Into the Maw of Hell MTG Card


Into the Maw of Hell - Innistrad
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set nameInnistrad
Set codeISD
Number150
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRaymond Swanland

Key Takeaways

  1. Disrupts mana and removes creatures, shifting game balance favorably.
  2. Strategic sorcery, requiring precise timing and mana resources.
  3. High cost may lead to delayed play and hand depletion.

Text of card

Destroy target land. Into the Maw of Hell deals 13 damage to target creature.

Few entrances lead to where demons and devils lurk. Unfortunately, they occasionally open new ones.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Into the Maw of Hell presents a dual-threat by destroying a target land, disrupting your opponent’s mana base, and eliminating a creature simultaneously. This double action helps to shift the balance of card value in your favor while setting back your opponent’s board presence and resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or acceleration, the destruction of an opponent’s land can indirectly act as resource acceleration by slowing down their potential to accumulate or utilize their resources effectively. This can lead to a pivotal tempo swing, giving you an edge as you can develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: While Into the Maw of Hell operates at sorcery speed, the strategic depth it offers in gameplay compensates for this. It allows you to set up your turns with better planning and can result in a significant shift in the game state when played at the opportune moment. Choosing the right time to cast this powerful sorcery can be as pivotal as any instant speed interaction due to its impactful nature.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Into the Maw of Hell requires a precise blend of mana, including three generic and three red mana. This requirement can make it challenging to cast, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle to generate the necessary red mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana, this card is on the pricier side, which can be a significant drawback in faster-paced games where lower-cost cards could provide more immediate impact or in environments where mana acceleration is less available.

Discard Requirement: While Into the Maw of Hell doesn’t have a discard requirement per se, its high mana cost can indirectly lead to hand depletion, as players may need to hold onto it for several turns before they have the resources to cast it, potentially missing out on playing other cards in the meantime.


Reasons to Include Into the Maw of Hell in Your Collection

Versatility: Into the Maw of Hell offers dual utility. It not only destroys any land, which can significantly disrupt your opponent’s strategy, but it also deals damage to a creature. This makes it an effective tool for controlling the board in a variety of game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card can be a powerhouse in decks that capitalize on land destruction or damage-based win conditions. It can be paired with cards that retrieve spells from the graveyard, doubling down on its destructive capabilities.

Meta-Relevance: As game environments often fluctuate, the ability to remove key lands and threats is always valuable. Into the Maw of Hell remains a relevant choice in metas where land-based combo decks or creatures with high toughness dominate the scene.


How to beat

Into the Maw of Hell is a powerful sorcery card that can disrupt your gameplay significantly. It offers the dual ability to destroy a land and deliver a heavy blow to a target creature. Overcoming this daunting MTG card requires strategic play. One effective method is through counterspells to negate the spell before it takes effect. Prioritize holding up mana for counterspells when you anticipate large, game-altering sorceries.

Another approach is to utilize land protection spells or abilities. Cards like Terra Eternal or Sacred Ground can defend your land base from being targeted. Protect your creatures with indestructible granting abilities or spells like Heroic Intervention to prevent them from being destroyed. Moreover, cards that allow instant-speed creature recovery can save your key creatures from being casualties of this fiery sorcery. The goal is to either prevent the spell from resolving or mitigate its impact on your board presence.

Staying one step ahead with these protective measures can help you maintain your strategy and not fall victim to Into the Maw of Hell’s potentially devastating effects.


Cards like Into the Maw of Hell

The powerful Into the Maw of Hell card serves as a significant player in Magic: The Gathering’s land destruction and creature removal strategy. It reminds us of cards like Roiling Terrain, who also has the capacity to destroy lands and deal damage. However, the difference lies in the fact that Into the Maw of Hell targets creatures as well, making it a versatile option in a deck’s arsenal.

Stone Rain is a simpler equivalent often mentioned in discussions about land removal. While Stone Rain is cost-effective, it strictly destroys lands and lacks the creature damage bonus that Into the Maw of Hell offers. Volcanic Offering is another relative with a broader effect as it destroys multiple nonbasic lands and creatures, but it relies on multiplayer decisions, which can be unpredictable.

Overall, Into the Maw of Hell provides a unique combination of land destruction and direct creature damage in one package which can be a game-changer. The capability to hit two targets with one card makes it a fearsome spell for adverse battlefield control and fundamentally distinguishes it within Magic: The Gathering card options.

Roiling Terrain - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Offering - MTG Card versions
Roiling Terrain - Worldwake (WWK)
Stone Rain - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Volcanic Offering - Commander 2014 (C14)

Cards similar to Into the Maw of Hell by color, type and mana cost

Jokulhaups - MTG Card versions
Wildfire - MTG Card versions
Rain of Salt - MTG Card versions
Burning of Xinye - MTG Card versions
Wake of Destruction - MTG Card versions
Pulverize - MTG Card versions
Liquid Fire - MTG Card versions
Chaotic Transformation - MTG Card versions
Slice and Dice - MTG Card versions
Surge to Victory - MTG Card versions
Reversal of Fortune - MTG Card versions
Mindblaze - MTG Card versions
Feral Lightning - MTG Card versions
Undying Flames - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Awakening - MTG Card versions
Jaws of Stone - MTG Card versions
Hellion Eruption - MTG Card versions
Death by Dragons - MTG Card versions
Blood Feud - MTG Card versions
Structural Collapse - MTG Card versions
Jokulhaups - Masters Edition (ME1)
Wildfire - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Rain of Salt - Urza's Saga (USG)
Burning of Xinye - From the Vault: Annihilation (V14)
Wake of Destruction - The List (PLST)
Pulverize - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Liquid Fire - Odyssey (ODY)
Chaotic Transformation - Dominaria United (DMU)
Slice and Dice - Commander Masters (CMM)
Surge to Victory - Commander 2021 (C21)
Reversal of Fortune - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mindblaze - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Feral Lightning - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Undying Flames - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Volcanic Awakening - Time Spiral (TSP)
Jaws of Stone - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
Hellion Eruption - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Death by Dragons - The List (PLST)
Blood Feud - Battlebond (BBD)
Structural Collapse - Gatecrash (GTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Into the Maw of Hell MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad, 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 Into the Maw of Hell and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Into the Maw of Hell has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Into the Maw of Hell card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2011-09-22 If one of Into the Maw of Hell’s targets is illegal by the time it resolves, Into the Maw of Hell will still affect the remaining legal target. If both targets are illegal at this time, Into the Maw of Hell won’t resolve.
2011-09-22 Into the Maw of Hell targets both the land and the creature. You can only cast it if you can choose a legal target for both.

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