Morgul-Knife Wound MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 549
2023-06-23 - Number 98
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets -3/-0 and has "At the beginning of your upkeep, exile this creature unless you pay 2 life."
Frodo felt a pain like a dart of poisoned ice pierce his left shoulder.
Cards like Morgul-Knife Wound
Morgul-Knife Wound joins the assortment of targeted removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. It finds its peers in cards like Shock, which similarly delivers damage straight to a creature or player. What makes Morgul-Knife Wound stand out is its potential lingering effect on a creature, a threat that can deter opponents from deploying their most valuable creatures prematurely.
Directly compared to Lightning Strike, Morgul-Knife Wound might appear less forceful due to Lightning Strike’s ability to impact the game instantly with a single burst of damage. However, Morgul-Knife Wound’s ongoing damage output can accumulate over time, applying continuous pressure. Another comparable card would be Dead Weight, a card known for giving a creature a static debuff. Morgul-Knife Wound provides flexibility, chipping away at a creature’s vitality each turn, which can turn the tides in a prolonged game.
Through this lens, Morgul-Knife Wound offers a unique approach to creature control. It doesn’t just remove threats instantly but sets the stage for strategic long-term play, potentially aligning well with decks that thrive on attrition and gradual advantage.
Cards similar to Morgul-Knife Wound by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Morgul-Knife Wound plays a crucial role in tipping the balance of card advantage in your favor. By potentially removing a key threat from the battlefield, it ensures that you maintain superiority in the number of effective cards at your disposal without necessarily losing a resource yourself.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing a boost in resources, Morgul-Knife Wound is cost-effective, allowing you to allocate mana efficiently and keep pace with the resource acceleration of the game. It paves the way for a better use of your available resources by preserving the ones that would otherwise be spent on more costly removal options.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Morgul-Knife Wound at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, permitting you to react promptly to threats. This adaptability gives you the upper hand, keeping your adversaries on their toes and allowing you to optimize your turns more effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Morgul-Knife Wound requires the player to discard a card upon usage, which can be taxing particularly in the late game when each card in hand is vital.
Specific Mana Cost: This card is constrained by its color-specific mana requirements, meaning that it can only be optimally used in decks that generate the necessary type of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Morgul-Knife Wound, players might find the cost somewhat steep for the effect it provides, especially when compared to other options that inflict damage or offer control with less of a mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Morgul-Knife Wound offers a flexible choice for decks that aim to deal damage over time. Its ability to attach to creatures of any color makes it a universal fit for a range of strategies, enabling consistent performance across various matchups.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with effects that maximize the number of wounds or capitalize on damage triggers. It can be part of a larger strategy focusing on incrementally weakening opponents’ creatures or even as a tool in a deck that seeks to claim victory through indirect damage sources.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players utilize creatures with a high impact, Morgul-Knife Wound can serve as a deterrent or an answer to such threats. As it gradually whittles down opposing creatures, it can disrupt opponents’ plans and maintain your edge in creature matchups.
How to beat
Morgul-Knife Wound introduces a unique challenge for players navigating the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This card’s ability can be a persistent nuisance, slowly whittling down an opponent’s life total. To effectively counteract the impact of Morgul-Knife Wound, it’s essential to employ strategies that neutralize its draining effect or remove it from play outright.
Consider including enchantment removal in your deck, as this will directly address the threat posed by Morgul-Knife Wound. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant are classic examples, efficiently disposing of problematic enchantments for a low mana cost. Alternatively, you might consider using life gain strategies to outpace the life loss, utilizing cards like Life Goes On or Authority of the Consuls to maintain your life total despite the wound’s drain.
It’s also worth noting that Morgul-Knife Wound’s effect is incremental and may allow for a window of opportunity to secure victory before its cumulative impact becomes too great. Prioritizing aggressive tactics or seeking a quick combo finish can outpace the damage done. In summary, a combination of enchantment removal, life gain, and swift offensive strategies can turn the tide against Morgul-Knife Wound, nullifying its influence and paving the way to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Morgul-Knife Wound MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Morgul-Knife Wound and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Morgul-Knife Wound Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Axel Sauerwald.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 549 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Axel Sauerwald | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Axel Sauerwald |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Morgul-Knife Wound has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Morgul-Knife Wound card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | The creature's controller chooses whether or not to pay 2 life as the triggered ability resolves. |