Neck Snap MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Number	32
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dominick Domingo

Key Takeaways

Provides instant speed removal, disrupting opponent’s plans and maintaining a stable board state.
Has strategic discard requirements and precise mana costs, factors to consider in deck synergy.
Its versatility in certain metas makes it a noteworthy card for control-oriented collections.

Text of card

Destroy target attacking or blocking creature.

"We merrows need not be disadvantaged when fighting on land. We lack the vulnerability of those who breathe only through their throats." —Minnarin, merrow reejerey

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Neck Snap offers the strategic upper hand by eliminating a threat and leveling the playing field. This proficient removal allows players to progress without the hindrance of formidable creatures their opponents control.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to resource acceleration, Neck Snap paves the way for a smoother game flow. By dealing with potential blockers or attackers, it helps maintain a stable board state, indirectly fostering the conditions for resource growth.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Neck Snap is crucial for flexible and dynamic play. It enables players to respond to threats immediately and efficiently, removing creatures at critical moments before damage is dealt or combat strategies are fully executed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Neck Snap, while a potent removal option, obliges you to pitch an additional card to use its flashback ability. This can be a significant drawback when your hand is already stretched thin, and each card’s strategic value is paramount.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of one white and three other mana to cast, which can be restrictive. Decks that run on a tight mana curve or multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary white mana can find Neck Snap difficult to deploy at the critical moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of four mana for a single-target removal, Neck Snap may not always be the most mana-efficient choice for controlling the battlefield. Especially when compared to other removal spells in the game that offer lower costs or additional benefits, its utility in a high-speed match can be less than optimal.

Reasons to Include Neck Snap in Your Collection

Versatility: Neck Snap is a versatile inclusion in any collection as it serves as an instant speed removal solution. Its ability to destroy a single tapped creature can be crucial for interrupting opponent’s strategies during combat or at the end of their turn.

Combo Potential: This card can be particularly potent when combined with cards that tap your opponent’s creatures, setting them up for a sudden Neck Snap. Its straightforward requirements make it an easy fit in decks looking to control the board while building towards powerful late-game plays.

Meta-Relevance: When creature-based decks are prevalent in the meta, holding a removal like Neck Snap in your arsenal gives you a strong line of defense. It can be a key tactical play against aggressive decks that rely on combat tricks to win.

How to beat

Neck Snap is another versatile tool in the arsenal of removal spells within Magic: The Gathering. This instant card provides players with the capability to destroy any attacking or blocking creature, which becomes invaluable during the combat phase. Comparable to other removal spells like Murder, which allows destroying any creature for three mana without any conditions, Neck Snap requires the creature to be engaged in combat, which can be both a limitation and a strategic advantage.

When facing Neck Snap, the key is to anticipate removal. Playing around it involves either deploying creatures that provide value even if they’re destroyed, such as those with death-triggered abilities, or holding back creatures from attacking or blocking to avoid the trigger condition. From a strategic perspective, playing instants or abilities that grant your creatures indestructibility or hexproof can effectively counteract Neck Snap’s effect. Another method is to bait out removal with less critical creatures before committing more important ones to the battlefield.

Ultimately, while Neck Snap can shape the battlefield, savvy players will find ways to mitigate its impact, ensuring their key creatures survive or their opponent wastes their removal on less pivotal targets.

Cards like Neck Snap

Neck Snap stands out among the removal spells within the MTG universe, offering a clean answer to a troubling creature on the battlefield. It harks back to classic removal spells such as Murder, which also destines creatures to the graveyard, albeit Murder requires one fewer mana and offers the flexibility of instant-speed elimination regardless of turn. Nevertheless, Neck Snap adds to its value by including the ability to be cast for free under certain conditions, something Murder misses.

Assassin’s Trophy is another peer in this broad category, granting the opportunity to remove not just creatures but any permanent at instant speed. While it is flexible and cost-efficient, the downside is providing your opponent with a land, which can sometimes be too great of a concession. In comparison, Neck Snap avoids giving the opponent such an advantage, though it does come at a higher cost and with a condition to meet for no-cost casting.

Ultimately, in the realm of creature removal, Neck Snap situates itself between various options, striking a balance between cost and potential free play, alongside the element of surprise it can offer during a game’s crucial moment without aiding your opponent’s mana base.

Cards similar to Neck Snap by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Neck Snap MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Neck Snap and other MTG cards: