Topple MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Sorcery |
Released | 2000-02-14 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Nemesis |
Set code | NEM |
Number | 24 |
Frame | 1997 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Daren Bader |
Text of card
Remove target creature with the greatest power from the game. (If two or more creatures are tied for greatest power, target only one of them.)
"Let all witness the fate of those who defy me." —Crovax
Cards like Topple
Topple is an interesting piece in the suite of removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards like Sunlance in terms of being a low-cost option to deal with creatures. Both are designed to neutralize threats at a single mana point, but what sets Topple apart is its conditional requirement targeting only creatures with flying, making it niche but efficient in the right circumstances.
In parallel, Plummet offers a direct comparison, providing targeted removal against creatures with flying at an identical mana cost. Yet, where Topple is sorcery speed, Plummet can be cast anytime, giving players more flexibility to respond to aerial threats. Conversely, Topple has the unique addition of drawing a card if the targeted creature is white, which gives a slight edge in card advantage.
Ultimately, cards like Topple find their unique groove in MTG by offering specific answers to common challenges on the battlefield. While they may require a more calculated deck building approach, their utility in the right situations can be unrivaled, especially when facing decks with a heavy reliance on flying creatures.
Cards similar to Topple by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Topple enables you to disrupt your opponent’s board presence by targeting high-power creatures, often essential components of their game plan. This disruption can potentially translate into card advantage, as it removes key pieces from their strategy, forcing them to spend resources to recover.
Resource Acceleration: By dealing with costly creatures early on, Topple can effectively slow down your opponent’s resource acceleration, giving you the upper hand. In addition, it allows you to maintain a more stable board, which can indirectly accelerate your own resource management by preserving life points and board state.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Topple provides flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to respond to threats during your opponent’s turn. This can give you a considerable advantage, keeping them guessing about your available resources and potential responses, thereby increasing the strategic depth of your plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in the strategic play of Topple necessitates the choice to discard a card, a tactical consideration that can be detrimental when your hand is already diminished.
Specific Mana Cost: Topple’s casting cost requires precise mana alignment, specifically from white sources, which inherently restricts the card to certain deck types and may not fit with a player’s mana curve in multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: One must weigh the benefits of playing Topple against its mana valuation, acknowledging that its cost is on the upper end for removal spells, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion in favor of more cost-effective alternatives available to Magic the Gathering players.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Topple is a superb choice for decks that require a straightforward and efficient removal answer. This card can seamlessly fit into various strategies that aim to keep the board clear of high-powered threats.
Combo Potential: The ability to take down potent creatures that your opponents control can be coupled with graveyard retrieval tactics or cards that benefit from opponents’ creatures dying, unlocking new levels of synergy within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where formidable creatures are often at the center of winning strategies, having a card like Topple can serve as a key counterbalance, ensuring your deck remains competitive against creature-heavy opponents.
How to beat
Topple is a card that stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to remove creatures from the battlefield, a solid strategy for those aiming to dominate. The keys to countering Topple’s effect are strategies that either bolster the creature’s resilience or skirt around the removal tactic entirely. Deploy creatures with indestructibility to render Topple’s effect null, or utilize hexproof to prevent it from being a valid target in the first place.
Alternative strategies include employing instant-speed spells that can buff a creature’s power and toughness during combat or having counterspells ready to negate Topple as it’s played. In the grand scheme of gameplay, maintaining a diverse set of creatures and backup plans is crucial to outmaneuver an opponent relying on Topple. Additionally, keeping pressure with a variety of threats can stretch an opponent’s resources thin, especially if they are dependent on single-target removal spells to maintain board control. Always be ready to adapt and remember that versatility can tip the scales in your favor against removal-heavy decks.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Topple MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Topple and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Topple has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Topple card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | It can only target a creature with the greatest power. This means you pick such a creature on announcement, and if that creature is not still the one with greatest power on resolution, then this spell doesn’t resolve since its target is illegal. |