Mercy Killing MTG Card


Mercy Killing - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Number231
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDave Kendall

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates Elf Warriors, increasing board presence and enabling synergistic deck strategies.
  2. Instant speed allows for disruptive play and timing advantages in crucial game moments.
  3. Hybrid mana cost and three-mana casting point influence deck building and strategic use.

Text of card

Target creature's controller sacrifices it, then puts X 1/1 green and white Elf Warrior creature tokens into play, where X is that creature's power.

"We will give you the peace you seek, though you may not yet know you seek it."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mercy Killing uniquely enables players to exchange a potentially threatening creature on the board for a quantity of Elf Warrior tokens. This transformation can turn the tides by providing a swarm of creatures that can be used for blocking, attacking, or other synergistic strategies within your deck, effectively increasing your board presence and card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Mercy Killing itself doesn’t produce mana or Treasure tokens directly, the generated Elf Warrior tokens can play a key role in decks that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or being sacrificed for mana or other effects, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The flexibility to cast Mercy Killing at instant speed allows players to disrupt opponents’ combat strategies or end-of-turn setups. This timing adaptability gives you the upper hand in dictating the pace of the game and surprising your opponent, giving you a significant advantage at crucial moments in play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Mercy Killing does not demand a discard per se, it does necessitate decision-making akin to discarding. As a removal spell, it requires sacrificing a creature that could otherwise be a valuable asset on your battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Mercy Killing requires a hybrid mana cost involving both green and white, which restricts its compatibility predominantly to decks that comfortably operate with both these colors of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing you three mana to cast, Mercy Killing can be seen as inefficient when compared with other lower-cost removal spells in MTG. With a myriad of removal options at lower mana costs, the card might not always be the optimal play, especially in formats that prize mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include Mercy Killing in Your Collection

Versatility: Mercy Killing offers a unique removal option that bypasses indestructible and protections by forcing creatures into a different form—tokens. It can be incorporated into decks that take advantage of token creation or require removal for problematic creatures that are otherwise difficult to deal with.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to synergize with strategies that exploit token generation. By turning a hefty creature on your own board into a swarm of tokens, you can trigger effects or pad your army for a decisive victory.

Meta-Relevance: Versatile removal is always in demand in various formats. The ability of Mercy Killing to disrupt your opponent’s plan or even to convert one of your own creatures into an asset when facing board wipes or targeted removal keeps it pertinent.


How to beat

Mercy Killing is a unique spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering with its ability to not only remove a creature from the battlefield but also provide its controller with a crowd of Elf Warrior tokens. While this instant card seems like a double-edged sword, understanding its nuances is key to turning the tables in your favor.

To effectively counteract Mercy Killing, it’s vital to mitigate the impact of those Elf tokens. Sweeper spells like Pyroclasm or Electrickery can be employed right after Mercy Killing resolves to clear out the freshly spawned tokens before they can be utilized. Alternatively, packing your deck with creatures that thrive on opponents’ creatures, such as Trespasser’s Curse or Massacre Wurm, can transform an opponent’s token advantage into a liability. If preventing Mercy Killing is your plan, countermagic or abilities that grant your creatures hexproof or indestructible, offer a straightforward defense against this removal spell.

In essence, by preparing your strategy and deck composition to anticipate and embrace the consequences of Mercy Killing, you can transform a potential setback into an opportunity, ensuring your creatures’ exit from the battlefield isn’t in vain and instead becomes an advantageous twist in your strategic play in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the complexities of MTG is a thrilling challenge that keeps players coming back for more. Mercy Killing is a card that embodies this complexity, offering up not just a solution to troublesome creatures but also a new tactical layer with those Elf Warrior tokens. If you’ve enjoyed dissecting the nuances of Mercy Killing, there’s a trove of knowledge and strategy waiting to be uncovered. From advanced deck-building techniques to leveraging token generation, your MTG journey is one of endless depth and discovery. Ready to sharpen your tactics and expand your collection with purpose? Explore the multiverse of MTG with us, and harness the rich strategies that will set your deck apart from the rest. Join the quest for MTG mastery today.


Cards like Mercy Killing

Mercy Killing stands out in Magic the Gathering as a unique removal option. It bears similarities to other spells that also neutralize threats but does so with a twist. When looking at Path to Exile, we notice it also provides an answer to creatures by exiling them. However, unlike Mercy Killing, it does not compensate the opponent with creature tokens, which can substantially alter the board state.

A closer comparison might be found with Beast Within, which destroys a creature and leaves a token behind. Still, the difference lies in the type and size of the token—a significant strategic factor to consider. Additionally, Mercy Killing is specific to only targeting your creatures, allowing strategic sacrifice for token generation, a nuance absent in Beast Within’s broader targeting scope.

Considering the varied approaches to creature control in Magic the Gathering, Mercy Killing offers a blend of removal and token generation that provides a unique tactical edge. Its nuanced function becomes evident when compared with similar cards, showcasing the intricate decision-making embedded in gameplay.

Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Beast Within - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Beast Within - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Mercy Killing by color, type and mana cost

Folk Medicine - MTG Card versions
Congregation at Dawn - MTG Card versions
Common Bond - MTG Card versions
Reap What Is Sown - MTG Card versions
March of the Multitudes - MTG Card versions
Pledge of Unity - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Woodland Acolyte // Mend the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Folk Medicine - Judgment (JUD)
Congregation at Dawn - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Common Bond - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Reap What Is Sown - Born of the Gods (BNG)
March of the Multitudes - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Pledge of Unity - War of the Spark (WAR)
Cosmic Rebirth - March of the Machine: The Aftermath (MAT)
Woodland Acolyte // Mend the Wilds - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mercy Killing MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Mercy Killing and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mercy Killing has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-07-01 You target the creature that will be sacrificed when you cast Mercy Killing, then its controller (who may or may not be you) sacrifices it when Mercy Killing resolves. Because this is a sacrifice, neither regeneration nor indestructibile will save the creature.

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