Flatten MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Number	100
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Raoul Vitale

Key Takeaways

Flatten shines in disruption and maintaining card balance, pivotal for black control decks.
Instant speed use of Flatten allows strategic flexibility and surprise during combat.
The requirement to discard and specific mana cost are notable constraints in play.

Text of card

Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn.

Like their dragonlord, the Kolaghan take no trophies. They find true fulfillment only in the battle itself, in clash of steel and thunder of hooves.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flatten, as a black control card, shines in its ability to eliminate a threat while keeping your hand well-equipped for future plays, simultaneously disrupting your opponent’s board presence and maintaining card equilibrium on your side.

Resource Acceleration: Although Flatten itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its low mana cost facilitates a smoother mana curve, allowing players to efficiently use their mana and accelerate their game plan without falling behind.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Flatten gives it a tactical edge, enabling players to respond to threats immediately, keeping opponents on their toes and offering the flexibility to decide the most opportune moment for its use, whether that’s during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Flatten demands that you discard another card from your hand. This cost can make you deplete valuable resources, leaving you at a potential disadvantage, especially if your hand size is dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Flatten requires both black mana and generic mana, which means only decks with access to black mana can utilize it. This limitation restricts deck-building flexibility and may not fit into multi-colored decks that are tight on mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost totalling four mana, Flatten can be a costly investment for its effect. In the current meta, you may find other removal options that are more mana-efficient and can leave you with enough resources to execute additional plays within the same turn.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: A Flatten MTG card offers a broad range of utility for decks looking to establish control. Its ability to neutralize threats makes it a flexible choice for virtually any black deck.

Combo Potential: Flatten works well with cards that benefit from creatures dying or spells with delve, making it a cog in the machine of many combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Given its effectiveness against creatures, Flatten’s presence is crucial in environments where creature-based decks are dominant, ensuring your collection stays up to date with the ever-evolving game.

How to beat Flatten

Flatten is a removal spell that can quickly thwart your creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. When facing this card, it’s crucial to have a plan to maintain your board presence. One effective countermeasure is to utilize creatures with hexproof or shroud, making them immune to targeted spells like Flatten. The key is to deploy creatures that can dodge removal or use spells that grant temporary protection, such as Ranger’s Guile or Blossoming Defense to safeguard your key creatures at critical moments.

Another avenue to consider is the use of indestructible creatures. These formidable beings can laugh in the face of destruction spells, including Flatten, ensuring your army stays intact. Additionally, having a recursion strategy can also mitigate the impact of removal spells. Cards that can return creatures from the graveyard to your hand or the battlefield can quickly undo the setback caused by Flatten, keeping your momentum going.

Ultimately, it’s all about resourcefulness and resilience. By diversifying threats and incorporating protective measures, Flatten’s impact can be greatly diminished, leaving your opponent with fewer options to disrupt your game plan. Adjusting your strategy to anticipate and neutralize common removal spells can pave the way to victory in the intricate world of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Flatten

Flatten is an intriguing removal option in MTG, strikingly similar to other spells designed to weaken or destroy creatures. One can draw parallels to cards like Doom Blade, which also offers an efficient creature removal for a minimal mana investment. Flatten separates itself with the ability to target any creature, regardless of its color, but at a higher cost and with the additional effect of reducing a creature’s toughness, rather than outright destroying it.

Another card for comparison is Lash of Malice. Like Flatten, it cuts down a creature’s toughness but with a lower mana cost and the potential for a short-term boost before delivering the debuff. This instant speed flexibility provides players with options during combat or on an opponent’s turn. In contrast, Murder is a more direct relative, which though pricier than Flatten, guarantees the destruction of any target creature regardless of size, bypassing the toughness reduction step.

In weighing these options, Flatten offers MTG fans a middle-ground solution. It’s not as universal as Doom Blade or as final as Murder, yet it provides a unique balance for players seeking a cost-effective control of the battlefield.

Cards similar to Flatten by color, type and mana cost

Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions

When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions

Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flatten MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Flatten and other MTG cards: