Toxic Deluge MTG Card
2013-11-01 - Number 96
2015-11-18 - Number 48
2016-06-10 - Number 108
2020-08-07 - Number 110
2020-08-07 - Number 345
2022-01-28 - Number 6
2023-06-23 - Number 209
2023-08-04 - Number 191
2023-08-04 - Number 523
2024-02-09 - Number 142
2024-06-14 - Number 277
2024-06-14 - Number 412
2002-06-24 - Number 82832
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
As an additional cost to cast Toxic Deluge, pay X life. All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn.
"It's a difficult task to quarantine a plague that moves with the clouds." —Esara, healer adept
Cards like Toxic Deluge
Toxic Deluge stands out among board sweepers available in MTG due to its flexible mana cost and the depth of control it offers players over the battlefield. Its closest counterparts might be Damnation and Supreme Verdict, both of which similarly clear the board of creatures. However, Toxic Deluge guarantees this regardless of creatures’ abilities such as indestructibility, as players can pay more life to increase the -X/-X effect. Damnation, while also a four-mana board wipe, doesn’t offer this level of flexibility, as it removes creatures based on outright destruction.
Another analogue is Black Sun’s Zenith, which puts -X/-X counters on all creatures for X mana. While it shares the adjustable feature of Toxic Deluge, it comes in at a higher cost because it requires double black mana plus X. Additionally, the counters remain beyond the turn, impacting incoming creatures, a feature Toxic Deluge lacks. Wrath of God is often mentioned in such discussions for its straightforward four-mana cost and complete creature destruction, but again, Deluge’s scalability and ability to bypass protective abilities provide a different level of strategic advantage.
Ultimately, each of these sweepers has unique strengths, but Toxic Deluge’s versatile mechanic caters to players who value precision and the capacity to tailor the effect to the specific game situation.
Cards similar to Toxic Deluge by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Toxic Deluge. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Five-color | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Grixis Control | Legacy | $5K - Legacy - SCG CON Philadelphia - Sunday - 9:30 am | |
 | Mono-Black Combo | Legacy | Mono-Black Scam | 2023 NA Legacy Champs |
 | Mono-Black Control | Legacy | Mono-Black Pox | Weekly Legacy |
| Jund Midrange | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Tundra Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Toxic Deluge may not directly allow you to draw cards, but its ability to potentially clear the board of multiple creatures with a single spell makes for an impressive swing in advantage. Properly timed, it can decimate an opponent’s army, leaving them at a deficit while you maintain your hand.
Resource Acceleration: While Toxic Deluge upfront doesn’t alter mana resources, the card’s scalable nature means you have control over the life you pay, thereby accelerating your game plan. By efficiently managing this trade-off, you can retain mana for other plays, dictating the pace of the game as you clean the battlefield.
Instant Speed: While Toxic Deluge is a sorcery, its ability to shape the game’s state is akin to the flexibility offered by instant speed spells. Casting Toxic Deluge at the right moment can equate to interrupting your opponent’s strategy just as effectively as any instant, providing a level of reactive control over the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Not applicable as Toxic Deluge does not have a discard requirement.
Specific Mana Cost: Toxic Deluge requires one black mana along with two generic mana, which could be less flexible for decks not running heavily on black mana resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the three-mana total cost isn’t the highest, it does compete with other board clear options that may have different advantages, such as lower mana costs or additional benefits beyond the scope of just creature destruction.
Reasons to Include Toxic Deluge in Your Collection
Versatility: Toxic Deluge offers a scalable board wipe, allowing players to tailor the spell’s intensity to the situation. It fits into a spectrum of Black decks, ranging from control to reanimator, affording them the flexibility to clear the board of threats of any size.
Combo Potential: This card can be a pivotal play in scenarios where life totals are utilized as a resource, enabling combinations with cards that benefit from life payment or creature deaths. It’s a powerful enabler for death-triggered abilities and various graveyard strategies.
Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy decks frequently dominating play, Toxic Deluge remains a potent response. It’s able to mitigate swarm strategies and overpower indestructible creatures, maintaining its status as a cornerstone in many metagames and a must-have for competitive play.
How to beat
Toxic Deluge is a powerful sweeper in MTG, capable of clearing the board of creatures regardless of their size, for just three mana. It’s particularly efficient against indestructible creatures or those with protection abilities due to its unique payment of life to determine the extent of its effect. Despite its potency, overcoming Toxic Deluge is about clever deckbuilding and strategic play. Focus on using creatures that have persist or undying abilities so that they return to the battlefield even after Deluge resolves.
Another effective strategy is to employ cards that grant your creatures hexproof or shroud, preventing them from being targeted by spells and abilities. Also, consider diversifying your threats with planeswalkers and non-creature permanents, which remain unaffected by Toxic Deluge. Be mindful of your life total, and don’t overcommit to the board if your opponent has available mana and is playing colors that typically include board wipes.
Lastly, leveraging instant-speed effects that either buff your creatures’ toughness or counteract the spell outright can be a game-changer against Toxic Deluge. Employing these tactics can significantly reduce the impact of this formidable spell on your game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Toxic Deluge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2013, 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 Toxic Deluge and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Toxic Deluge Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2013-11-01 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 82832 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | ||
| 2 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 96 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2015-11-18 | Legendary Cube Prize Pack | PZ1 | 48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 4 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 108 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 5 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 110 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 6 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 345 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 7 | 2022-01-28 | Commander Collection: Black | CC2 | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 8 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 209 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anato Finnstark | |
| 9 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 191 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 10 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 523 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 11 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 142 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 12 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 | MH3 | 277 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 13 | 2024-06-14 | Modern Horizons 3 | MH3 | 412 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Toxic Deluge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Toxic Deluge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-08-07 | All creatures on the battlefield when Toxic Deluge resolves are affected. Ones that enter the battlefield or become creatures later in the turn are not. |
| 2020-08-07 | If you cast Toxic Deluge without paying its mana cost, you'll still choose a value for X and pay X life. This is because it doesn't have in its mana cost. |