Savage Smash MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 203
2024-04-19 - Number 53
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Fight |
Text of card
Target creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn. It fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)
A Gruul berserker is never unarmed.
Cards like Savage Smash
Savage Smash stands out in MTG as a quintessential fight spell with a twist that buffs your creature before the tussle. Comparable to Prey Upon, a fundamental fight card, Savage Smash adds to the formula with a +2/+2 bonus to your creature until end of turn, making it more impactful in creature-heavy strategies. Unlike Prey Upon, your creature becomes a considerable threat during that phase of the game, potentially swinging battles in your favor.
Another parallel can be drawn with Pit Fight, offering instant-speed interaction which Savage Smash lacks, as it is a sorcery. The instant advantage with Pit Fight permits reactive plays during your opponent’s turn, a tactical edge not afforded by Savage Smash. However, Pit Fight does not empower your creature, making Savage Smash preferable when the plan involves a more aggressive creature approach. Lastly, comparing it to Domri’s Ambush, a similar effect that also puts a +1/+1 counter on the creature as part of its effect, Savage Smash requires no specific mana color, making it more flexible in multicolored decks.
Overall, while each card has its own merits based on the strategy and deck construction, Savage Smash provides a robust combination of creature enhancement and enemy creature removal, marking its territory in the realm of creature interaction spells in MTG.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elevates board presence by allowing a creature not only to survive a battle but to also come out stronger, potentially removing an opponent’s creature in the process.
Resource Acceleration: Boosts your creature’s power, assisting in quicker damage delivery to opponents or their creatures, potentially clearing the way for direct attacks on an opponent’s life total.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Savage Smash sets up your next attack phase by engaging an opponent’s creature on your terms, during your turn, allowing for strategic planning of your assault.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Savage Smash doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, its best use often comes in decks with creatures that benefit from fighting. If you’re out of creatures or low on cards, Savage Smash loses value, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Savage Smash asks for both green and red mana, making it exclusive for Gruul or multicolored decks. This requirement could hinder deck flexibility, as it can’t fit into mono-colored or decks without these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana might seem reasonable, but in the fast-paced format of MTG, you might find yourself falling behind. Many spells at a similar cost can change the game’s landscape more significantly, making Savage Smash feel costly for its effect.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Savage Smash offers players a unique blend of creature removal and power-boosting for any creature-heavy deck. Its dual functionality makes it a potentially game-changing play, whether you’re strengthening your board presence or taking out key threats from your opponent.
Combo Potential: When paired with creatures that have abilities triggered upon dealing damage, such as enrage or lifelink, Savage Smash can be a critical combo piece. It also synergizes with cards that benefit from combat victories, bolstering their effects significantly.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based decks are prominent, Savage Smash gains additional importance. It serves as a cost-effective way to sway the battlefield in your favor, making it a considerable choice for adapting to creature-dominant environments and dealing with larger threats effectively.
How to beat
Savage Smash stands out as a robust combat trick in the engaging world of Magic: The Gathering, particularly within the Gruul clans domain. This spell not only powers up your creature but simultaneously weakens an opponent’s creature, often ensuring a devastating outcome in a battle. To counteract this aggressive card, one strategy is to hold up removal spells that can be cast in response to Savage Smash. By eliminating the targeted creature before Savage Smash resolves, you turn what could be a game-altering moment into a negligible impact.
Beyond removals, having creatures with indestructible or hexproof can also serve as a formidable defense. Savage Smash requires a viable target to cast, and if your creatures are impervious to such effects, you can easily negate the potential threat. Counter spells yet play a decisive role against Savage Smash, especially those with a low mana cost that provide the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategic plays.
Ultimately, keeping a watchful eye on board state and preserving your mana for the right moment can help navigate through the dangers posed by Savage Smash, allowing for a controlled and calculated approach to maintain the upper hand in a Magic: The Gathering duel.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Savage Smash MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Breaking News, 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 Savage Smash 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 Savage Smash Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 203 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 2 | 2024-04-19 | Breaking News | OTP | 53 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Magnus Jansson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Savage Smash has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Savage Smash card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-25 | If either target is an illegal target as Savage Smash resolves, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage. |
| 2019-01-25 | If the creature you control is an illegal target as Savage Smash tries to resolve, it won’t get +2/+2. If that creature is a legal target but the other creature isn’t, the creature you control still gets +2/+2. |
| 2019-01-25 | You can’t cast Savage Smash unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don’t control as targets. |