Turn to Slag MTG Card


Turn to Slag provides a unique two-for-one card advantage, removing creatures and attached equipment. Demands significant red mana, which may limit deck building flexibility and strategy diversity. Its versatility in destroying creatures and equipment makes it a valuable card for many strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Turn to Slag deals 5 damage to target creature. Destroy all Equipment attached to that creature.

"If it wasn't a blackened, stinking, melted abomination before, it certainly is now." —Koth of the Hammer


Cards like Turn to Slag

Turn to Slag is a noteworthy removal option in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other removal spells like Roast, which also handles creatures with up to 5 damage. What sets Turn to Slag apart is its ability to not just deal damage, but also to remove an opponent’s equipment, effectively negating potential advantages in a single cast. This feature is absent in Roast, emphasizing Turn to Slag’s additional utility.

Examining Shatter, we discover another parallel card, specifically targeting artifacts to disrupt an opponent’s strategy. While Shatter isn’t able to damage creatures, its lower cost can be an efficient answer to equipment or artifact threats. Turn to Slag, in contrast, offers a more comprehensive solution at a higher mana cost. Another card, Smash to Smithereens, also destroys artifacts, but it includes direct damage to the opponent, positioning it between the direct creature damage of Turn to Slag and the specific artifact focus of Shatter.

These comparisons highlight Turn to Slag as a versatile choice within the realm of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal with both threats on the battlefield and attached equipment makes it a card worth considering for any destruction-centric strategy.

Roast - MTG Card versions
Shatter - MTG Card versions
Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions
Roast - MTG Card versions
Shatter - MTG Card versions
Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Turn to Slag by color, type and mana cost

Pyrotechnics - MTG Card versions
Illicit Auction - MTG Card versions
Cone of Flame - MTG Card versions
Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Mogg Infestation - MTG Card versions
Jagged Lightning - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Burning Fields - MTG Card versions
Implode - MTG Card versions
Shower of Coals - MTG Card versions
Torrent of Fire - MTG Card versions
Mana Geyser - MTG Card versions
Shivan Meteor - MTG Card versions
Yawning Fissure - MTG Card versions
World at War - MTG Card versions
Explosive Revelation - MTG Card versions
Reforge the Soul - MTG Card versions
Burn at the Stake - MTG Card versions
Mass Mutiny - MTG Card versions
Cleaver Riot - MTG Card versions
Pyrotechnics - MTG Card versions
Illicit Auction - MTG Card versions
Cone of Flame - MTG Card versions
Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Mogg Infestation - MTG Card versions
Jagged Lightning - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Burning Fields - MTG Card versions
Implode - MTG Card versions
Shower of Coals - MTG Card versions
Torrent of Fire - MTG Card versions
Mana Geyser - MTG Card versions
Shivan Meteor - MTG Card versions
Yawning Fissure - MTG Card versions
World at War - MTG Card versions
Explosive Revelation - MTG Card versions
Reforge the Soul - MTG Card versions
Burn at the Stake - MTG Card versions
Mass Mutiny - MTG Card versions
Cleaver Riot - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Turn to Slag offers a unique form of card advantage by enabling you to destroy an opponent’s creature and any Equipment attached to it. This two-for-one potential means you’re effectively reducing the number of resources your opponent has on the board with a single card.

Resource Acceleration: While Turn to Slag itself doesn’t directly provide mana or resource acceleration, it indirectly aids in maintaining your tempo by removing key threats. This can prevent your opponent from gaining the momentum they need to outpace you, keeping the game at a manageable speed.

Instant Speed: Turn to Slag operates at sorcery speed, which means it doesn’t have the flexibility of an instant. However, this allows you to methodically plan your turn and strategically decide when to eliminate threats, ensuring maximum impact on your opponent’s board presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Turn to Slag doesn’t have a discard requirement, managing resources is still vital. Careful consideration is needed when slotting this card into your deck to ensure you’re not sacrificing needed hand advantage for its effects.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring three generic and two red mana, Turn to Slag demands a commitment to red within your mana base, potentially constraining deck diversity and reducing its adaptability across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of five mana, Turn to Slag competes with other potentially more impactful spells or creatures in the same mana range. This creates an opportunity cost for including it in your deck, especially within formats that favor lower-cost, high-efficiency spells.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Turn to Slag can serve a dual purpose in your deck. Not only does it deal damage sufficient to destroy most creatures, it also strips away equipment, undermining your opponent’s strategy and board presence with a single card.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in setups that reward you for casting spells with high mana value or dealing noncombat damage. It can synergize well with spells that capitalize on destroying artifacts and clearing the board, enabling multi-layered strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players lean on artifact creatures or equipment-heavy tactics, Turn to Slag becomes an exceptionally useful tool. It can shift the tides of the game by removing key pieces from your opponents’ battlefield.


How to beat

Turn to Slag is a spell that has both tangible and strategic impact within the realm of MTG. As a removal card, it has earned its place in decks looking to deal with pesky multi-component threats. Its ability to destroy a target creature and deal additional damage to other equipment attached can turn the tide of a game, particularly in matches where opponents rely on artifact equipment to bolster their positions.

Defeating a card with the caliber of Turn to Slag requires a nuanced approach. Protection from red spells can be a straightforward method of shielding your creatures from being targeted. Moreover, countering Turn to Slag with blue spells that negate or redirect its effects can prevent its destructive force from ever reaching your side of the battlefield. Another effective strategy involves maintaining a diversified board presence, limiting the loss incurred from a single removal event. Also, having instant-speed indestructibility options or regeneration abilities at your disposal can help your key creatures survive the blast. Deploying these techniques will not only neutralize the threat but could also leave an opponent overextended and vulnerable to counterplay.

With strategic insights and carefully selected countermeasures, overcoming the challenge posed by Turn to Slag is well within reach for the adept player, enhancing both your defense and offense in the game of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Turn to Slag MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Magic 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 Turn to Slag and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Turn to Slag Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1062003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
22012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1532003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1682015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Turn to Slag has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-06-23 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Turn to Slag tries to resolve, the spell won't resolve. You won't destroy any Equipment.
2020-06-23 Turn to Slag can target a creature that has no Equipment attached to it.