Temporal Cleansing MTG Card


Clears multiple nonland permanents at once, offering a substantial shift in board control and momentum. Instant speed allows strategic flexibility, making it a surprise tactic against opponents’ threats. The requirement for discarding and its specific mana cost can limit versatility and prompt careful deck construction.
Temporal Cleansing - March of the Machine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Convoke
Released2023-04-21
Set symbol
Set nameMarch of the Machine
Set codeMOM
Number80
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDominik Mayer

Text of card

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) The owner of target nonland permanent puts it into their library second from the top or on the bottom.

"Now's not a good time."


Cards like Temporal Cleansing

Temporal Cleansing is a unique sorcery in the realms of Magic the Gathering with its ability to reset the playing field by removing all permanents of a chosen color. Reflecting upon Detention Sphere, both cards share the concept of targeting specific threats, yet Detention Sphere offers more flexibility since it can extract multiple permanents of the same name regardless of color.

Looking at similarities with Cleansing Nova, players might see the potential for mass removal. However, Temporal Cleansing allows for a more surgical approach by singling out a color, unlike Cleansing Nova which eradicates all creatures or artifacts irrespective of color allegiance. Furthermore, Austere Command is another broad comparison, providing a customizable purge to the board that can affect various types of permanents, but it doesn’t have the color specificity that makes Temporal Cleansing distinct.

In scrutinizing the nuances of these related cards, Temporal Cleansing emerges as a tactical choice for players who prefer targeted control over indiscriminate demolition. Its singular focus on color marks a tool that fits within a more controlled and strategic setup in Magic the Gathering.

Detention Sphere - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Nova - MTG Card versions
Austere Command - MTG Card versions
Detention Sphere - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Nova - MTG Card versions
Austere Command - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Temporal Cleansing by color, type and mana cost

Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Legerdemain - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Consuming Tide - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Legerdemain - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Consuming Tide - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Temporal Cleansing doesn’t just hit a single target; it can sweep away all nonland permanents that share a color, potentially disrupting multiple opponents simultaneously. This vast removal potential sets the stage for significant card advantage, as you’re able to reset the board in your favor with just one spell.

Resource Acceleration: Though Temporal Cleansing itself doesn’t directly generate resources, clearing the board can indirectly accelerate your resources. By removing mana dorks or artifacts that generate additional mana for your opponents, you hamper their resource progression while keeping yours intact.

Instant Speed: The power of instant speed cannot be overstated. Being able to wipe the board at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to a game-changing threat gives you a tactical advantage. With Temporal Cleansing, you maintain the element of surprise and can choose the most opportune moment to change the tide of the game without losing a step on your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Temporal Cleansing requires players to discard a significant amount of cards, potentially depleting their hand quickly and leaving them vulnerable to their opponent’s strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a strict mana alignment, often necessitating a dedicated deck build centered around its color identity, restricting deck diversity and flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a lofty mana cost for its cleansing ability, the card could be viewed as less preferable compared to other options that achieve similar results without such a substantial investment, potentially hampering its inclusion in highly competitive play.


Reasons to Include Temporal Cleansing in Your Collection

Versatility: Temporal Cleansing offers broad utility across a variety of decks. With its general ability to reset the playing field by removing all enchantments, it can be a strategic inclusion in control decks aiming to counteract opponent strategies reliant on enchantment synergies.

Combo Potential: For those who favor intricate playstyles, this card can act as a pivotal piece in combos that aim to exploit its mass removal for personal advantage, such as re-deploying enchantments with beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects.

Meta-Relevance: Enchantment-heavy decks often emerge in various metas, and having Temporal Cleansing in your toolkit ensures you have a response to such trends. Its presence alone can shift the balance in games where enchantments play a vital role.


How to beat

Temporal Cleansing is a potent spell that has stirred the waters in the realm of Magic the Gathering, providing a comprehensive answer to troublesome permanents. Its strength lies in its sweeping removal ability, clearing away all nonland permanents with the same name. This effect can be both a tactical advantage and a hurdle when facing an opponent wielding this powerful card.

To successfully navigate against Temporal Cleansing, versatility in your deck design is key. Strategies include diversifying your nonland permanents to avoid giving your opponent an opportunity to remove multiple assets with a single cast. Spell counters also emerge as an invaluable tactic, so incorporating cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can protect your board from this sweeping disruption. Cards that grant indestructibility or hexproof can further shelter your critical assets from Temporal Cleansing’s effect. Consider splashing your deck with spells like Heroic Intervention to secure your pieces on the board. Finally, pressure your opponent consistently to force them to use their removal early, thus preserving your more significant threats for later in the game.

With careful planning and adaptive play, Temporal Cleansing’s potent spell can be mitigated, maintaining your board’s integrity and your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Temporal Cleansing MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Temporal Cleansing and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Temporal Cleansing has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Temporal Cleansing card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-04-14 In some unusual cases—though getting less unusual all the time—a permanent will be comprised of multiple cards, such as a melded permanent or a mutated creature. In those cases, the owner of the permanent puts all those cards second from the top (that is, just under the top card) or on the bottom in any order. Other players get to know which one they chose, but they don’t get to know the relative order of the cards.
2023-04-14 The owner of the permanent chooses where the card ends up. All players get to know that choice.