Pull Under MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant — Arcane
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Number	137
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Offering both disruption and tactical flexibility, Pull Under is a game-changer in creature-heavy metas.
The card’s instant speed and versatility make it a powerful addition to specific black and blue decks.
Despite its strengths, the high mana cost and discard requirement of Pull Under can become a strategic drawback.

Text of card

Target creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn.

"Although nowhere on Kamigawa was safe during the war, the Takenuma Swamp was the most horrifying. The rotting bamboo itself rebelled against its mortal inhabitants, pulling them into unmarked graves." —*Observations of the Kami War*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pull Under offers the strategic benefit of removing a troublesome creature from the battlefield. This not only disrupts your opponent’s board presence but effectively reduces their hand advantage by negating one of their played cards.

Resource Acceleration: Though Pull Under itself isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, it can be considered an indirect accelerator. By eliminating a key creature, it can pave the way for faster assaults and less resistance, leading to quicker victories.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Pull Under at instant speed provides significant tactical flexibility. It allows players to react in real-time to threats, ensuring optimal use of mana each turn and keeping opponents on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pull Under pressures your hand resources by asking you to discard a card to harness its removal power. This can backfire if you’re already playing a tight game with a dwindling hand, forcing tough decisions.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and blue mana to cast, this spell’s effectiveness is exclusive to decks that can reliably generate both colors, reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost demanding three black mana and two of any color, Pull Under sits at a higher echelon on the mana curve. This can often mean you’re dedicating your entire turn to it, potentially allowing opponents to maintain tempo. Other removal spells in the game might accomplish similar goals for less, providing a more efficient use of your mana resources.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pull Under is a flexible card that can be a key player in various deck types. Its ability to target and eliminate a threat is universal, making it a valuable piece in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card has significant combo potential, able to pave the way for game-ending plays by removing blockers or threats. It also synergizes with deck mechanics that benefit from spell casting or creature control.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment heavy with creature-based decks, Pull Under shines as a method to disrupt your opponents’ board presence and maintain dominance on the battlefield. createStackNavigator

How to beat

Pull Under is one of those spells in Magic: The Gathering that presents a significant threat on the battlefield with its potent removal effect. Unlike universal removals like Murder, which can take out any creature for a set cost, Pull Under brings a twist with its threshold cost reduction. However, understanding when and how to deploy creatures against it can change the tide of play.

Strategically timing your creature plays is crucial. Since Pull Under is often reserved for sizable threats, playing less critical creatures early can bait out removal spells. Moreover, leveraging spells that generate creature tokens or feature undying and persist abilities can effectively pressure a Pull Under user. Cards that give you hexproof like Leyline of Sanctity can also keep your creatures safe from this targeted removal. In addition, instant speed creature protection spells like Blossoming Defense can provide a surprise element, saving your crucial creatures from Pull Under’s grip at a critical moment.

Ultimately, maintaining an awareness of your opponent’s potential for a Pull Under and cautiously cultivating your board presence can diminish its impact, allowing you to retain control of your creatures and the battlefield.

Cards like Pull Under

Pull Under stands out for its ability to not only destroy a target creature but also force its controller to shuffle it into their library in MTG. This particular removal spell reminds seasoned players of the notable Path to Exile. However, unlike Path to Exile, which exiles the creature and allows the controller to search for a basic land, Pull Under ensures that the targeted creature gets buried deep within the library.

Another spell that echoes the functionality of Pull Under is Unmake. Although Unmake also exiles the creature with no upside for the opponent, it requires different mana commitments. Pull Under has the advantage of being a monoblack spell, making it more accessible in mono-colored decks. Crane Technique is a direct counterpart in the annihilation aspect, and while it’s versatile in being an instant, it deals exclusively with tapped creatures, which is a considerable limitation compared to the broader reach of Pull Under.

In the grand strategy of MTG, Pull Under can be a heavyweight, particularly in formats where reliable creature removal is crucial. Its ability to disrupt an opponent’s strategy without immediate compensation is a trait that sets it respectfully apart in the suite of creature removal spells.

Cards similar to Pull Under by color, type and mana cost

Eyes of the Beholder - MTG Card versions

Topaz Dragon // Entropic Cloud - MTG Card versions

Merciless Repurposing - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pull Under MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Pull Under and other MTG cards: