Asphyxiate MTG Card


Asphyxiate - Born of the Gods
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set nameBorn of the Gods
Set codeBNG
Number60
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. Sways battlefield dynamics, targeting key threats to maintain player’s card advantage without loss.
  2. Strategically flexible as an instant, Asphyxiate disrupts opponents’ turns while conserving mana.
  3. Constraints include the demand for a solid black mana base and a prohibitive casting cost.

Text of card

Destroy target untapped creature.

"Some poisons enter through the blood. Some are ingested. Some are inhaled. All ways through which mortals draw strength are paths for poison." —Agathe, priest of Pharika


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Asphyxiate is a targeted removal that can sway the battlefield in your favor by eliminating key threats, effectively reducing your opponent’s card count while yours remains unchanged.

Resource Acceleration: Although Asphyxiate does not directly accelerate resources, effectively removing a creature that may block or threaten yours can indirectly maintain your board presence and momentum.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Asphyxiate offers flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to wait for the perfect moment during your opponent’s turn to disrupt their strategy without sacrificing your mana allocation for the turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Asphyxiate is the absence of any discard effect. For players looking to leverage graveyard strategies or enable reanimation tactics, the lack of discard synergy can be a missed opportunity for deck optimization.

Specific Mana Cost: Asphyxiate’s specific mana cost is three black mana (BBB). This stringent casting requirement can be restrictive, as it demands a solid black mana base. In multi-colored decks, this can result in the card being stranded in hand, unusable until the appropriate lands are drawn.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of BBB, Asphyxiate can be considered costly for its effect—destroying a creature that isn’t untapped. Other removal options in MTG might provide more versatility or lower-cost solutions to deal with threats on the board.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Asphyxiate is a solid removal option that fits smoothly into black control and midrange decks. Its potential to deal with nonblack creatures ensures that it has a place in decks focusing on creature-heavy metas while adhering to unilateral color schemes.

Combo Potential: Asphyxiate complements strategies revolving around creature control while paving the way for combo finishes by clearing potential blockers or combo enablers on the opponent’s board. It synergizes with cards that benefit from having fewer opposing creatures in play.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based decks are dominant, having effective and easy-to-cast removal spells like Asphyxiate can give players the upper hand. Its relevance often peaks when the meta shifts towards creature-heavy strategies, making it a tactical choice for savvy deck builders.


How to beat Asphyxiate

Asphyxiate is a black removal spell that targets nonblack creatures that have no +1/+1 counters on them. While its instant-speed utility allows you to pinpoint threats at a critical moment, there are strategic ways to navigate around its constricting grip. Including creatures that naturally come with or generate +1/+1 counters can render Asphyxiate useless against them. Lorwyn’s Gilder Bairn or Kalonian Hydra from Magic 2014 are prime examples of such creatures, unbothered by Asphyxiate’s lethal touch.

Another angle of resilience against Asphyxiate lies in diversifying your deck’s color palette. Fielding multicolored creatures, especially those with a black identity like Rakdos Cackler or Corpsejack Menace, ensures immunity from Asphyxiate’s targeted death sentence. Finally, relying on instant-speed spells like Giant Growth or, from a longer-term approach, bolstering your board with continuous counters supply – think Hardened Scales – can effectively neutralize the looming threat of Asphyxiate, allowing your creatures to escape its deadly embrace and thrive on the battlefield.


Cards like Asphyxiate

Asphyxiate is a noteworthy spell in the realm of creature removal within Magic: The Gathering. It shares a common purpose with other removal options such as Doom Blade, aimed at neutralizing threats on the battlefield. Doom Blade allows for the instant speed destruction of a nonblack creature but Asphyxiate has a different restriction, targeting only creatures that didn’t untap during the opponent’s last untap step.

In terms of conditions, there’s Murder, which stands out as it can destroy any target creature at instant speed but at a higher mana cost. This flexibility can often justify the additional investment. Ultimate Price is another relevant comparison, allowing a player to destroy a monocolored creature at a low cost. However, unlike Asphyxiate, it offers instant execution but with a narrower target range.

Evaluating these spells shows that Asphyxiate provides a strategic advantage in certain scenarios, particularly against tapped creatures that may have been exerted or used during the previous turn. Its sorcery speed is a trade-off for its lower casting cost and potential as a tactical surprise. The comparison underscores Asphyxiate’s niche role in decks that capitalize on controlling opponent’s actions during their turn.

Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Ultimate Price - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - Magic 2010 (M10)
Murder - Magic 2013 (M13)
Ultimate Price - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Asphyxiate 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
Perish - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - 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 - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Choking Sands - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Brush with Death - Stronghold (STH)
Perish - The List (PLST)
Stupor - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Coercion - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hand of Death - Starter 2000 (S00)
Grim Tutor - Core Set 2021 Promos (PM21)
Forced March - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Soul Burn - Invasion (INV)
Noxious Vapors - Planeshift (PLS)
Mind Rot - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Crippling Fatigue - Hachette UK (PHUK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Asphyxiate MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Asphyxiate and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Asphyxiate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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