To the Slaughter MTG Card

Offers potential card advantage by removing a creature and planeswalker with one card. Instant speed casting adds strategic depth, allowing disruption at pivotal moments. Delirium condition and specific mana cost limit use, but payoff can be substantial.

To the Slaughter - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
2016-04-08 - Number 139

To the Slaughter - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)

Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)
2016-04-08 - Number 139s

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Abilities	Delirium

Text of card

Target player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. Delirium — If there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, instead that player sacrifices a creature and a planeswalker.

"Where has little Gossamer gone?" —Thaniel, Gatstaf shepherd

Cards like To the Slaughter

To the Slaughter is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card, often paralleled with other removal spells. It stands out with its unique ability to potentially hit two targets – a creature and a planeswalker – off one casting when its delirium condition is satisfied. This trait bears some similarity to Deadly Rollick, which can also remove a creature or planeswalker. However, Deadly Rollick does not require the graveyard setup that To the Slaughter demands for its optimal use.

Hero’s Downfall is another spell known for its straightforward effectiveness at eliminating creatures or planeswalkers, similar to To the Slaughter. Yet, it’s reliability comes at the cost of a set mana requirement, whereas To the Slaughter could possibly be cast for less if delirium is achieved. Then there’s Anguished Unmaking, offering even broader removal at the cost of three life, though this card isn’t limited by the number of card types in a player’s graveyard.

Ultimately, evaluating the removal options in a Magic: The Gathering deck includes understanding the contingencies and benefits of each card. To the Slaughter’s delirium condition poses a strategic nuance that can yield a high payoff, establishing its place in the spectrum of versatile removal cards.

Cards similar to To the Slaughter by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: To the Slaughter excels at delivering potential card advantage. Being able to potentially remove two of an opponent’s key pieces – a creature and also a planeswalker – with one card, is an efficient way to pull ahead in resource competition.

Resource Acceleration: While To the Slaughter itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly influence resource acceleration by eliminating blockers or removing a planeswalker that might be inhibiting your board progression or mana development.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast To the Slaughter at instant speed provides a strategic edge in gameplay. It allows you to wait until the most opportune moment, such as the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action, to maximize the disruption to their game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To the Slaughter forces a tight spot when it comes to hand management. Triggering its delirium condition requires a player to have four different card types in their graveyard. This means players might have to strategically discard valuable cards earlier on, potentially weakening their hand before they can capitalize on the effect.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands one black and two generic mana, which can be restrictive. Decks that don’t generate black mana efficiently might struggle to integrate To the Slaughter seamlessly, which limits the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, To the Slaughter is positioned at a mana range where players expect significant impact. However, for the same cost, there are alternative removal options that don’t hinge on conditional triggers and provide immediate and assured board impact. Therefore, the mana investment might not always align with the immediate benefits, especially in fast-paced matches where resource optimization is key.

Reasons to Include To the Slaughter in Your Collection

Versatility: To the Slaughter shines in its ability to adapt to various in-game situations. As an instant, it fits nicely into control and midrange decks that seek to remove creatures and planeswalkers at a moment’s notice. Its flexibility makes it a strategic choice against a wide array of opponents.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with strategies that manipulate the number of cards in opponents’ hands. By reducing hand size, you can ensure To the Slaughter’s delirium condition is met more frequently, turning it into a consistent and devastating threat.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame shifts and planeswalkers become more prominent, To the Slaughter gains value as a swift and unprejudiced answer. In a landscape where creatures and planeswalkers are key roles in a player’s victory, having a scalable response as part of your arsenal can set you up for success.

How to beat

To the Slaughter is an intriguing removal spell in MTG, known for its ability to target an opponent’s planeswalker or creature at instant speed. This can put any player on the back foot, especially if they are heavily reliant on key creatures or planeswalkers. To effectively counter this, the key is to maintain a wide board presence. By having multiple creatures or planeswalkers in play, To the Slaughter’s forced sacrifice becomes less detrimental, as you can choose a less critical permanent to sacrifice.

Moreover, cards that grant indestructible status to your permanents can nullify To the Slaughter’s effect. You can also utilize instant-speed spells or abilities to create token creatures as a buffer against sacrifice effects. Additionally, running cards that offer hexproof can prevent your permanents from becoming targets in the first place, effectively bypassing To the Slaughter’s threat. Lastly, being mindful about overextending your board can save you from heavy losses against such removals. By balancing the field and preserving resources, you can withstand powerful spells like To the Slaughter.

In essence, To the Slaughter in MTG requires strategic preparation and board management to overcome. Adequate planning and card choices that focus on protection or redundancy can help turn the tide in your favor against such removal cards.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase To the Slaughter MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Promos, 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 To the Slaughter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The To the Slaughter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2016-04-08. Illustrated by Christine Choi.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-04-08	Shadows over Innistrad	SOI		139	2015	Normal	Black	Christine Choi
2	2016-04-08	Shadows over Innistrad Promos	PSOI		139s	2015	Normal	Black	Christine Choi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where To the Slaughter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-04-08	Because you consider only the characteristics of a double-faced card’s front face while it’s not on the battlefield, the types of its back face won’t be counted for delirium.
2016-04-08	If the delirium ability applies, that player must sacrifice a creature object and a planeswalker object if able. In the unusual case that the player controls a single permanent that’s both a creature and a planeswalker, that player must sacrifice another creature or planeswalker (unless they control no other creatures and no other planeswalkers).
2016-04-08	In some rare cases, you can have a token or a copy of a spell in your graveyard at the moment that an object’s delirium ability counts the card types among cards in your graveyard, before that token or copy ceases to exist. Because tokens and copies of spells are not cards, even if they are copies of cards, their types will never be counted.
2016-04-08	Some delirium abilities that appear on instants and sorceries use the word “instead.” These spells have an upgraded effect when they resolve if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard. They check that number only while they’re resolving and don’t count themselves, since they aren’t in your graveyard yet. You only get the upgraded effect, not both effects.
2016-04-08	The card types in Magic are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal (a card type that appears on some older cards). Supertypes (such as legendary and basic) and subtypes (such as Human and Equipment) are not counted.
2016-04-08	The number of card types matters, not the number of cards. For example, Wicker Witch (an artifact creature) along with Catalog (an instant) and Chaplain’s Blessing (a sorcery) will enable delirium.