Sandblast MTG Card

Fate Reforged (FRF)
2015-01-23 - Number 24

Hour of Devastation (HOU)
2017-07-14 - Number 20

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Sandblast offers conditional card advantage by preserving creatures, inadvertently enhancing your board presence.
The spell’s instant speed disrupts opponents’ combat plans, boosting your tactical leverage mid-game.
Despite a restrictive cost, Sandblast’s raw power makes it a viable removal tool in specific MTG formats.

Text of card

Sandblast deals 5 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.

In the Shifting Wastes, more are killed by sand than by steel.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the realm of MTG, Sandblast doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but its ability to remove a large attacking or blocking creature from the game can indirectly lead to card advantage by preserving your own creatures on the board. This swing in board presence can often translate into a card advantage over time as your preserved creatures will continue to generate value.

Resource Acceleration: While Sandblast doesn’t provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense of generating additional mana or cards, it can be a tool for tempo advantage. By efficiently removing an opponent’s threat during the combat phase, you maintain your mana for other strategies, effectively keeping the pace of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Sandblast provides flexibility and surprise factor, allowing you to tactically respond to threats during the combat phase. This ability to act on your opponent’s turn can shift the dynamics of a match, as you can disrupt your opponent’s plans while keeping your strategic options open.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other removal options, Sandblast does not necessitate discarding a card, giving it an edge in preserving hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Sandblast comes with a very specific mana cost, requiring two generic and one white mana, which sometimes restricts its insertion into multi-colored decks that may prioritize mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at three mana for a single-target removal, Sandblast can be considered costly when compared to other removal spells, particularly because it requires a creature to be attacking or blocking to be a valid target, limiting its timing and overall utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sandblast is a flexible removal spell that can be slotted into different deck archetypes. Its ability to deliver a significant damage boost makes it particularly useful for thwarting large attacking or blocking creatures that are common in various game formats.

Combo Potential: While not a traditional combo enabler, Sandblast can serve as an important defensive measure within strategies that aim to stabilize the game until their key pieces are assembled. It efficiently removes threats, allowing for smoother execution of your game plan.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive creature-based decks are prevalent, Sandblast proves its worth by eliminating key combatants and turning the tide of battle. Its presence in your collection ensures you have a ready answer to significant threats on the battlefield.

How to beat

Sandblast is known for its potent ability to deal a whopping five damage to an attacking or blocking creature, making it a common choice for players looking to fortify their defense in Magic: The Gathering. To navigate around this intimidating removal spell, flexibility and strategic timing are key.

One effective way to counteract Sandblast’s impact is through the use of instant-speed spells that can provide indestructibility or buff your creatures’ toughness beyond the five damage threshold. Additionally, keeping creatures with hexproof or protection from white can render Sandblast ineffective, as it cannot target them. It’s also wise to bait out the Sandblast on less valuable creatures before committing more important ones to the combat phase or to wait until the opponent is tapped out of white mana, minimizing the risk of facing this powerful spell. By adopting these countermeasures, you can effectively nullify the threat of Sandblast and maintain a strong battlefield presence.

Understanding the intricacies of when and how to deploy your creatures against potential threats like Sandblast is crucial for seizing the upper hand and achieving victory. By mastering the art of anticipation and responsive play, you can ensure that your forces remain unscathed and ready to claim triumph on the tangled battleground of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Sandblast

Sandblast is a notable player in the field of creature removal in MTG, holding its ground amongst a diverse array of damage-based spells. Its closest kin in terms of functionality is likely Gideon’s Reproach, which dishes out a similar 4 damage to an attacking or blocking creature. However, Sandblast requires one more mana to cast, which can be a pivotal difference in tempo for any game.

There’s also the spell Impeccable Timing, offering a slight decrease in damage output with 3 damage to an attacking or blocking creature, yet at the advantage of a lower cost. This can be especially useful for quicker gameplay strategies or conserving mana for other spells in your hand. Conversely, cards such as Seal Away can confine creatures without dealing damage but at the restriction of targeting only tapped creatures, providing a different form of removal within white’s arsenal.

In essence, while assessing the pros and cons of various removal spells, Sandblast provides a robust middle ground with its significant damage potential, making it a capable choice for players seeking to defend their MTG battlefield against formidable attackers.

Cards similar to Sandblast by color, type and mana cost

Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sandblast MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Hour of Devastation, 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 Sandblast and other MTG cards: