Ray of Erasure MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Mill
Released	1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Ice Age
Set code	ICE
Number	93
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mike Raabe

Key Takeaways

Ray of Erasure provides strategic card disruption, indirectly creating card advantage when timed well.
Its instant speed and graveyard synergy can significantly enhance blue-focused deck strategies.
Counterplay against Ray of Erasure relies on diverse decks and quick, decisive tactics.

Text of card

Target player takes the top card of his or her library and puts it in his or her graveyard. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

"What is real can be unreal." —Gerda Äagesdotter, Archmage of the Unseen

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ray of Erasure enables a unique form of card disruption. While it doesn’t inherently draw cards directly for the player, it disrupts the opponent’s next draw by milling the top card of their library when combined with card-drawing spells or effects, indirectly leading to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Ray of Erasure doesn’t produce mana or expedite land plays, it can significantly accelerate a player’s strategic resources by filling their graveyard. This can empower strategies based on graveyard synergy, making it a versatile tool for decks focusing on delving or reanimation tactics.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Ray of Erasure offers flexibility in terms of timing. Players can cast it during the opponent’s draw step, in response to an opponent’s card draw, or at the end of their turn, effectively disrupting the opponent’s plans with the element of surprise and maintaining the momentum on their side.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Ray of Erasure is that it compels a player to mill a card from their library with each draw. This can prematurely deplete valuable cards from the deck, especially if the game drags on or if the opponent has means to capitalize on this effect.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a blue mana to cast, making it exclusive to decks that can produce blue mana. Consequently, it may not fit into every strategy, particularly in multicolored decks that need to manage various mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing one blue mana might seem low, its ongoing effect doesn’t always justify the slot in a deck. In a game where tempo and efficiency are key, having a card that doesn’t significantly disrupt your opponent or advance your own board can be a liability against decks that operate at a faster pace or have greater impact plays for a similar mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ray of Erasure offers flexibility in blue-focused decks, providing a way to interrupt opponents’ graveyard strategies while also cycling through your own deck for answers or key pieces.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with effects that benefit from cards being put into a graveyard from a library, or triggering draw effects. It’s an excellent piece in mill-oriented combos.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where the graveyard plays a crucial role, or with the prevalence of tutor effects, having Ray of Erasure can be instrumental in disrupting your opponent’s game plan.

How to beat

Contesting Ray of Erasure in MTG can be a subtle but strategic battle. This card functions by targeting a single card in an opponent’s graveyard per each draw step, effectively removing it from the game. To counter its persistent graveyard-exile effect, players must adapt their tactics.

The key is utilizing cards that benefit from being in the graveyard, such as those with the Dredge mechanic, so the exile effect becomes less detrimental. Alternatively, including cards that shuffle back into the library when they hit the graveyard can negate the impact of Ray of Erasure. Speed is also essential; employing swift, aggressive strategies can overpower a deck relying on Ray of Erasure before it significantly diminishes your resources.

Maintaining a diverse and resilient deck is crucial. Incorporating instant-speed draw effects can minimize the window in which Ray of Erasure can target recent discard additions to the graveyard. Lastly, don’t overlook the value of direct card destruction, hand disruption, or countermagic that can neutralize the card outright. Successfully overcoming the minor yet persistent disruption of Ray of Erasure requires a balanced approach and timely reactions throughout your MTG gameplay.

Cards like Ray of Erasure

Ray of Erasure offers a unique approach within Magic the Gathering’s selection of information control cards. In the realm of library manipulation, its direct comparison is often with cards like Thought Scour. Thought Scour also targets a player’s library, milling two cards and giving its controller the benefit of drawing a card. Ray of Erasure, while not providing a card draw, allows for continuous pressure by milling whenever the controller wishes to cast another spell.

Another analogous card is Glimpse the Unthinkable, which delivers a powerful burst by sending ten cards to the graveyard instantly. However, unlike the sustained option that Ray of Erasure provides, Glimpse the Unthinkable is a one-time event with a larger immediate impact. Jace’s Erasure is a notable comparison as well due to its triggered ability to mill cards. Although it operates differently, relying on drawing cards to trigger the mill, the essence of steadily depleting an opponent’s library echoes Ray of Erasure’s strategy.

All things considered, Ray of Erasure stands its ground in the category of milling cards in Magic the Gathering. Its uniqueness lies in offering continuous targeting of an opponent’s deck, thereby aligning perfectly with strategies that involve casting numerous spells.

Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ray of Erasure by color, type and mana cost

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions

Enchantment Alteration - MTG Card versions

Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ray of Erasure MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Ray of Erasure and other MTG cards: