Merciless Repurposing MTG Card


Provides card advantage by retrieving two artifacts or creatures from your graveyard to your hand. Instant speed allows for strategic plays and mana untapping, enhancing gameplay adaptability. Its mana acceleration potential makes it a key card for ramping up and sustaining board control.
Merciless Repurposing - March of the Machine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Incubate,Transform
Released2023-04-21
Set symbol
Set nameMarch of the Machine
Set codeMOM
Number117
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byArtur Nakhodkin

Text of card

Exile target creature. Incubate 3. (Create an Incubator token with three +1/+1 counters on it and ": Transform this artifact." It transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.)

As the harvesters bore away the last of his limbs, what remained of Urabrask heard Elesh Norn say, "Leave the traitor be."


Cards like Merciless Repurposing

Merciless Repurposing stands out in the arsenal of removal options available in Magic: The Gathering. It reflects similarities with other cards that convert creatures to new advantages, such as Bone Splinters. The latter requires the sacrifice of a creature as well, yet it doesn’t offer the card draw that Merciless Repurposing provides, making the former a potential game-changer in tight situations.

Altar’s Reap is another card with qualities akin to Merciless Repurposing, sharing the sacrificial aspect along with card draw. Nonetheless, Altar’s Reap asks for an immediate creature sacrifice without inflicting damage to another creature or planeswalker, placing Merciless Repurposing in a more versatile position. On another note, Village Rites also allows the caster to draw cards at the expense of a creature; however, the absence of direct damage gives Merciless Repurposing a considerable edge when looking to remove threats on the board while replenishing your hand.

Despite these similarities, Merciless Repurposing delivers a unique combination of targeted removal and card advantage, showcasing its potential value within specific strategies. It cleverly merges sacrifice with destruction and strategic depth, making it an interesting option for players looking to efficiently deal with opponents’ creatures or planeswalkers.

Bone Splinters - MTG Card versions
Altar's Reap - MTG Card versions
Village Rites - MTG Card versions
Bone Splinters - MTG Card versions
Altar's Reap - MTG Card versions
Village Rites - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Merciless Repurposing by color, type and mana cost

Spinning Darkness - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Decree - MTG Card versions
Betrayal of Flesh - MTG Card versions
Murderous Spoils - MTG Card versions
Pull Under - MTG Card versions
Dark Withering - MTG Card versions
Haunting Hymn - MTG Card versions
Death Rattle - MTG Card versions
Nemesis Trap - MTG Card versions
Public Execution - MTG Card versions
Grip of Desolation - MTG Card versions
Curtains' Call - MTG Card versions
Eyes of the Beholder - MTG Card versions
Topaz Dragon // Entropic Cloud - MTG Card versions
Spinning Darkness - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Decree - MTG Card versions
Betrayal of Flesh - MTG Card versions
Murderous Spoils - MTG Card versions
Pull Under - MTG Card versions
Dark Withering - MTG Card versions
Haunting Hymn - MTG Card versions
Death Rattle - MTG Card versions
Nemesis Trap - MTG Card versions
Public Execution - MTG Card versions
Grip of Desolation - MTG Card versions
Curtains' Call - MTG Card versions
Eyes of the Beholder - MTG Card versions
Topaz Dragon // Entropic Cloud - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Merciless Repurposing presents the opportunity to filch through your graveyard, selecting two of your artifacts or creature cards to return to your hand. It’s a valuable asset for recouping resources and maintaining an upper hand against your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does the card offer the potential to reclaim strategic pieces from the graveyard, but it also facilitates mana growth. By returning key artifacts, you can set the stage for ramping up your mana availability for future turns, paving the way to deploy more powerful spells or creatures ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The versatility of being an instant cannot be overstated. Merciless Repurposing allows you to navigate your strategy with adaptability, keeping your mana untapped until the moment is ripe for disrupting your opponent’s strategy or for making a move at the end of their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Merciless Repurposing necessitates the forfeiting of a card from your hand, which can be particularly constrictive when you’re working with a smaller hand size. At times when every card counts, this requirement can hinder your game plan, forcing tough decisions about resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s demand for a precise mana configuration, can be restrictive. Not only does it call for two black mana, but it also requires an additional colorless mana, which can be challenging for multicolor decks to generate efficiently, especially in the early game phases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential for turning the tides of a game, Merciless Repurposing’s cost is not insubstantial. With a total of three mana required, its impact needs to be weighed against other options within the same mana range, which may offer either more immediate impact or do not mandate additional sacrifices on the player’s part.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Merciless Repurposing boasts a flexibility that allows it to slot into various decks. Its potential to upcycle creatures or artifacts from the graveyard directly into on-field presence makes it a valuable asset in strategies revolving around sacrifice and recursion.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous possibilities for synergy, particularly in decks that capitalize on death triggers or those that harness the power of new tokens. The life-drain effect can also serve as a win condition when looped effectively.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where recovery and resilience are key, Merciless Repurposing offers a means to maintain board presence and disrupt opponents. Its interaction with popular graveyard-based strategies makes it a tactical inclusion in many competitive scenarios.


How to beat

Merciless Repurposing can be a tricky card to play against in the Magic: The Gathering landscape, particularly when it’s skillfully wielded to disrupt your board presence. This card allows a player to exile a creature card from their graveyard and create a token copy, often swinging the momentum in their favor. To effectively counteract this, it’s essential to limit the number of creatures your opponent can get into their graveyard. Graveyard management tools, like containment spells or artifacts that exile upon death, can be particularly useful. Utilizing cards that offer graveyard hate, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can neutralize Merciless Repurposing’s impact by denying your opponent the necessary resources to fuel their strategy.

Control decks can also impede the success of Merciless Repurposing. With a well-timed counterspell or instant removal, you can prevent key creatures from hitting the graveyard in the first place. This keeps your opponent’s graveyard barren and their options for creating token copies limited. Consequently, solid strategy, precise timing, plus keen awareness of your opponent’s graveyard will ensure Merciless Repurposing doesn’t tip the scales against you.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Merciless Repurposing MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Merciless Repurposing and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Merciless Repurposing has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 If the target of Merciless Repurposing is illegal as the spell tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t incubate.