Extinction MTG Card

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 135

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number TMP-135

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery

Key Takeaways

Strategically wield Extinction to clear specific creatures, tipping the game’s balance without hampering your own board.
While not castable at instant speed, Extinction’s precise timing can command the flow of the game.
Consider the cons, such as its dual mana cost and discard requirement, when integrating it into your deck.

Text of card

Destroy all creatures of any creature type of your choice.

"I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them." —Volrath

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Extinction provides a way to clear the battlefield of creatures of a specific creature type, which can be a strategic move to decimate an opponent’s army while potentially leaving your own forces untouched. This selective approach can substantially shift the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Extinction itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, efficiently clearing the board can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By removing key pieces of your opponent’s strategy, you pave the way for your own threats to dominate the game without resistance.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Extinction can’t be cast at instant speed, but its impact on the game is immediate and potentially devastating. The timing of playing Extinction is crucial, as it can turn the tide of the game when played judiciously. It’s all about finding the perfect moment during your turn to maximize its effect.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Extinction necessitates a card discard from your hand, which can deplete your arsenal and diminish your tactical options, especially in the late game when each card’s value often increases significantly.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s demand for both black and white mana can restrict deck building, as it requires a commitment to a two-color mana base, which not all strategies can support effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost that’s on the higher end for its board clearing capabilities, players might find other sweepers or removal spells that are more mana-efficient options for maintaining control of the board state.

Reasons to Include Extinction in Your Collection

Versatility: Extinction offers a flexible solution to wide-ranging threats on the battlefield, allowing players to tailor their board wipes to specific creature types that are currently causing the most trouble.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in decks focusing on type-specific creatures. When combined with effects that return creatures from the graveyard to hand or battlefield, Extinction allows for selective board control while retaining your army.

Meta-Relevance: With a constantly shifting meta, a card like Extinction can adapt to target predominant creature types, providing an edge against popular tribal decks or strategies that rely heavily on a particular creature type.

How to beat

Understanding your adversary’s resources is key to overcoming challenges in Magic: The Gathering, and the Extinction card is no exception. Normally, Extinction is at its most lethal when it disrupts the table, clearing creatures sharing a chosen creature type. Thus, to effectively counteract this impact, diversification is your ally. Incorporating a varied assortment of creature types within your deck can significantly reduce Extinction’s potential havoc.

Additionally, you can lean on spells that grant your creatures indestructible status or employ countermagic to neutralize Extinction before it resolves. For those favoring a proactive strategy, cards that offer creature recursion or reanimation also offer resilience against such board wipes, ensuring your presence remains fielded even after your opponent has attempted to clear the slate. Having a blend of these strategies not only bolsters your defense against Extinction but also prepares you for a multitude of other potential threats you may encounter during gameplay.

Overall, while Extinction can be a challenging card to play against in Magic: The Gathering, thoughtful deck building and strategic planning can help you maintain a strong position and eventually triumph over it.

Cards like Extinction

Extinction serves as a selective sweeper in Magic: The Gathering, akin to cards that offer command over the battlefield by clearing specific threats. Its resemblance to Wrath of God, a classic removal spell, is clear as both can dismantle creature-heavy strategies. Extinction stands unique, however, in its ability not just to remove creatures but to target a particular creature type, giving players a tactical edge against tribal decks without affecting your own board diversely populated.

Day of Judgment is another comparable spell, though lacking the type-specific aspect of Extinction. Instead, it offers an unrestricted board clear without the precision to avoid collateral damage to your own creatures of varying types. Engineered Plague is also worth mentioning as it severely weakens creatures of a chosen type, but unlike Extinction, it doesn’t guarantee their removal and can be worked around with buffs or indestructibility.

In evaluating these options, Extinction is recognized for its surgical approach, ideal for controlling or tribal-heavy metagames within Magic: The Gathering. The card’s discernment in targeting allows for strategic plays that can tip the balance of a game without sweeping away your own versatile threats.

Cards similar to Extinction by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Extinction MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and The List, 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 Extinction and other MTG cards: