Dread Slag MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Horror
Abilities	Trample
Released	2006-05-05
Set symbol
Set name	Dissension
Set code	DIS
Power	9
Toughness	9
Number	109
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

Its power is tied to your hand size, making it a risky but potentially formidable threat on the board.
While casting cost is low, the demand for a diverse mana base and upkeep can be restrictive and costly.
Dread Slag excels in graveyard-focused decks and metas full of creature strategies, posing as a strategic finisher.

Text of card

Trample Dread Slag gets -4/-4 for each card in your hand.

A thousand phobias sopped from the city and wrung from Rix Maadi as one.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Dread Slag doesn’t traditionally provide card draw, it offers the unique advantage of potentially being a massive creature on the battlefield. Its power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your hand, turning it into a dominant force that can shift game momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Dread Slag itself doesn’t directly lead to resource acceleration, yet its relatively low casting cost for a potentially large creature can act as an indirect form of acceleration. Deploying a substantial threat without an extensive mana investment means more resources remain available for further plays on the same turn.

Instant Speed: Although Dread Slag is cast at sorcery speed, its intimidating presence on the board has a passive effect on the game. Its mere existence can dissuade opponents from attacking and force them to keep instant speed removal in hand, indirectly giving you the psychological edge and affecting the pace of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the main drawbacks of Dread Slag concerns the compulsory discarding of cards. The dilemma here lies in the fact that you must discard a significant number of cards proportional to your hand size to maintain this creature’s presence on the board. Players find this taxing on their card advantage, often having to choose between sustaining a powerful creature or holding onto potential answers and strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Dread Slag demands a diverse mana base to cast, specifically one of each color except white. While this five-mana cost seems reasonable for a creature of its size, this specific multicolor requirement restricts it from inclusion in any deck. It naturally finds its place in multicolored decks but can be cumbersome for those not dedicated to supporting a five-color system.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Dread Slag comes with a tantalizing power and toughness for its casting cost, the stringent upkeep of discarding cards makes it an expensive creature to maintain. In practice, its effective mana cost becomes much higher as you must weigh the cost of the cards being discarded. This can cast a shadow on Dread Slag’s initial allure when compared to other creatures in the MTG universe that demand less onerous upkeep yet still provide formidable board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Dread Slag shines in decks that are built around graveyard mechanics or those that minimize hand size, allowing its trample ability to be a game-changer on a relatively empty board.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that discard or utilize the graveyard. Pairing it with effects that capitalize on large creatures or that manipulate hand size can create devastating turns.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with creature-based strategies, Dread Slag can act as a formidable blocker or swift finisher, especially when timed after a strategic hand dump.

How to beat

Dread Slag, from the Magic: The Gathering universe, might initially appear daunting with its massive power and toughness stats for a notably low mana cost. However, its downside lies in its correlation to the number of cards in your hand, making Dread Slag’s effectiveness highly variable. To counter Dread Slag, reducing one’s hand size is critical, so holding fewer cards can drastically weaken the creature, making it more manageable to deal with.

Strategies to defeat Dread Slag pivot on hand disruption and removal spells. Cards such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can disrupt your opponent’s plan while minimizing the hand size. Removal options like Doom Blade or Path to Exile effectively bypass Dread Slag’s formidable size. Moreover, considering Dread Slag’s Trample ability, having chump blockers might not be sufficient. Therefore, efficient removal or ensuring your hand size stays low while controlling the opponent’s creature base are paramount tactics in overcoming the challenge posed by Dread Slag.

Understanding and mitigating the inherent risk of a fluctuating board presence can ensure that Dread Slag becomes more of a situational hurdle than an insuperable obstacle in your MTG duels.

Cards like Dread Slag

Dread Slag looms as a unique behemoth in the MTG multiverse, with its colossal power and toughness for a mere five mana cost. Its closest kin in terms of size and cost may be Terrus Wurm, which also offers a substantial body on the board. However, Dread Slag’s power can outmatch that of Terrus Wurm, with the potential to reach a staggering 9/9 if your hand is empty.

Another creature that echoes the formidable presence of Dread Slag is Phyrexian Obliterator. Although the Obliterator doesn’t have the same scaling power, it presents a nightmarish condition for opponents with its devastating sacrifice ability. Unlike Dread Slag, the Obliterator retains its stats without dependency on the player’s hand size, offering consistent threat level.

To sum up, in the realm of high-impact, cost-efficient creatures, Dread Slag’s position is fascinating. Its strength is variable and tied directly to the player’s hand, making it a risky yet potentially game-ending threat. The ability to regulate Dread Slag’s size gives players a powerful tool in tactical scenarios, setting it apart from others in its class.

Phyrexian Obliterator - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dread Slag by color, type and mana cost

Obosh, the Preypiercer - MTG Card versions

Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa - MTG Card versions

Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury - MTG Card versions

Grusilda, Monster Masher - MTG Card versions

Garna, the Bloodflame - MTG Card versions

Greven, Predator Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dread Slag MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Dread Slag and other MTG cards: