Slaughter Games MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 197
2022-07-28 - Number 17
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Slaughter Games can't be countered by spells or abilities. Name a nonland card. Search target opponent's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with that name and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
Cards like Slaughter Games
Slaughter Games is a unique spell in MTG that allows players to tackle their opponents’ strategies proactively. It bears similarities to other cards that interact with an opponent’s deck, such as Cranial Extraction. However, Slaughter Games is not restricted by the color of the card to be exiled and the exiled card cannot be found with the help of cards that retrieve cards from the sideboard. This makes Slaughter Games particularly potent in rendering a key piece of your adversary’s game plan useless.
Another related card is Memoricide, which shares the feature of removing a card from the game and all copies of it from the opponent’s deck. What makes Slaughter Games stand out is the fact that it can’t be countered, guaranteeing its effect on the match. Juxtaposed against Lost Legacy, Slaughter Games demands one more mana and trades the flexibility of targeting a wider range of cards for guaranteeing an uncounterable impact on your opponent’s strategy.
In the context of preemptive disruption, Slaughter Games showcases its dominance with its uncounterable clause, ensuring that critical threats from the opponent’s deck are neutralized, solidifying its role in formats where your knowledge of the opponent’s deck can pave the way to victory.
Cards similar to Slaughter Games by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Slaughter Games. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Niv to Light | Pioneer | Niv to Light | Pro Tour Murders at Karlov Manor |
 | 5c Midrange | Pioneer | 5c Midrange | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-02-25 |
 | Five-color Yorion | Pioneer | 5c Midrange | F2F Tour Edmonton - Pioneer Super Qualifier |
| Omnath to Light | Pioneer | 5c Midrange | Pro Tour Murders at Karlov Manor |
 | All Other Decklists | Pioneer | Niv to Light | BLUE - FRI - 3PM - Chicago Pioneer Cup |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Unlike typical removal spells, Slaughter Games doesn’t just deal with the threats on the board but also removes any copies of the named card from the game altogether, ensuring that those resources are permanently unavailable to your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While Slaughter Games itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it paves the way for you to deploy your own strategy by preemptively eliminating key cards from your opponent’s deck, often disrupting their resource engine or planned plays.
Instant Speed: Slaughter Games is a rare case where its power is unaffected by speed as it’s a sorcery. However, its preemptive nature allows you to strategically and surgically extract threats from your opponent’s deck, seizing the initiative and altering the pace of the match squarely in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Slaughter Games does not necessitate discarding as part of its casting, its effect is specific—you must choose and name a nonland card. This precision requires in-depth knowledge of the opponent’s deck, turning a lack of information into a missed opportunity.
Specific Mana Cost: Slaughter Games has a particular mana cost, requiring both red and black mana (BRBR), which can be restrictive. Decks that do not run both colors or have a stable mana base might struggle to cast it efficiently, reducing its overall versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four total mana to play, Slaughter Games is more costly than other disruption spells. Its four-mana slot competes with other high-impact cards, and in fast-paced games, the card could be too slow or resource-intensive, hindering your gameplay rather than benefiting it.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Slaughter Games is a unique card that is not only a tour-de-force against combo decks but also has the flexibility to be used preemptively to remove key pieces from an opponent’s future plans. This nonland card exiling spell can be a strategic tool in various deck archetypes that seek to disrupt their opponent’s strategies.
Combo Potential: Despite not being a combo piece in itself, the strength of Slaughter Games lies in its ability to dismantle your opponent’s combos. By removing essential cards from their deck, this card makes sure your own combos and strategies face less resistance, ensuring a smoother pathway to victory.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where specific decks or strategies are dominant, the inclusion of Slaughter Games in your sideboard makes you better prepared to handle these threats. By tailoring your removal choices with Slaughter Games, you gain an edge in tournaments and competitive play, directly targeting the heart of your opponent’s game plan.
How to beat
Slaughter Games is a unique non-counterable spell from Magic: The Gathering that allows you to name a card and search your opponent’s hand, library, and graveyard to exile all cards with that name. Unlike traditional thoughtseize-type effects, it doesn’t just hit the hand but extends its influence across the entire game.
To effectively tackle Slaughter Games, consider diversifying your threats. Rely on a variety of key cards rather than a single win condition. This way, removing one piece from your puzzle won’t collapse your strategy. Deck resilience can be further increased with cards that offer versatile solutions or those that can be cast from places other than the hand, such as flashback or afterlife abilities.
Another strategy is to place less emphasis on high-impact singleton cards that might be targeted by Slaughter Games. Instead, utilize cards with similar effects or ones that have redundancy in your deck. This redundancy ensures that if one piece is removed, your deck’s functionality remains intact. In decks that are susceptible to disruption like Slaughter Games, maintaining a strong, consistent strategy is key to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Slaughter Games MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Explorer Anthology 1, 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 Games 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 Slaughter Games Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2022-07-28. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 197 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 2 | 2022-07-28 | Explorer Anthology 1 | EA1 | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Slaughter Games 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 Slaughter Games card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-10-01 | You can leave any cards with that name in the zone they are in. You don’t have to exile them. |