Unmake MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Exiling creatures with Unmake disrupts graveyard strategies and offers a significant edge in play.
  2. Instant speed and low cost make Unmake a flexible, tempo-enhancing tool in tight situations.
  3. Mana specificity and hand discard requirements may limit Unmake’s versatility in diverse decks.

Text of card

Remove target creature from the game.

A gwyllion's favorite trap is the vanity mirror. A bewitched piece of glass traps the looker's soul and does away with the body.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The ability of Unmake to exile a target creature has a dual advantage. Unlike simple destruction spells, exiling bypasses graveyard-based strategies, preventing opponents from reutilizing their resources. This offers a clear advantage in matches where graveyard interaction is pivotal.

Resource Acceleration: While Unmake doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, its low cost offers a different kind of acceleration. For just three mana, you disrupt your opponent’s board presence. This effective mana-use contributes to tempo acceleration, keeping you ahead in the game.

Instant Speed: Unmake’s utility is greatly enhanced by its instant speed, granting flexibility to respond to threats on the fly. This allows you to wait and see how the board develops and make decisions with the most up-to-date information, which is often critical for maintaining control of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unmake demands players to sacrifice a nonland card from their hand when they play it. This requirement can be particularly challenging when your hand is already depleted or when every card is pivotal for your strategy, therefore potentially setting you back.

Specific Mana Cost: Unmake requires a strict combination of black and white mana to cast. This specificity can complicate your mana base, particularly in multicolored decks that might struggle to produce the right colors at the critical moment, reducing this card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s higher than some alternative removal spells in the game, Unmake can be a less efficient choice in situations where mana conservation is key. Faster decks might opt for lower-cost spells to maintain tempo, while control decks may prefer options that offer additional benefits beyond mere creature removal.


Reasons to Include Unmake in Your Collection

Versatility: Unmake stands out as a highly flexible removal option. Its ability to exile any creature without restrictions on color or size makes it a staple in decks that need reliable answers to diverse threats.

Combo Potential: By permanently removing key creatures from the game, Unmake can disrupt opponent’s combos or synergies, making it an excellent tool for maintaining control of the board.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting deck archetypes, having a card like Unmake ensures you’re prepared for creatures that are resilient to typical destruction spells. Its enduring relevance in various formats keeps it as a prudent choice for collectors aiming to stay competitive.


How to beat Unmake

Unmake is a formidable disruption tool in Magic: The Gathering, offering players the ability to permanently remove a threat from the game without leaving a trace. This non-targeted exile effect bypasses conventional defenses like indestructibility and regeneration, making it a valuable asset in a player’s arsenal. However, it does come with a limitation that can be exploited – its casting cost of three white mana, which can be somewhat inflexible in multicolored decks.

One strategy to outpace Unmake is by deploying threats at a rate that exceeds your opponent’s ability to generate the necessary mana. Playing cards with a lower casting cost can pressure your opponent before they stabilize their mana base. Additionally, utilizing spells and abilities that can protect your creatures from being exiled – such as giving them hexproof or shroud – can render Unmake ineffective against your key assets. Cards like Blossoming Defense or Swiftfoot Boots help shield your important creatures from such targeted exile effects.

As with any powerful spell, understanding the best times to bait out an Unmake and having a backup plan ready are crucial aspects of defeating a deck that relies on this impactful removal. By anticipating its presence and adjusting your strategy accordingly, you can mitigate the advantage Unmake provides and maintain the upper hand in your matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deep understanding and timely responses are often the linchpin of success in MTG. Whether it’s employing Unmake to adeptly remove threats or weaving together intricate plays using similar cards, every choice shapes the outcome. Keeping pace with the latest strategies is crucial as the matchup evolves. The key takeaway is to cultivate a versatile deck that not only counters prevailing threats but also adapts to the dynamic nature of the game. Hungry for more insights and ready to sharpen your strategy? Dive deeper with us and gather the wisdom needed to outmaneuver opponents and claim victory.


Cards like Unmake

Unmake is a unique removal option in Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of a few other standout cards that also exile creatures. Compared to Oblivion Ring and Banishing Light, Unmake has the advantage of permanently dealing with a threat without leaving an enchantment behind that an opponent might remove to regain their creature. This instant speed spell costs three mana, similar to the aforementioned cards, but it also pays for its efficiency with a more restrictive mana requirement of three black or white mana, as opposed to the more flexible costs of its counterparts.

Path to Exile is another card that exiles creatures, and while it costs significantly less at only one white mana, it compensates the opponent with a basic land card. This could potentially be a downside depending on the state of the game. Swords to Plowshares also exiles for just one white mana and is instantly castable, but it gives the opponent life equal to the creature’s power, another potential disadvantage.

Therefore, while other cards may offer exile effects at a lower cost, Unmake stands strong in its niche. It serves as a powerful tool, especially in formats where giving an opponent any additional resources can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Banishing Light - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - Lorwyn (LRW)
Banishing Light - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Path to Exile - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Swords to Plowshares - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Unmake by color, type and mana cost

Mortify - MTG Card versions
Anguished Unmaking - MTG Card versions
Harsh Sustenance - MTG Card versions
Kaya's Guile - MTG Card versions
Treacherous Greed - MTG Card versions
Mortify - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Anguished Unmaking - Fallout (PIP)
Harsh Sustenance - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Kaya's Guile - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Treacherous Greed - Murders at Karlov Manor Promos (PMKM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unmake MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Eventide, 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 Unmake and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Unmake Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2013-03-15. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325512003normalblackChris Rahn
22008-07-25EventideEVE 962003normalblackSteven Belledin
32009-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2009P09 32003normalblackChris Rahn
42010-06-18ArchenemyARC 982003normalblackSteven Belledin
52013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 272003normalblackSteven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unmake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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