Shoot Down MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Number | 190 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Lius Lasahido |
Text of card
Exile target artifact, enchantment, or creature with flying.
Gwenna stayed her hand only once, to save young Harbin's life—a mistake she would never repeat.
Cards like Shoot Down
Shoot Down enters the arena of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering with a unique twist to creature control. It invites comparisons to other classic instant-speed removal spells like Murder, which straightforwardly dispatches any target creature without restriction. Shoot Down, however, offers a nuanced benefit. It not only eliminates a flying creature but also provides a cost-effective solution at a single mana, particularly useful against decks heavy on aerial threats.
Gazing further into the removal spell collection, we encounter Skywhaler’s Shot, another spell with particular efficacy against flying creatures. Skywhaler’s Shot, although more expensive at three mana, comes with the additional advantage of Scrying 1, letting you filter your upcoming draws. Wing Shards is also a pertinent comparison, representing an instant that can potentially tackle multiple attacking creatures, but it demands a higher mana commitment and relies on the opponent declaring attackers to be effective.
When delicate balance and economic mana investment are considered, Shoot Down proves to be a valuable tool for players facing decks that take to the skies. Its pinpoint targeting and low mana cost carve a niche that stands out among its rival spells in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Shoot Down by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shoot Down provides a tactical edge by letting you potentially remove a creature while drawing a card, thus maintaining card equity on the board.
Resource Acceleration: If played wisely, Shoot Down can act as a catalyst for resource acceleration by clearing a path for your own creatures, enabling more direct hits to your opponent’s life total.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Shoot Down offers you the flexibility to dispatch threats during your opponent’s turn, keeping your options open and preserving the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As an essential part of activating its potential, the Shoot Down card mandates the discarding of another card. This prerequisite can dampen your strategic position, particularly when your hand is already running thin on options. Controlling your hand’s resources becomes a delicate act, where each discarded piece could have played a pivotal role in future plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Shoot Down’s casting cost necessitates precise mana alignment, confining its integration almost exclusively to decks that can reliably produce the requisite colors. This condition hinders its adaptability and can prove burdensome for players who operate multi-colored or color-shifting decks where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When we survey the landscape of similar cards, Shoot Down’s mana cost scales on the upper end. This can put a player at a disadvantage when facing opponents who might be utilizing more mana-efficient alternatives. The capacity to field impactful plays swiftly can often be the deciding factor in a duel, making mana economy a critical aspect of game strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The card Shoot Down offers the ability to interact with creatures in the air, a common threat in numerous deck archetypes. Its simple casting cost and instant-speed nature make it a flexible choice for any deck aiming to keep the skies clear of opponents’ flying creatures.
Combo Potential: This card isn’t just a straightforward removal. In decks that capitalize on spell synergies or damage triggers, Shoot Down can serve as part of a larger strategy, turning each flyer removal into a stepping stone toward your game-winning combo.
Meta-Relevance: Given that flying creatures often dominate the board in many metagames, having accessible answers like Shoot Down can be pivotal. It helps you maintain parity against decks that seek to win through aerial advantage, making it a tactically sound inclusion in the current competitive landscape.
How to beat
The Shoot Down card presents a challenge to players with its ability to pick off flying creatures. Understanding your deck’s composition and adjusting strategies accordingly is essential to counteract this card effectively. Since Shoot Down thrives against aerial threats, consider implementing more ground-based creatures or those with reach to mitigate its impact. Enhancing your creatures to withstand its damage or using spells that grant indestructibility for a turn can also help safeguard your important flyers.
Adaptation is key in the face of removal cards like Shoot Down. Introducing hexproof or shroud abilities into your deck can prevent targeting from Shoot Down, allowing your creatures to remain a threat on the board. Moreover, diversifying your threats to reduce reliance on creatures with flying limits the potential value your opponent can extract from their Shoot Down card.
Ultimately, the best way to trump Shoot Down is by staying one step ahead — anticipate its play, remain flexible, and let your grounded forces or clever enchantments carry you to victory even when the skies are not as safe as they seem.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shoot Down MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Shoot Down 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shoot Down has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |