Blot Out the Sky MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates a scalable number of 2/1 flying tokens, enhancing board control and presence.
  2. Is restricted in use by its specific mana cost and lack of alternative casting options.
  3. Synergizes with token strategies and provides potential for board swing moments.

Text of card

Create X tapped 2/1 white and black Inkling creature tokens with flying. If X is 6 or more, destroy all noncreature, nonland permanents.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blot Out the Sky provides a considerable boost by creating X 2/1 white and black Inkling creature tokens with flying. This helps in overwhelming your opponents with multiple threats while simultaneously building an impressive board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Since the tokens produced are creatures, this can synergize with effects that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield, indirectly accelerating your resources through various synergies in your deck.

Instant Speed: Although Blot Out the Sky is a sorcery, its potential impact resembles that of spells you could cast at instant speed. Casting it during your main phase can significantly alter the game state before your opponent’s next turn, much like a powerful instant might change the course of events during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A closer examination of Blot Out the Sky reveals that, unlike some flexible spells you may encounter in MTG that offer alternative casting methods, this card does not present the option of discarding another card for an effect or a cost reduction. This means that the card’s value and utility could be inhibited by your current hand and board state, providing no relief or second option if you’re in a tight spot with limited resources.

Specific Mana Cost: When you’re building a deck, flexibility can be pivotal. Blot Out the Sky requires you to be committed to both white and black mana sources. This requirement limits the card’s incorporation to decks that comfortably support a two-color base, making it less suitable for mono-colored decks or those that cannot reliably generate both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Cost efficiency is crucial, especially in formats where speed can determine the game’s outcome. Blot Out the Sky demands a significant investment of at least six mana (X plus white and black), meaning it may not be the most mana-efficient option for a board presence or creature creation strategy. In fast-paced games, this high mana cost could result in a substantial tempo loss or leave you vulnerable while waiting to accumulate enough resources to cast it effectively.


Reasons to Include Blot Out the Sky in Your Collection

Versatility: Blot Out the Sky is a flexible addition to your arsenal, suitable for decks that aim to control the board or create a large presence of creatures. Its X cost allows you to decide the scale of its effect, tailoring it to the situation at hand.

Combo Potential: With its ability to create creature tokens, this card synergizes with strategies focusing on token generation or with mechanics that benefit from casting spells with X in their mana cost. It also enables you to trigger enter-the-battlefield effects or sacrifice synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the current landscape of gameplay, having a card that can adapt and respond to various strategies is crucial. Blot Out the Sky has the potential to disrupt opponent’s plans and swing the momentum in your favor, especially important when facing decks that rely on building a formidable board presence.


How to beat

Overcoming the potency of Blot Out the Sky in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic finesse. This multifaceted spell brings not only creature creation to the table but also situational artifact and enchantment destruction. Its X cost grants scalability, making it adaptable across various game stages. To counter this, speed is essential; applying pressure and reducing the opponent’s health before they accrue sufficient mana to utilize Blot Out the Sky fully is key.

Targeted removal spells that wipe creatures off the board, such as Wrath of God or Doomskar, can effectively mitigate the impact of the tokens generated. On the flip side, countering the spell outright before its effects materialize is another viable strategy. Spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can be pivotal in this approach, particularly since Blot Out the Sky can be cast only during your turn, providing a predictable window of opportunity to thwart it.

In essence, addressing Blot Out the Sky boils down to proactive gameplay, leveraging removal and counter spells, while maintaining a pace that outstrips the opponent’s ability to stabilize and mount a comeback. By executing these tactics with precision, you can neutralize the threat and maintain dominance on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves constant learning and adaptation. Blot Out the Sky exemplifies the dynamic nature of gameplay, the interplay of creative strategy and precise timing. For those who thrive on sculpting the battlefield to their advantage, this card offers a blend of offensive and defensive capabilities. Consider how it could slot into your deck, providing not just token generation but also a safeguard against an opponent’s buildup. If you’re intrigued by the potential of Blot Out the Sky to turn the tide in your matches, we encourage you to delve deeper into its applications. Expand your tactical horizons and refine your deck with insights from our detailed explorations.


Cards like Blot Out the Sky

Blot Out the Sky carves its own niche within the spectrum of multicolor sorceries in MTG. It invites comparison with impactful cards like Time Wipe and Kaya’s Wrath, both of which are known for their board clearing capabilities. Blot Out the Sky differs by allowing players to scale the effect based on the amount of mana invested, combining the creation of creature tokens with the potential to destroy opponent’s nonland permanents, provided you spend enough mana.

Cards like Mass Manipulation also share the trait of scaling with mana invested, though instead of clearing or creating, it seizes control of the opponent’s creatures or planeswalkers. This stands apart in strategy, embodying a reactive rather than proactive gameplan, unlike the build-and-sweep combo that Blot Out the Sky offers. Additionally, we can look at March of the Multitudes. It’s analogous in creating a multitude of tokens but lacks the destructive second act that Blot Out the Sky commands.

Evaluating its counterparts, Blot Out the Sky’s distinctive blend of token generation and conditional destruction allows it to shine as a flexible and potentially game-swiveling play in MTG’s vast pantheon of multicolor sorceries. Its utility in the right deck is undeniable, making it a powerful option in the current gameplay environment.

Time Wipe - MTG Card versions
Kaya's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Mass Manipulation - MTG Card versions
March of the Multitudes - MTG Card versions
Time Wipe - War of the Spark (WAR)
Kaya's Wrath - Ravnica Allegiance Promos (PRNA)
Mass Manipulation - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
March of the Multitudes - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blot Out the Sky MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Blot Out the Sky and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blot Out the Sky Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-24. Illustrated by Olena Richards.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 902662015normalblackOlena Richards
22021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 3352015normalblackOlena Richards
32021-04-23Strixhaven: School of MagesSTX 1672015normalblackOlena Richards
42021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 167s2015normalblackOlena Richards
52021-04-24Strixhaven: School of Mages PromosPSTX 167p2015normalblackOlena Richards

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blot Out the Sky has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

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