Urborg Justice MTG Card

Card advantage stems from Urborg Justice’s potential for multiple creature removal without hand loss. Instant speed casting offers flexibility, disrupting opponent strategies at pivotal moments. Demands careful play due to creature loss and specific mana costs, favoring thoughtful deck construction.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Number	84
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gary Leach

Text of card

Target opponent chooses and buries a number of creatures he or she controls equal to the number of creatures put into your graveyard from play so far this turn.

"It is a narrow line between justice and vengeance." —Crovax

Cards like Urborg Justice

Urborg Justice is a unique spell in the realm of MTG, focused on retribution and board impact. Its closest relatives include other retaliatory cards like Shriveling Rot and False Demise. When paired against Shriveling Rot, Urborg Justice seems to lean more towards tactical surprise, having a speedy response that forces adversaries to sacrifice creatures immediately after your own have met their demise. In contrast, Shriveling Rot offers the choice between withering damage or the conversion of fallen creatures into a direct loss of life, granting a more strategic, albeit slower, approach to retribution.

Moving to False Demise, the comparison shifts as this card functions more as a preemptive measure. Unlike the post-combat reaction from Urborg Justice, False Demise safeguards your creatures by ensuring a return to the battlefield upon death. However, it lacks the aggressive stance of forcing opponent sacrifices that Urborg Justice provides.

Each card brings its own flavor to the strategic table, but Urborg Justice stakes its claim with an immediate, impactful response, capable of turning the tide of battle in the blink of an eye. It’s this distinct vindictive edge that makes Urborg Justice stand out in the MTG collection of instant treachery cards.

Cards similar to Urborg Justice by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Urborg Justice gives players the tactical edge by potentially removing multiple creatures your opponent controls without losing any card from hand. This can shift the tide of the game, leading to substantial advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By forcing an opponent to sacrifice creatures, you’re indirectly accelerating your resources. How? By dealing with costly threats with a low mana investment, leaving your mana open for other essential plays or to further develop your board presence.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Urborg Justice at instant speed provides considerable flexibility. You can disrupt an opponent’s attack, navigate around their strategies, and make key plays during their end step, allowing you to maintain the element of surprise and control over the game’s pace.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Urborg Justice demands a sacrifice of creatures from your side of the field. Losing valuable creatures can lead to a strategic disadvantage, especially if those creatures are essential to your game plan or board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires black mana to play, which confines its integration predominantly within mono-black or black-heavy multicolored decks. Players running decks without black mana won’t be able to capitalize on Urborg Justice’s abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost, some players might argue that Urborg Justice could be a steep price for the effect it delivers. There are alternatives available that may not put players in the position of sacrificing their own creatures or might even offer a more comprehensive removal solution.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Urborg Justice can adapt to different playstyles as it provides an immediate response to board wipes, making it a powerful tool for black decks seeking ways to turn the tables on opponents.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with sacrificing strategies, enabling you to maximize value when your creatures die, and it pairs well with recurring creatures from your graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Urborg Justice stands out as a key card to punish overcommitting opponents and maintains relevancy as a tactical asset.

How to beat

Urborg Justice is a unique card in MTG that can be a real game-changer in any match. Deploying creatures is a cornerstone of nearly any strategy, but Urborg Justice’s ability to force an opponent to sacrifice their creatures can disrupt even the most well-laid plans. However, just like any card in MTG, there are strategies to mitigate its impact and continue to press your advantage.

To counter the potential devastation of Urborg Justice, one effective approach is to limit the number of creatures you commit to the board, especially if you suspect your opponent has it in their hand or deck. This plays around the card by minimizing its effect when it’s activated. Another tactic is to use creatures that have enter the battlefield or death triggers, so that even if you lose them, you still gain some value out of the exchange. Lastly, prioritizing the use of instant-speed removal or sacrifice outlets can allow you to control which creatures you lose, rather than leaving the choice up to Urborg Justice’s forced sacrifice.

In essence, respecting the power of Urborg Justice and assuming a more conservative, reactive gameplay style can be the key to overcoming the disruption it seeks to cause. Proper strategic adjustments ensure that even a card with the potential of Urborg Justice won’t catch you off guard, maintaining the momentum in your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Urborg Justice MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Urborg Justice and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Urborg Justice has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Urborg Justice 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	Does not target the creatures.
2004-10-04	The creatures are chosen on resolution, not on announcement.