Witness the End MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Devoid
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Number	82
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Igor Kieryluk

Key Takeaways

Causes substantial card disadvantage by making an opponent discard two cards and exiling one from their library.
Can hinder opponent’s plans, but has higher mana cost compared to similar discard spells.
Has specific deck synergy, particularly benefical in black-control strategies and the current meta.

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) Target opponent exiles two cards from his or her hand and loses 2 life.

"Ulamog stood before us at Sea Gate, ready to succumb . . . and then Kozilek arose. Whatever hope I had for our world died." —Vandri, Kalastria emissary

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Witness the End, you cause your opponent to discard two cards while also exiling the top card of their library, tipping the balance of card presence in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it effectively slows down your opponent’s resource flow by discarding potentially key pieces of their strategy, which can put you ahead in the race for board dominance.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Witness the End might not be cast at instant speed, but its strategic impact during your turn can be substantial. Timing this play right after an opponent’s draw can potentially eliminate the new options they’ve just acquired, thereby optimizing its disruptive power.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Witness the End requires the opponent to discard two cards which could sometimes be less impactful, especially if the opponent has a strategy to benefit from card discard or an empty hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s casting cost necessitates two black mana, potentially restricting it to decks with a strong black mana base and making it challenging to cast in multicolored decks not focused around black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana (two colorless and two black), Witness the End is a cost-heavy choice for its effect, which could put the player at a tempo disadvantage when other lower cost options for discard effects are available.

Reasons to Include Witness the End in Your Collection

Versatility: Witness the End is a card that fits seamlessly into several black decks, particularly those that are controlling in nature and look to disrupt the opponent’s hand.

Combo Potential: This card can work well in tandem with other discard mechanics or graveyard-based strategies, amplifying the effect of losing resources not just from hand, but also from the game entirely.

Meta-Relevance: Given the speed and efficiency of many decks in the current landscape, being able to strip key cards from your opponent’s hand while also exiling them can be a crucial move to gain an upper hand.

How to beat

“Witness the End” is a card that presents a tactical challenge with its ability to lead to card advantage through forcing an opponent to discard. Unlike some card removal effects in Magic: The Gathering, “Witness the End” targets the player directly and exiles cards, making it more difficult to recover the cards that are lost. Despite this, there are strategies one can employ to mitigate the impact of “Witness the End.”

To combat the card, consider playing decks that benefit from having cards in the graveyard or that have a high card draw rate. This way, the cards discarded could serve a purpose later in the game, or the loss can be rapidly compensated by drawing new cards. Additionally, cards with madness or similar effects can also turn a forced discard into an unexpected advantage. Keeping a low hand size can also lessen the blow, ensuring “Witness the End” doesn’t hit its maximum potential. Lastly, instant-speed interaction can disrupt your opponent’s timing, making it essential to manage your resources wisely against such control tactics.

Understanding how “Witness the End” fits within the broader metagame and preparing your deck accordingly can significantly increase your resilience against this powerful discard spell.

Cards like Witness the End

Witness the End is a compelling spell in MTG that delves into the strategic space of targeted player discard. It draws parallels to other cards like Coercion, which also allows the controller to peek at an opponent’s hand and pick a card to discard. However, Witness the End brings a slightly different twist with its ability to make the opponent discard two cards instead of one, albeit at a higher mana cost.

Within the same thematic sphere, we encounter Mind Rot. Like Witness the End, it enforces a two-card discard upon your adversary. Mind Rot does this at a lower individual cost but lacks the additional loss of life that Witness the End inflicts. Then there’s Unburden, a similar spell that can be cycled away, providing flexibility absent in Witness the End, which remains solely a potent discard instrument.

While evaluating these spells, it becomes clear that Witness the End has its niche in MTG, particularly for those looking to combine the traditional discard strategy with a bit of direct life total pressure on the opponent.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Witness the End MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Witness the End and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Witness the End has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-01-22	If that player has only one card in hand, that card will be exiled. If the player has no cards in hand, no cards will be exiled, but they will still lose 2 life.