Obliterate MTG Card


Obliterate offers card advantage by removing major game assets, putting opponents in a difficult position. It provides resource acceleration, leaving your hand untouched while depleting your opponent’s board presence. Its “cannot be countered” feature ensures the spell’s impact occurs without opposition interference.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Obliterate can't be countered. Destroy all artifacts, creatures, and lands. They can't be regenerated.

For his family, Barrin made a funeral pyre of Tolaria.


Cards like Obliterate

Obliterate stands out as a powerful spell destruction card amongst the MTG array. Notable comparisons can be drawn with Apocalypse and Decree of Annihilation, both sharing the mutual theme of destroying all permanents on the battlefield. However, Obliterate proves itself distinctive with its characteristic of not being counterable, hence presenting a unique advantage the other two miss out on.

Decree of Annihilation, albeit akin to Obliterate in function, operates at a higher mana cost, slowing the gameplay pace as opposed to Obliterate’s eight mana cost. Conversely, Apocalypse, another mighty contender in this comparison, shares an equal mana cost but requires a sacrifice from the player, draining them of handy resources unlike Obliterate.

In retrospect, when considering the attributes and assessing the value of different yet similar MTG cards, Obliterate not only matches but surpasses its competitors. Its unique non-counterable feature along with its reasonable mana cost and no player sacrifice requirements becomes a force to be reckoned with in the realm of destruction spell cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Decree of Annihilation - MTG Card versions
Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Decree of Annihilation - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Obliterate by color, type and mana cost

Insurrection - MTG Card versions
Warp World - MTG Card versions
Boom // Bust - MTG Card versions
Rough // Tumble - MTG Card versions
Scrambleverse - MTG Card versions
Alpha Brawl - MTG Card versions
Deathbellow War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fast // Furious - MTG Card versions
Goldwardens' Gambit - MTG Card versions
Dance with Calamity - MTG Card versions
Call Forth the Tempest - MTG Card versions
Insurrection - MTG Card versions
Warp World - MTG Card versions
Boom // Bust - MTG Card versions
Rough // Tumble - MTG Card versions
Scrambleverse - MTG Card versions
Alpha Brawl - MTG Card versions
Deathbellow War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fast // Furious - MTG Card versions
Goldwardens' Gambit - MTG Card versions
Dance with Calamity - MTG Card versions
Call Forth the Tempest - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Obliterate. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Azorius MiraclesAzorius Miracles Legacy95 / The 95th Legacy at Home
Balancing TingsBalancing Tings PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Obliterate spell allows for significant card advantage, as it destroys all artifacts, creatures, and lands. This puts your opponent at a substantial disadvantage, reducing their options in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Obliterate also greatly speeds up your resource acceleration. Your opponent loses their resources due to the spell, while your hand remains untouched, allowing you to deploy cards and progress more rapidly on the board.

Instant Speed: Though Obliterate is not an instant spell, it comes with an edge because of its “cannot be countered” clause. This trait generates a similar advantage as being played at instant speed, as your opponents cannot respond once you cast Obliterate, ensuring its devastating effect takes place on your terms.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obliterate doesn’t require the discard of a card, but it destroys all artifacts, creatures, and lands, leaving you with potential emptiness on your side of the field. You’ll have to be strategic to prevent this action having unrecoverable consequences on your game.

Specific Mana Cost: Containing both red and colorless mana in its casting cost, this may limit the card’s use to specific decks. Unless your deck is tailored to meet Obliterate’s specific mana cost, it could be a challenge to bring into play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Eight is a high cost even for a powerful effect like that of Obliterate. In the fast-paced world of MTG, paying such a significant amount can make this card a risky play. There are other, less harmful board wipes or targeted removals that could be played for less.


Reasons to Include Obliterate in Your Collection

Versatility: As a comprehensive board sweep, Obliterate provides immense utility numerous deck types. It can fit into red, white, and blue control decks, as well as jankier combo decks that love to reset the board.

Combo Potential: Obliterate clears the way for big threats. This card pairs well with creatures that have indestructible or hexproof, or effects that trigger upon the destruction of other cards, creating devastating combos.

Meta-Relevance: The current format heavily features creature and planeswalker-based strategies. In such a meta, Obliterate can act as a trump card, dismantling opponents’ heavily-invested boards while leaving your game-changers intact.


How to beat

Obliterate is an incredibly powerful card in MTG, capable of destroying all artifcats, creatures, and lands on the field. Its unique characteristic of not allowing for a counter makes it difficult to deal with, but there are strategies around it. Countermagic may be ruled out, but remember, strategies that involve cards leaving the battlefield might just be the trick.

Consider cards like Ghostway or Teferi’s Protection that can protect your creatures from the devastating effects of Obliterate. They’ll leave play and return unscathed after the spell resolves. Similarly, lands that have indestructibility, such as those bestowed by Heroic Intervention can also survive such an onslaught.

In essence, Obliterate is a potent card, but timely use of cards that use phased out or blink effects and land invulnerability can help you neutralise its powers and remain in a strong position in the game. The beauty of MTG is that even a most powerful card like Obliterate still has its counter, it just comes down to the way you strategically build and play your deck.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players seeking dynamic play and keen on deck-building strategies will find discussing Obliterate invaluable. With its capability to clear the board and turn the tide of gameplay, understanding its strengths and weaknesses is crucial. We recommend considering your deck’s capability to recover post-Obliterate and the right moment to play it for maximum impact. Ponder on its interaction with cards that protect your assets or that benefit from mass destruction. Whether it’s building around Obliterate’s potential or crafting a response to it, each card choice shapes your path to victory. Dive into our insights to make Obliterate a cornerstone in your winning strategy.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Obliterate MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Obliterate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Obliterate Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2016-08-19. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 1561997NormalBlackKev Walker
22001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 jt156sb1997NormalGoldKev Walker
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2042003NormalWhiteKev Walker
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 204★2003NormalBlackKev Walker
52016-08-19From the Vault: LoreV16 112015NormalBlackKev Walker
62020-09-26The ListPLST INV-1561997NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Obliterate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 Counterspells can be cast that target it, but when they resolve they simply don’t counter it since it can’t be countered.