Oust MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 40
2015-08-28 - Number 7
2019-11-07 - Number 190
2024-02-23 - Number 67
2020-09-26 - Number DDP-7
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Put target creature into its owner's library second from the top. Its controller gains 3 life.
"'Invincible' is just a word." —Gideon Jura
Cards like Oust
Oust is an intriguing card in the realm of temporary removal spells in Magic the Gathering. It finds its peers in cards like Path to Exile, which permanently exiles a creature while granting that creature’s controller a land. Oust, by contrast, tucks a creature into its owner’s library just a few cards deep and grants them a bit of life, offering a unique twist by only delaying the threat rather than removing it completely.
Condemn is another comparable card; it’s cost-effective like Oust and puts the creature on the bottom of its owner’s library, but it only targets attacking creatures. Then there is Journey to Nowhere, providing a more permanent solution by exiling the creature until Journey to Nowhere leaves the battlefield. Although Journey to Nowhere can deal with any creature regardless of its actions, the threat might return if the enchantment is removed.
When examining their effects and strategic advantages, Oust has its niche for temporarily dealing with early-game threats or disrupting your opponent’s draw, which can be decisively advantageous in MTG’s intricate duel of wits and resources.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Oust. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4c Omnath | Modern | 4/5c Omnath | Modern Preliminary 2024-05-06 |
 | Tron | Modern | Tron | Modern League 2024-03-26 |
 | Five-Color Creativity | Modern | Indomitable Creativity | *HALF PRICE FRIDAY* $5K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 1:00 pm |
| Indomitable Creativity | Modern | Indomitable Creativity | Modern Preliminary 2024-03-27 (1) |
 | LIBOR & Taxes | Free form | d00mwake's Pure Modern 5 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Oust offers a unique twist on card advantage by temporarily removing a creature from the battlefield and placing it into the opponent’s deck. This action effectively reduces the opponent’s field presence while delaying their next potentially useful draw.
Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens directly, Oust can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. It allows you to deal with early threats without spending multiple cards and can help to ensure that you’re making the most efficient use of your mana each turn.
Instant Speed: Although Oust is a sorcery, its ability to reshape the battlefield during your turn can be just as crucial. By being able to send back early-game creatures, it provides a pivotal tempo swing in your favor, setting up your strategy while disrupting your opponent’s development.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Oust doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, it’s worth noting that removing a creature only temporarily often means you’ll have to deal with it again later. This can feel like a lost card advantage, particularly if your opponent can benefit from the creature entering the battlefield another time.
Specific Mana Cost: Oust demands a specific mana allocation with one white mana in its cost. This restricts its inclusion to decks that run white or have a dependable mana base to accommodate white spells, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across multiple deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing one white mana may seem low, it’s important to consider the opportunity cost of using Oust over other one-mana removal spells. Some alternatives may permanently deal with threats, making Oust’s tempo play less appealing when you need a definitive answer to a threat on the board.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Oust is a card that seamlessly slips into a wide array of white decks thanks to its ability to handle early-game threats. Whether you’re piloting a control or tempo deck, the flexibility to temporarily remove an opponent’s creature can be invaluable.
Combo Potential: It can be a key piece in a strategy focusing on life-loss effects. With Oust, not only do you set back your opponent’s board, but you also ensure their next draw doesn’t improve their situation, which could combo well with library manipulation tactics.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive creature decks are prevalent, Oust finds its place by disrupting early rushes and giving you the time needed to stabilize your board and set up a counter-strategy.
How to beat
Oust is a unique displacement spell that offers players a temporary respite from formidable creatures on the battlefield. By sending a creature back to its owner’s library, it effectively delays a threat, also causing a slight life gain to the opponent. When facing off against Oust, patience is your ally. It’s pivotal to wait until your creature’s impact isn’t easily thwarted by shuffling it back into your library. Playing creatures with enter the battlefield effects can mitigate the tempo loss, ensuring you still gain value when replaying them.
Another strategy is to apply continuous pressure, forcing the Oust holder to waste the spell on a less significant threat. Utilizing spells like Duress can preemptively remove Oust from your opponent’s hand, clearing a path for your more vital creatures to enter the fray unimpeded. Similarly, employing graveyard retrieval tactics can help circumvent the temporary setback by pulling your creatures from the graveyard after they’ve been drawn and played again. Ultimately, knowing when to commit to the board and leveraging your deck’s inherent strengths can turn the tide against Oust.
As a versatile option in a multitude of decks, Oust’s ability to disturb the pace of an opponent’s game plan can’t be underestimated. However, when dissecting the means to outmaneuver this spell, there are effective methods to dilute its influence within a game context.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Oust MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi, 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 Oust and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Oust Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Mike Bierek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 40 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | |
| 2 | 2015-08-28 | Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi | DDP | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 190 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDP-7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | ||
| 5 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 67 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Oust has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Oust card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | If the targeted creature is a token, it will cease to exist after it’s put into its owner’s library. |
| 2010-06-15 | If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time Oust resolves, the spell doesn’t resolve. No one gains life. |
| 2010-06-15 | If the targeted creature’s owner has no cards left in their library, that creature is put into that library as the only card there. |
| 2010-06-15 | If the targeted creature’s owner has one or more cards in their library, that creature is put into that library directly under the top card. |
| 2010-06-15 | Note that the creature’s controller, not its owner, is the one who gains life. |