Settle the Score MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Exile target creature. Put two loyalty counters on a planeswalker you control.
"You bound me with a contract only your death could end—and you thought me the fool?" —Liliana Vess
Cards like Settle the Score
Settle the Score is a unique removal spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering, sitting alongside options like Murder. Much like Settle the Score, Murder offers a straightforward solution to deal with troublesome creatures by simply destroying them. However, Murder doesn’t come with the additional upside of putting loyalty counters on a planeswalker you control which can be a significant game-changer.
Vraska’s Contempt is another card that draws parallels with Settle the Score, providing exile removal while also giving you life gain. This can be pivotal in games where life totals are close. However, Vraska’s Contempt comes at a steeper mana cost and doesn’t offer the planeswalker loyalty bonus. In essence, while each of these spells serves a similar removal purpose, Settle the Score stands out by potentially accelerating your planeswalker’s impact on the game.
When comparing these spells, the strategic depth and timing play a huge role. Selecting the optimal removal can depend greatly on your overall strategy and the current board state. Settle the Score is a choice card for decks that rely on planeswalker abilities to win a match.
Cards similar to Settle the Score by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Settle the Score is a unique addition to your deck when it comes to maintaining card advantage. Not only does it eliminate a key threat on the battlefield, but its additional benefit of putting two loyalty counters on one of your planeswalkers can pivot the game in your favor. This effectively translates into more abilities used and more value generated over the course of the game.
Resource Acceleration: While Settle the Score doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, the loyalty counters it adds can be a form of resource acceleration. Many planeswalkers have the ability to create tokens, draw cards, or untap lands, so by boosting your planeswalker’s loyalty, you’re potentially accelerating your access to these valuable resources indirectly.
Instant Speed: The power of instant speed removal cannot be overstated, and Settle the Score fits the bill perfectly. Being able to wait until the last possible moment to remove a threat, often after your opponent has committed to their plan, can swing the momentum of the match. Additionally, the flexibility of casting Settle the Score at instant speed ensures you can respond to unexpected threats or optimize the timing for your planeswalker’s advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Settle the Score doesn’t require discarding a card, maintaining card advantage is crucial in Magic the Gathering. Without a discard requirement, you might miss opportunities to leverage spells that synergize with discarding mechanics, potentially limiting strategic complexity in specific decks where discard plays a key role.
Specific Mana Cost: Settle the Score necessitates both black mana and generic mana for casting. This requirement means you must have access to two black mana sources, which might not always be available, especially in multi-colored decks that may not prioritize black mana generation.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of four mana, its casting cost is relatively high when considering other removal options available. Players might find that in a fast-paced match, the cost to cast Settle the Score could inhibit their ability to play other spells in the same turn, possibly impacting game tempo and board state control.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Settle the Score’s utility in removing problematic creatures from the battlefield makes it a solid pick for various deck archetypes. Whether you’re running a control setup or a deck that focuses on mid-game dominance, this card ensures that your path to victory remains clear of opponents’ threats.
Combo Potential: Its secondary ability to put loyalty counters on your planeswalkers offers up intriguing combinations that can help you activate powerful ultimates ahead of schedule. Such synergies can flip the tide of the game, showcasing Settle the Score’s dynamic role in decks with a planeswalker focus.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-heavy decks continue to be a force in the meta, having access to efficient removal spells is key. Settle the Score provides the answer to recurring creature-based threats, ensuring your deck can hold its ground in a competitive environment.
How to beat
Settle the Score is a potent removal spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering players not only the ability to exile a troublesome creature but to also bolster their own strategy by putting two loyalty counters on one of their planeswalkers. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to anticipate and prepare for the potential removal it brings. Holding back on playing your key creatures until you can protect them or baiting out the Settle the Score with less important creatures can be an effective strategy.
Furthermore, employing instant-speed hexproof options like Blossoming Defense can turn the tables, saving your creature and wasting your opponent’s spell. Counterspells also stand as a steadfast defense against Settle the Score, nullifying its effect before it can impact the board. Finally, wisely managing the pace of your plays and maintaining a diverse board state can ensure that the loss of any one creature doesn’t critically disrupt your game plan.
While Settle the Score can be a challenge, thoughtful play and strategic deck construction can mitigate its effectiveness, keeping your most valuable creatures safe and your opponents on their toes.
BurnMana Recommendations
Understanding the complexities of MTG is an ongoing pursuit for players aiming to hone their prowess. Settle the Score exemplifies tactical depth, providing creature elimination while strengthening planeswalker loyalty. Its significance shines in decks that utilize planeswalker synergies, and it serves as a formidable weapon against creature-centric opponents. Whether you’re restructuring your deck or looking to thwart prominent metagame strategies, this card offers versatility rarely matched by similar removal spells. For further insights into maximizing its potential, visit us and uncover strategies to incorporate Settle the Score into your arsenal, paving the way to victory in your next duel.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Settle the Score MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Jumpstart, 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 Settle the Score 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 Settle the Score Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Yongjae Choi.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Settle the Score has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Settle the Score card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2018-04-27 | Both loyalty counters must be put onto the same planeswalker. |
2018-04-27 | If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Settle the Score tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t put loyalty counters on a planeswalker. |
2018-04-27 | You don’t choose which planeswalker receives loyalty counters until Settle the Score resolves. If you don’t control a planeswalker, you’ll simply exile the target creature and not put loyalty counters on anything. |