Purge the Profane MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2013-02-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Gatecrash |
| Set code | GTC |
| Number | 190 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Michael C. Hayes |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage duo: forces opponent to discard while you draw, setting up control swing.
- Instant speed allows flexible play to disrupt opponents at critical moments effectively.
- Mana requirements and cost may restrict play to certain decks, impacting flexibility.
Text of card
Target opponent discards two cards and you gain 2 life.
The Orzhov hear the plans of the other guilds through the guilty thoughts of the disloyal.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Purge the Profane provides the strategic upper hand by forcing your opponent to discard two cards while you gain the same number in your hand, doubling the potential for a swing in control.
Resource Acceleration: By disrupting your opponent’s hand, you effectively slow their game plan, giving you a relative acceleration in resources as they struggle to rebuild their strategic assets.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Purge the Profane at instant speed offers the flexibility to disrupt your adversary at the most opportune moment — perhaps in their draw phase or after they’ve drawn for their turn — hindering their ability to respond effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Purge the Profane demands that each opponent discards a card. This aspect might not always play to your advantage, especially against decks that benefit from having cards in the graveyard or have mechanics like Madness, which can turn this downside into an unexpected advantage for them.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both black and white mana to play. This dual-color cost means it cannot fit seamlessly into any deck, potentially limiting its use to only Orzhov or other multicolored decks that include these two colors. Ensuring the right mana combination can sometimes hinder your overall mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that must be black and white, the cost for its effect might be considered steep, particularly when you compare it to other options in the same mana range. Some players might prefer lower-cost alternatives for discard effects or more impactful cards at the same cost tier.
Reasons to Include Purge the Profane in Your Collection
Versatility: Purge the Profane offers dual utility in disrupting your opponent’s hand while padding your own. It’s particularly useful in decks that thrive on card advantage or operate within a discard strategy.
Combo Potential: This card provides synergy in decks that capitalize on an opponent’s card loss, such as those harnessing the power of waste not or megrim. Additionally, it can fuel graveyard strategies by filling both players’ graveyards for future plays.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks that hold onto key combo pieces or enable significant card advantage, Purge the Profane serves as an efficient equalizer. Its relevance grows in metas where hand control is crucial for disrupting opponent’s plans.
How to beat
Purge the Profane offers a unique strategic advantage to players in the MTG universe by challenging their opponents’ hand and life total. Comparable to other discard spells, its impact can disrupt players’ strategies by forcing the discard of two cards in addition to a 2-point life loss. This dual-threat approach is similar to the pressure created by Wrench Mind, albeit without the potential to avoid discarding by discarding an artifact.
However, Purge the Profane’s specific demands on mana types and the requirement that the opponent actually has cards in their hand to be affected, provide avenues to counter its effects. Cards like Leyline of Sanctity, that grant you hexproof, can nullify Purge the Profane’s reach. Additionally, deploying a strategy that keeps your hand size low, or employing cards with madness or other abilities that benefit from discarding can turn this disruptive spell into an advantage for you.
By understanding the strengths and vulnerabilities of Purge the Profane and preparing a strategic response, players can mitigate its potential damage and leverage its weaknesses to their advantage in a game of MTG.
Cards like Purge the Profane
Purge the Profane is another intriguing card that offers dual functionality in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to existing discard spells, like Coercion, allowing players to peek into their opponent’s hand and force them to discard. However, Purge the Profane steps up the game by combining this with the added advantage of letting the caster gain card advantage, drawing cards equivalent to what the opponent discards.
Another comparable card is Mind Rot, which is a staple discard effect for its straight-forward tactic of diminishing your opponent’s resources. Even though it lacks the card draw feature of Purge the Profane, its lower mana cost makes it an efficient early game play. Hymn to Tourach also falls into this category but with the unpredictability factor, as it targets random cards in the opponent’s hand, adding a layer of surprise and potentially greater damage to your opponent’s strategy.
The multitasking nature of Purge the Profane, in not only dispersing the enemy’s hand but also refueling your own, positions it as a formidable option in Magic: The Gathering decks that thrive on disrupting and gaining an upper hand in card economy.
Cards similar to Purge the Profane by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Purge the Profane MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Purge the Profane and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Purge the Profane has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Purge the Profane card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-01-24 | If the opponent has fewer than two cards in their hand, they will discard them. You’ll still gain 2 life, no matter how many cards were discarded. |
