Terminal Agony MTG Card


Terminal Agony offers card advantage and instant-speed interaction, shaping game dynamics favorably. Its rigid mana cost and discard requirement may challenge deckbuilding and resource management. Incorporating Terminal Agony can bolster your control in creature-heavy metagames and combos.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Madness

Text of card

Destroy target creature. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)

His mouth melted to slag, yet somehow he kept screaming.


Cards like Terminal Agony

Terminal Agony entered the scene as a compelling option for players who enjoy wielding the elements of destruction and disruption. This card echoes the dire echoes of Painful Quandary, a spell that similarly imposes tough choices on opponents. However, Terminal Agony’s two-pronged assault can target creatures directly, offering a level of immediacy and control over the battlefield not seen in the Quandary’s slower, more taxing effect.

Comparably, we can observe Dreadbore, which also serves as pinpoint creature removal. Dreadbore shines in its capacity to eradicate not only creatures but planeswalkers as well, giving it an edge in versatility. Terminal Agony, though, introduces hand disruption, allowing players to pry into and dismantle their adversary’s tactical options. Then there’s Terminate—a classic removal staple—lacking hand disruption but compensates with unconditional creature destruction, refusing creatures the chance to regenerate.

Assessing the strategic implications reveals Terminal Agony as a force to be reckoned with. It merges kill spells with thought disruption, offering MTG enthusiasts a duality in approach that can apply pressure across multiple fronts. This card’s utility and ability to disrupt the opponent’s flow make it a valued asset in any deck aiming to control the game’s pace and outcome.

Painful Quandary - MTG Card versions
Dreadbore - MTG Card versions
Terminate - MTG Card versions
Painful Quandary - MTG Card versions
Dreadbore - MTG Card versions
Terminate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Terminal Agony by color, type and mana cost

Phyrexian Purge - MTG Card versions
Rare-B-Gone - MTG Card versions
Poison the Well - MTG Card versions
Thought Hemorrhage - MTG Card versions
Slaughter Games - MTG Card versions
Cut // Ribbons - MTG Card versions
Widespread Brutality - MTG Card versions
In Thrall to the Pit - MTG Card versions
Lidless Gaze - MTG Card versions
The Nipton Lottery - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Purge - MTG Card versions
Rare-B-Gone - MTG Card versions
Poison the Well - MTG Card versions
Thought Hemorrhage - MTG Card versions
Slaughter Games - MTG Card versions
Cut // Ribbons - MTG Card versions
Widespread Brutality - MTG Card versions
In Thrall to the Pit - MTG Card versions
Lidless Gaze - MTG Card versions
The Nipton Lottery - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free form79#CS

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Terminal Agony offers the strategic edge of removing a key creature from the battlefield while simultaneously enabling potential card draw through its madness ability. This dual functionality ensures that your hand remains full while disrupting your opponent’s board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resources, the madness cost of Terminal Agony can serve as a resource acceleration tool when combined with discard engines. This potentially allows for a more efficient use of mana and, in turn, enables faster deployment of threats.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Terminal Agony at instant speed grants you the power to respond to threats or make crucial plays during your opponent’s turn. This can significantly alter the pace and outcome of a match, often to your benefit, by providing timely interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Terminal Agony’s playability comes with a stipulation that can be a hard pill to swallow for many MTG players. The act of discarding another card as part of its casting cost can set you back in terms of card advantage, which is often vital for maintaining momentum during a game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana – one black and one red. This specific requirement restricts it to a narrow archetype of decks, often locking out players who aren’t running those exact colors or who struggle with mana-fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While dealing 2 damage to any target and forcing a discard may seem like a fair deal, the mana investment of two specific colors plus two additional generic mana can be substantial. Particularly, when considering alternatives that might offer more versatile removal or disruption at a lower cost, Terminal Agony’s efficiency is called into question.


Reasons to Include Terminal Agony in Your Collection

Versatility: Terminal Agony offers a dual utility in both dealing damage and offering mana flexibility. This allows players to adapt to various in-game situations whether they need to remove a threat or generate a different color of mana for their spells.

Combo Potential: As a card that can potentially change the state of the board through its damage-dealing ability, Terminal Agony can be a key piece in combinations that aim to clear the way for a decisive strike or to finish off an opponent in conjunction with other damage-dealing effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having access to a card like Terminal Agony that can deal damage directly to creatures is significant. It’s a valuable tool for controlling the pace of the game and maintaining board presence against aggressive decks.


How to beat

Terminal Agony presents a unique challenge to players in Magic: The Gathering. This card is known for its dual capabilities, offering both direct damage and discard, making it a versatile threat. To effectively counter Terminal Agony, a smart strategy is to minimize its impact. Consider deploying counter spells that negate it before it can influence the game. Cards such as Dovin’s Veto or Negate can be crucial in your line of defense.

An equally effective strategy involves maintaining a robust hand size. Terminal Agony forces a discard, so having an ample hand mitigates potential damage from its discard effect. Moreover, cards with madness or abilities triggered upon discarding can actually turn Terminal Agony’s downside into your strategic advantage. By altering the way you manage your hand and controlling the battlefield, you can ensure that the effect of Terminal Agony is more a mild discomfort than a game-ending ordeal.

Ultimately, while Terminal Agony can be daunting at first glance, it’s about anticipating it and having the right counters ready or leveraging its discard effect. With proper preparation and responsive play, overcoming Terminal Agony becomes a feasible and satisfying task.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic: The Gathering is all about making calculated moves and understanding the nuanced dynamics of each card, much like Terminal Agony. While this card can raise eyebrows with its instant-speed flexibility and strategic advantage, it’s essential to maneuver around its drawbacks judiciously. For those seeking to enhance their gameplay and collection, considering Terminal Agony’s place in your deck is a worthwhile endeavor. Are you curious to explore how this card fits into various deck archetypes or keen on discovering its full potential? Expand your horizon and embrace the challenge. Learn more with us and revolutionize your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Terminal Agony MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Terminal Agony and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Terminal Agony Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 2152015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 4241997NormalBlackLucas Graciano
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 7232015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
42024-04-19Breaking NewsOTP 552015NormalBorderlessMichael Walsh

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Terminal Agony has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-06-18 A card with madness that's discarded counts as having been discarded even though it's put into exile rather than a graveyard. If it was discarded to pay a cost, that cost is still paid. Abilities that trigger when a card is discarded will still trigger.
2021-06-18 A spell cast for its madness cost is put onto the stack like any other spell. It can be countered, copied, and so on. As it resolves, it's put onto the battlefield if it's a permanent card or into its owner's graveyard if it's an instant or sorcery card.
2021-06-18 Cards are discarded in a Magic game only from a player's hand. Effects that put cards into a player's graveyard from anywhere else do not cause those cards to be discarded.
2021-06-18 Casting a spell with madness ignores the timing rules based on the card's card type. For example, you can cast a sorcery with madness if you discard it during an opponent's turn.
2021-06-18 If you choose not to cast a card with madness when the madness triggered ability resolves, it's put into your graveyard. Madness doesn't give you another chance to cast it later.
2021-06-18 If you discard a card with madness to pay the cost of a spell or activated ability, that card's madness triggered ability (and the spell that card becomes, if you choose to cast it) will resolve before the spell or ability the discard paid for.
2021-06-18 If you discard a card with madness while a spell or ability is resolving, it moves immediately to exile. Continue resolving that spell or ability, noting that the card you discarded is not in your graveyard at this time. Its madness triggered ability will be placed onto the stack once that spell or ability has completely resolved.
2021-06-18 Madness works independently of why you're discarding the card. You could discard it to pay a cost, because a spell or ability tells you to, or because you have too many cards in your hand during your cleanup step. You can't discard a card with madness just because you want to, though.
2021-06-18 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a madness cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined by only its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast that spell was.