Assassinate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficiently handles tapped threats but it’s cost-prohibitive compared to alternatives like Murder or Doom Blade.
  2. Serves as a versatile choice in black-themed decks; combos well with cards that force taps.
  3. Meta-relevant for its creature control capability; essential in creature-dominated strategies.

Text of card

Destroy target tapped creature.

The rulers of old Dominaria kept assassins on retainer. However, the true loyalty of these master killers was always to their peers. This elite brotherhood survived the fall of the old royal order.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Assassinate provides a direct method to remove an opposing creature, effectively dealing with a threat and lessening the number of resources your opponent can utilize.

Resource Acceleration: While Assassinate itself does not directly accelerate resources, by removing a potential blocker or attacker, it can indirectly influence the pace of the game in your favor, often resulting in a better position or board state.

Instant Speed: Although Assassinate operates at sorcery speed, it presents the strategic benefit of taking out tapped creatures post-combat, ensuring you can plan your turn without the threat of immediate retribution from the targeted creature.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unrelated to Assassinate itself, some cards in your hand might be key strategic pieces. Having a discard condition could force you to make unfavorable decisions, severing potential game-changing plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Assassinate requires three mana, including two which have to be black. This specificity means it aligns exclusively with black-themed decks or those that can accommodate black mana without disrupting their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, the single-target removal provided by Assassinate may not stack up against alternatives that either cost less or offer additional benefits. Players might opt for more versatile or low-cost removal spells to optimize their deck’s efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Assassinate is an impactful card that can slide into various black-themed decks. Its ability to destroy a tapped creature ensures it finds usefulness in both aggressive decks that force opponents to block and more controlling strategies that can capitalize on creatures already tapped through various game mechanics.

Combo Potential: With a straightforward destroy effect, Assassinate can be combined with cards that tap opponents’ creatures, setting up the perfect scenario for removal. This potential for board control combos makes it a tactical addition to decks looking to control the tempo of the match.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creatures with potent abilities dominate and are commonly utilized, having a reliable removal option like Assassinate can prove essential. It operates well within a meta where controlling or diminishing your opponent’s resources is key to securing victory.


How to Beat Assassinate

The card Assassinate from Magic: The Gathering can pose a significant threat by allowing players to destroy target tapped creatures at sorcery speed. Facing this card across the battlefield requires strategy and timing to mitigate its effect. To keep your creatures safe from Assassinate, consider using instant-speed spells that untap them, such as Twitch or Vitalize, which can be played in response to your opponent’s Assassinate.

One can also employ creatures with Hexproof or Shroud abilities to nullify Assassinate’s targeting. Cards like Invisible Stalker or Slippery Bogle would not care about Assassinate due to their inherent protection from being targeted by spells controlled by your opponent. Additionally, maintaining a counter spell like Negate in hand can be effective in safeguarding your creatures from removal spells including Assassinate, ensuring you maintain a presence on the board.

Moreover, it’s vital to manage your gameplay by cautiously deciding when to attack. Since Assassinate only targets tapped creatures, sometimes the optimal move is to hold back your most valuable creatures as blockers or until you can assure their safety. By integrating these tactics within your game plan, you can diminish the impact of Assassinate on your strategy and maintain control of the game state.


Cards like Assassinate

Assassinate stands as a reliable removal option for players aiming to control the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative in terms of functionality is Murder, which grants the ability to destroy a targeted creature unconditionally, but at a slightly higher mana cost. However, Assassinate’s restriction to only target tapped creatures can be both a boon and a detraction when compared to Murder, as it requires timing and forethought.

Comparisons can also be drawn with Doom Blade, which offers a more cost-efficient way of dealing with creatures at instant speed. Still, it’s constrained by being unable to affect black creatures. This isn’t a problem for Assassinate, making it a more versatile choice in a multi-colored game. Go for the Throat is another assassin to consider, banishing non-artifact creatures with efficiency, yet withholding the instant gratification in exchange for a cheaper mana investment than Assassinate.

To sum up, while Assassinate may not boast the immediacy of other removal spells, its specific operational clause can be used advantageously, affording it a unique position within the murderously diverse arsenal of creature elimination in Magic: The Gathering.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Murder - Magic 2013 (M13)
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)
Go for the Throat - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Assassinate by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Demonic Attorney - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Jovial Evil - Legends (LEG)
Infernal Contract - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Touch of Death - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wicked Pact - Portal (POR)
Nature's Ruin - Portal (POR)
Buried Alive - Odyssey (ODY)
Choking Sands - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Brush with Death - Stronghold (STH)
Coercion - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hand of Death - Starter 1999 (S99)
Forced March - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Stupor - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Soul Burn - Invasion (INV)
Noxious Vapors - Planeshift (PLS)
Mind Rot - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Crippling Fatigue - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Flaying Tendrils - Friday Night Magic 2016 (F16)
Victimize - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Assassinate MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Tenth Edition, 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 Assassinate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Assassinate Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 952003normalblackKev Walker
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1282003normalblackKev Walker
32009-07-17Magic 2010M10 842003normalblackKev Walker
42010-07-16Magic 2011M11 812003normalblackKev Walker
52012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 302003normalblackKev Walker
62014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1132003normalblackKev Walker
72016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 302015normalblackKev Walker
82018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1392015normalblackKev Walker
92021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1012015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Assassinate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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