Rend Spirit MTG Card

Great for removing non-spirit creatures, Rend Spirit enhances your control over the game’s momentum. Cost-effective and instant speed, it allows for efficient resource management and surprise plays. Demands careful use due to its mana specificity and the required card discard for casting.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Number	141
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Stephen Tappin

Text of card

Destroy target Spirit.

"The battle at Ganzan Pass was a testament to human endurance. The untrained and frightened group escaped three legions of kami, leaving more than their share of slain foes in their wake." —*Great Battles of Kamigawa*

Cards like Rend Spirit

Rend Spirit is an intriguing spell removal option within the vast repertoire of creature destruction cards in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its closest comparison in cards such as Terror, another spell that destroys target non-artifact, non-black creature at a lower cost. What sets Rend Spirit apart is its ability to destroy any non-Spirit creature, giving it a slight edge in games where Spirits are prevalent.

Moving along similar lines, we encounter Doom Blade, a popular and cost-effective removal card that targets non-black creatures. It shares Rend Spirit’s mana efficiency but is limited by its color specificity. On the spectral side, Nameless Inversion offers flexibility, as it can deal with creatures regardless of color or type and is also a Spirit spell, which can be relevant for tribal synergies.

When comparing these options, Rend Spirit holds its ground. It may not be the cheapest or the most versatile in all situations, but in the right deck, particularly one focusing on Spirit tribal interactions, it could offer just the strategic advantage needed. This nuanced utility in specific scenarios underlines the card’s potential place in MTG strategies involving creature control.

Cards similar to Rend Spirit by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rend Spirit is known for its ability to seamlessly remove a key creature from your opponent’s board, helping to disrupt their strategy and bolster your position. This capability can often swing the momentum in your favor, tipping the scales towards a victory.

Resource Acceleration: While Rend Spirit doesn’t directly produce mana or accelerate resources, its cost-effectiveness aids in resource management, allowing you to efficiently deal with threats while progressing your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The flexibility offered by Rend Spirit’s instant speed is invaluable. This attribute grants the savvy player the choice to act during the opponent’s turn, thus preserving the element of surprise and enabling strategic plays that can dismantle an opponent’s carefully laid plans.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rend Spirit necessitates discarding a card from your hand, which can deplete your pool of options especially when you’re in need of maintaining card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both black and generic mana to cast, potentially restricting its integration in multi-colored or colorless decks where mana consistency is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring substantial mana investment for its destructive capabilities, when evaluated against other removal spells in the game, Rend Spirit’s cost-effectiveness can be questioned.

Reasons to Include Rend Spirit in Your Collection

Versatility: Rend Spirit is a removal spell that can target a broad spectrum of creatures in the game, especially those that are spirit or arcane-themed. It’s a useful addition to sideboards or main decks that need extra destruction spells.

Combo Potential: For decks that leverage removal for larger strategies, such as those triggering on death effects or casting multiple spells in one turn, Rend Spirit adds value by fulfilling multiple roles without wasting card slots.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where spirits or arcane cards are prevalent, Rend Spirit’s specific targeting can offer a strategic edge. Its inclusion can efficiently counter popular decks that rely on these types of cards.

How to beat Rend Spirit

Rend Spirit is a targeted removal spell in MTG that can be quite effective against non-Spirit creatures. To mitigate its impact, players can employ several strategies. Having an array of Spirit creatures in your deck prevents Rend Spirit from being a valid threat. It’s also wise to hold back key creatures until after your opponent has used their Rend Spirit, particularly if you sense they might be holding this card.

Additionally, deck builds that utilize graveyard recovery can quickly reincorporate creatures taken out by this spell. Cards like Reclaim or Eternal Witness allow you to retrieve fallen non-Spirit allies from your graveyard. Lastly, countering Rend Spirit with spells like Cancel or Negate ensures your key creatures remain safely on the battlefield while potentially wasting an opponent’s turn.

In essence, navigating around Rend Spirit requires a blend of tactical creature deployment, employing resilient or untargetable creatures, and utilizing countermeasures to maintain a strong field presence against opponent removal actions.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rend Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Rend Spirit and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rend Spirit has restrictions

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