Ruinous Intrusion MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Ruinous Intrusion excels at disrupting opponent strategies with its card advantage and exile ability.
  2. Efficient mana cost and instant speed make it a highly responsive play in various scenarios.
  3. Despite its power, the need for specific mana can hinder its integration into some decks.

Text of card

Exile target artifact or enchantment. Put X +1/+1 counters on target creature you control, where X is the mana value of the permanent exiled this way.

The gourd carving was supposed to take place *after* the feast.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ruinous Intrusion shines in providing card advantage by exiling a nonland permanent, which can disrupt your opponent’s board while simultaneously drawing you a card if the exiled card’s mana value is 4 or greater. This can pivot the game in your favor by maintaining pressure and card flow.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s intrinsically efficient cost allows for a quick play, and the potential card draw leads to a form of indirect resource acceleration. By potentially thinning your deck and drawing into more impactful cards, you can accelerate your game plan considerably.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Ruinous Intrusion allows for versatile plays. Hold back mana during your turn and wait for the opportune moment to disrupt the opponent’s strategy. Its instant speed also enables surprise interactions during your opponent’s turn, keeping them on their toes and unable to commit to an all-in strategy without considering the potential for Ruinous Intrusion to foil their plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Forcing the player to discard a card, Ruinous Intrusion can be a challenging play for those already struggling with hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana, needing both generic and colored mana, which might not align with the mana curve in some decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Ruinous Intrusion carries a relatively steep mana cost for its effects, which could be a deterrence, especially when alternative cards with lower mana costs or more impactful outcomes are available in the expansive MTG card pool.


Reasons to Include Ruinous Intrusion in Your Collection

Versatility: Ruinous Intrusion offers a unique ability to disrupt opponent’s strategies in a variety of matchups. It’s a card that can be seamlessly integrated into decks that aim to control the board and maintain tempo.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders in decks that key off of creature exile effects or benefit from denying resources to the opponent. Its interaction with exile synergies could open up new strategies and enhance existing ones.

Meta-Relevance: Given its power to remove key components from an opponent’s game plan, Ruinous Intrusion can be especially effective in a meta where creatures or graveyards play a pivotal role. Its inclusion could tilt the scales in your favor during crucial moments of play.


How to beat

Ruinous Intrusion presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This card, often found in decks that manipulate counters and play with the +1/+1 theme, can disrupt your game plan if not addressed promptly. To effectively navigate against this threat, focus on countering its activation or minimizing its effects. Playing instant speed removal can be crucial, as it allows you to respond before your opponent leverages those additional counters to their advantage. Moreover, incorporating cards that neutralize abilities or provide hexproof can safeguard your key pieces from being targeted, thereby maintaining your board state against such incursions.

Utilizing cards that strip away counters can also mitigate the influence of Ruinous Intrusion. Denying resources and keeping the opponent’s creatures at bay limit the card’s potential impact. Furthermore, plan to manage your own threats sensibly; avoid over-committing to the board if you anticipate this card coming into play. Adaptive deck-building and strategic gameplay can help you overcome the hurdles posed by Ruinous Intrusion, ensuring your position in the game remains solid and unaffected by your opponent’s strategies.

By considering and preparing for the possibilities that Ruinous Intrusion brings to the game, you can maintain control and eventually steer the match to a victorious conclusion. It’s about being one step ahead in anticipating and dismantling your opponent’s moves.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is a constant evolution, with every card like Ruinous Intrusion offering a new dimension to your strategies. The card’s ability to exile, disrupt, and potentially draw complements a dynamic game plan, carving a path to victory even in tightly contested matches. While it poses challenges, adept players will find Ruinous Intrusion a valuable asset, especially in a meta that praises versatility and card advantage. Contemplate its potential within your deck’s strategy and you may discover untapped potential waiting to be unleashed. Enhance your gameplay and adapt to an ever-changing battlefield. Dive deeper with us as we unravel the power of strategic card play and smart deck building.


Cards like Ruinous Intrusion

Ruinous Intrusion is an intriguing card that deserves a closer look when considering removal options in MTG. When you validate it against other removal spells, it clearly has its own niche. For example, compare it with Vindicate, a reliable removal that targets any permanent without the benefit of exploring. Ruinous Intrusion offers a specific exile effect focused on artifact creatures and enchantments, with the added exploration to potentially land an extra card in your hand or a land on the battlefield.

Another card worth mentioning is Revoke Existence, which also exiles artifact and enchantment cards, but it doesn’t provide the exploration bonus that Ruinous Intrusion grants, and is therefore more limited in potential card advantage. On the other hand, we have Naturalize, known for its straightforward instant-speed destruction of artifacts and enchantments, which lacks the exiling effect and the exploration upside present in Ruinous Intrusion.

While each card has its own pros and cons, Ruinous Intrusion stands out with its ability to potentially alter your deck’s dynamic by introducing additional resources. This can be a game-changer in matches where tempo and card advantage are pivotal. This makes Ruinous Intrusion a staple consideration in decks that favour its particular blend of removal and exploration.

Vindicate - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Vindicate - Apocalypse (APC)
Revoke Existence - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Naturalize - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Ruinous Intrusion by color, type and mana cost

Storm Seeker - MTG Card versions
Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Venomous Breath - MTG Card versions
Lure of Prey - MTG Card versions
Snag - MTG Card versions
Might of Oaks - MTG Card versions
Elephant Ambush - MTG Card versions
Kamahl's Will - MTG Card versions
Dragonscale Boon - MTG Card versions
Bloodscent - MTG Card versions
Mystic Melting - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invocation - MTG Card versions
Heal the Scars - MTG Card versions
Gloomwidow's Feast - MTG Card versions
Momentous Fall - MTG Card versions
Living Destiny - MTG Card versions
Slice in Twain - MTG Card versions
Carrion Call - MTG Card versions
Blunt the Assault - MTG Card versions
Fresh Meat - MTG Card versions
Storm Seeker - Masters Edition (ME1)
Trailblazer - Ice Age (ICE)
Venomous Breath - Ice Age (ICE)
Lure of Prey - Mirage (MIR)
Snag - Prophecy (PCY)
Might of Oaks - Magic 2010 (M10)
Elephant Ambush - Odyssey (ODY)
Kamahl's Will - Commander Legends (CMR)
Dragonscale Boon - The List (PLST)
Bloodscent - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Mystic Melting - Coldsnap (CSP)
Stonewood Invocation - Time Spiral (TSP)
Heal the Scars - Lorwyn (LRW)
Gloomwidow's Feast - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Momentous Fall - Jumpstart (JMP)
Living Destiny - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Slice in Twain - Commander 2019 (C19)
Carrion Call - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander (ONC)
Blunt the Assault - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Fresh Meat - Commander 2019 (C19)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ruinous Intrusion MTG card by a specific set like Midnight Hunt Commander and Midnight Hunt Commander, 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 Ruinous Intrusion and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ruinous Intrusion Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 282015normalblackJohann Bodin
22021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 662015normalblackJohann Bodin
32023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2552015normalblackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ruinous Intrusion has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-09-24 Use the permanent's characteristics as it last existed on the battlefield to determine the value of X.

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