Smash to Dust MTG Card


Effective artifact removal combined with card advantage makes Smash to Dust a tactical game-changer. Instant speed ability adds flexibility, enabling strategic play during an opponent’s turn. Casting cost considerations are crucial, potentially limiting Smash to Dust’s inclusion in diverse deck types.
Smash to Dust - Dominaria United
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2022-09-09
Set symbol
Set nameDominaria United
Set codeDMU
Number144
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMarc Simonetti

Text of card

Choose one — • Destroy target artifact. • Destroy target creature with defender. • Smash to Dust deals 1 damage to each creature your opponents control.


Cards like Smash to Dust

Smash to Dust is a powerful red spell in Magic: The Gathering that operates two-fold, dealing considerable damage to target artifact and its owner. The effects can be paralleled with cards like Shatter, that also devastates artifacts but neglects to inflict any damage to the controller of said artifact. Albeit an effective tool, Shatter forgoes the element of additional player damage that sets Smash to Dust apart.

On the same spectrum, there is Smelt. Smelt, like Smash to Dust, targets and destroys artifacts however it has the advantage of being an instant spell, a more cost-effective choice with its mana cost only being one. Yet, the undeniable bonus of also dealing damage to an artifact’s controller with Smash to Dust is lost with Smelt.

Then there’s Manic Vandal. Manic Vandal, despite being a creature card, bears a premise that mirrors Smash to Dust, offering artifact destruction. Its distinct advantage is the creature body for potential combat, however, the damage to the player is non-existent, a trade-off worthy of consideration.

To summarise, when examining the features and contemplating the values of different options, Smash to Dust surely holds a unique place among artifact destruction spells in Magic: The Gathering, thanks to its versatile damage-dealing prowess.

Shatter - MTG Card versions
Smelt - MTG Card versions
Manic Vandal - MTG Card versions
Shatter - MTG Card versions
Smelt - MTG Card versions
Manic Vandal - MTG Card versions

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Disorder - MTG Card versions
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Burning Wish - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Smash to Dust. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
URUR PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-05-05
Izzet FaeriesIzzet Faeries PauperIzzet FaeriesPauper League 2023-12-27
Gruul PonzaGruul Ponza PauperGruul PonzaPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-12
Rakdos MidrangeRakdos Midrange PauperC'mon! Pozna
Boros SynthesizerBoros Synthesizer PauperBoros SynthesizerMonthly Tournament #34
MonarchMonarch PauperMonarchPauper Challenge 32 2023-11-25
Jeskai EphemerateJeskai Ephemerate PauperJeskai EphemeratePauper League 2023-11-29

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Smash to Dust card ensures you’re never left at a disadvantage. This card lets you destroy your opponent’s artifacts, robbing them of useful resources and thus gaining a significant card advantage in your game.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to eliminate an artifact that could potentially give opponents a resource edge, the Smash to Dust card aids in resource acceleration. By reducing the resources available to your foes, this card helps to speed up your own resource gathering and power setting.

Instant Speed: An important attribute of Smash to Dust is its property of instant speed. Having this card in your arsenal provides tactical flexibility. You can hold onto your mana resources for other spells and utilize this card as the situation demands it during an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Smash to Dust, being an excellent artifact removal tool, does require you to pay not just with mana, but also with a card from your hand. This discard requirement can be a double-edged sword. While it might help shape your graveyard strategy, it’s going to be a setback when your hand resources dwindle to a minimum.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost double red mana requirement can be limiting and a potential drawback for multi-color deck operators. To play this card, you need two red mana and three of any color, which might not blend into all deck strategies smoothly. Hence, its usability remains confined to decks already utilizing red mana primarily.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a direct mana investment of five, Smash to Dust costs comparatively higher than many similar effect cards in MTG. Whereas there are cards that provide similar benefits at lower mana costs, Smash to Dust can seem a bit demanding. Patience and careful resource management become significant when planning to cast this card.


Reasons to Include Smash to Dust in Your Collection

Versatility: A classic choice for red-deck users, Smash to Dust stands out among others due to its dual-usage. Whether you are in need to inflict serious damage to an opponent’s artifact or require a last-resort source of colorless mana, this card provides the versatility that every MTG player can appreciate.

Combo Potential: The real magic of Smash to Dust lies in its capability to combo seamlessly with other cards. It can enhance strategies that aim to exploit opponents’ artifacts, opening doors to effective and impactful gameplays. The potential to dive deeper into your opponent’s vulnerabilities makes this card an absolute must-have

Meta-Relevance: Smash to Dust proves its worth in the current MTG meta, posing as a foil to popular artifact-centered tactics. Packing this in your arsenal provides adaptability and a surprising edge to adapt to various dominant metagame strategies.


How to beat Smash to Dust

Smash to Dust is a lethal MTG card that can cause immense damage to your opponents. This card, though valuable, can be bested when armed with the right strategy. Smash to Dust’s primary ability, as the name suggests, is to obliterate an opponent’s artifact and cause consequent damage. But it also has the drawback of having a high mana cost, which could be exploited.

Consider MTG cards with counter active abilities. A card like Turn Aside, with its ability to counteract target spell that targets player’s artifact, comes in handy. This card is not only low cost, but is also quite hard to predict due to its small size. Meanwhile, Spell Pierce, another feasible rebuttal to Smash to Dust, counters a target spell unless the caster pays an additional cost.

In summing up, leveraging similar cards with countering abilities, low mana cost and quick response times can be a good counter play against Smash to Dust. Ultimately, mastering the rhythm of the game along with strategic card pickings will help ensure victory against powerful spells like Smash to Dust in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring MTG’s vast strategic depths often reveals powerful tools like Smash to Dust, a formidable card combining destruction and damage. For those aiming to dismantle artifact-driven strategies or simply to maintain card advantage, this spell warrants serious consideration. You’ve seen its pros and cons, its synergies, and alternatives. Deck builders should weigh its unique attributes against its costlier mana requirements. MTG is about making the right choices for your playstyle. Interested in fine-tuning your arsenal or countering prevalent meta strategies? Dive deeper with us and discover how Smash to Dust can sharpen your game. Keep playing smart, keep winning!


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Smash to Dust MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United, 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 Smash to Dust and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Smash to Dust has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal