel Myr, are unaffected by the damage Crash deals. The key is to anticipate your opponent’s moves, maintaining a lineup that can either counteract or endure the blow from a spell of this nature.

Adapting your strategy to manage and ultimately survive your opponent’s instants is crucial. By carefully choosing your cards and predicting potential threats like Crash, you can preserve your forces and outlast your opponent’s direct attacks, keeping you securely in the game.

Cards like Crash

Crash is a niche yet impactful card in the arsenal of Magic: The Gathering spells aimed at resource disruption. It bears resemblance to cards like Naturalize that also show prowess in destroying artifacts and enchantments. However, Crash shines with its sheer efficiency due to its ability to target artifacts exclusively and at no cost if you control a mountain. Naturalize doesn’t boast this same level of precision or the potential cost reduction.

Shattering Spree echoes Crash in its objective to dismantle artifacts, presenting a replicated effect that can escalate the destruction beyond a single target. Although it’s restricted to destroying artifacts, unlike Naturalize, the scalability of Shattering Spree is worthy of note, often able to deal with multiple threats in one swoop. Then we have Vandalblast, which for its overload cost can wipe out all artifacts your opponents control in one definitive play, offering unparalleled value in multiplayer games. While not cost-free like Crash under specific conditions, the sweeping nature of Vandalblast gives it a distinct situational advantage.

Each of these spells caters to different game strategies and mana curves, making Crash a formidable option within Magic: The Gathering for players looking to efficiently manage opponents’ artifacts while optimizing their mana usage.

Cards similar to Crash by color, type and mana cost

Merchant of the Vale // Haggle - MTG Card versions

Path of Anger's Flame - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crash MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Crash and other MTG cards: