Slaughter MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Buyback |
| Released | 1998-06-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Exodus |
| Set code | EXO |
| Number | 74 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
Buyback— Pay 4 life. (You may pay 4 life in addition to any other costs when you play this spell. If you do, put it into your hand instead of your graveyard as part of the spell's effect.) Destroy target nonblack creature. That creature cannot be regenerated this turn.
Cards like Slaughter
Slaughter in Magic: The Gathering offers a unique take on removal spells within the game. It bears similarity to other classic remove-on-demand cards such as Doom Blade or Go for the Throat. The primary feature that distinguishes Slaughter is its buyback cost, allowing players to reuse it from the graveyard by paying additional mana. Doom Blade offers no such recurrence but costs less to cast initially. Conversely, Go for the Throat does not have the buyback mechanic but has the upside of being able to destroy nonartifact creatures without any color restrictions.
Another comparable card is Diabolic Edict, which forces the opponent to sacrifice a creature. While Slaughter targets a specific creature, Diabolic Edict’s strength lies in circumventing indestructible creatures, something Slaughter can’t bypass. Moreover, Geth’s Verdict is an expanded version of this effect, but it also causes the opponent to lose one life, adding an extra layer of utility compared to Slaughter’s more straightforward approach.
In the realm of repeatable removal spells, Slaughter holds its ground by offering a balance between initial casting cost and the flexibility of buyback. It’s this versatility that can give players a recurring edge in managing the battlefield compared to single-use options.
Cards similar to Slaughter by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Slaughter’s ability to destroy any creature, it maintains your control on the board by efficiently dealing with threats, ensuring your grip on the game remains strong. It’s a powerful removal tool to have, often swinging the game’s momentum in your favor as you dismantle key pieces of your opponent’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Slaughter’s Buyback cost facilitates an ongoing source of threat management without depleting your hand. This enhances your resource management by keeping Slaughter available for repeated use while you continue to develop your presence on the board and commit other cards from your hand.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed spells can be a game-changer, and Slaughter is no exception. It allows you to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn, which can disrupt their strategy and keep them guessing about your remaining capabilities. It’s also perfect for use in those critical moments just before an opponent’s creature determines the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Slaughter comes with the steep price of requiring a card discard, which can set you back, particularly when your hand is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a specific mana cost that includes black, Slaughter may not easily find a home in decks that aren’t geared towards heavy black mana usage.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher end of the spectrum, Slaughter competes with other removal cards that may be more cost-effective or provide additional benefits for the same investment.
Reasons to Include Slaughter in Your Collection
Versatility: Slaughter offers flexible removal options, allowing players to dispatch threats across various matchups. Its pay life alternative cost means it can be a strategic option even when mana is scarce.
Combo Potential: Its buyback capability ensures Slaughter can repeatedly be used, synergizing with decks that aim to maintain board control or that are built around spell recurrence and casting.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by creature-centric decks, Slaughter’s capacity to remove key creatures becomes invaluable. Its presence in a collection means you have a ready answer against creature-heavy opponents.
How to beat
Slaughter is a notable card that comes with built-in defenses in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to dominate the board through its buyback cost can make it appear overwhelming at first glance. But there’s a strategy to dismantle this obstacle. Primarily, it’s critical to manage your resources, ensuring that you don’t overextend your creatures on the battlefield. Since Slaughter targets one creature at a time, judicious play can mitigate its impact.
Another effective method is to use spells or abilities that protect your creatures from being targeted. Granting your creatures hexproof or shroud can nullify Slaughter’s capability. Additionally, since Slaughter is dependent on its buyback to be truly effective, disrupting your opponent’s mana base can also blunt its efficiency. Targeted land destruction or mana denial can slow down or even stop the buyback loop from being a consistent threat.
Relying on creature tokens or other expendable creatures can also be beneficial. By presenting less valuable targets for Slaughter, you can dilute its impact while setting up for a more significant play. In sum, overcoming Slaughter in MTG involves a combination of careful gameplay, resource management, and having the right counters at your disposal.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Slaughter MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Slaughter 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 Slaughter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Slaughter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You can’t pay the buyback if you have less than 4 life, even if an effect would keep you from losing for having 0 or less life. |