Deny Existence MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 55
2023-03-21 - Number 60
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Deny Existence can shift the tide by countering and exiling creatures at instant speed to maintain board control.
- Playing the card requires discarding another, which can be a significant cost in tight matches.
- Its unique exile ability provides a strategic edge in metagames where graveyard strategies are common.
Text of card
Counter target creature spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard.
When all logical solutions fail, try an illogical one.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Deny Existence offers a strategic edge by countering an opponent’s creature spell, therefore preventing them from gaining board presence and preserving your card equity in the match.
Resource Acceleration: Although it does not directly generate additional resources, negating a key threat can save resources that would otherwise be spent on dealing with that creature later, effectively streamlining your mana usage and in-game tactics.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Deny Existence at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to threats as they arise. This reactive capability means you can adapt to the game state, keeping your adversaries guessing and maximizing the impact of your denial.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the game of resource management, Deny Existence poses a challenge to players with its discard requirement. While countering a spell or ability, having to part with another card can put you at a significant disadvantage, especially when cards in hand are already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Deny Existence carries with it a mana cost that requires a specific investment in blue mana. This can restrict the card’s versatility, making it potentially cumbersome for decks that run multiple colors or rely on a flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a requirement of three mana, including two blue, to deploy, Deny Existence sits at a higher cost bracket compared to other counterspell options. Savvy players must weigh its reactive capability against other lower-cost alternatives that might allow for more strategic plays or the preservation of mana for other critical game moments.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Deny Existence shines in various deck archetypes that require a reliable counterspell. Its ability to exile the countered spell ensures that threats don’t recur from the graveyard, a common strategy in numerous formats.
Combo Potential: This card is especially potent in decks that capitalize on spell synergies or graveyard manipulation by foes. The exile effect disrupts opponents’ plans to reuse their key spells, tipping the scales in your favor during crucial turns.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, Deny Existence gains additional importance. Its presence in your deck can dissuade opponents from relying on such tactics, or it can act as a crucial line of defense against them.
How to beat
Understanding the nuances of Deny Existence can be the key to successfully navigating encounters with this control card in MTG. This spell belongs to the suite of counterspells that allow players to interrupt and prevent the casting of opponent’s spells at crucial moments. Compared to other counterspells, such as Negate or Essence Scatter, Deny Existence has its unique aspect since it not only counters a spell but also exiles it, hence avoiding any graveyard interactions from the opponent.
To effectively beat Deny Existence, players should prioritize baiting out the counter with less critical spells, or by deploying multiple threats simultaneously, thereby stretching the limits of the opponent’s mana and available responses. It’s also advantageous to wait until the opponent is tapped out, to ensure your more valuable spells resolve. Moreover, playing spells with the ‘can’t be countered’ clause inherently bypasses the effect of Deny Existence, giving players a direct way to strengthen their board presence without disruption. Strategically, understanding and forecasting the opponent’s potential actions are massively beneficial in diminishing the impact of Deny Existence on your game plan.
By carefully considering the timing and sequence of spells cast, one can mitigate the stifling power that Deny Existence can exert on a game, making every spell you cast count towards your march to victory in MTG.
Cards like Deny Existence
Deny Existence enters the field of counter-magic options in the engrossing world of Magic: The Gathering. Counter-magic spells serve as critical tools for players, and this card finds itself in the company of others like Negate and Cancel. While Negate targets noncreature spells exclusively, it offers a cheaper mana cost, allowing players to safeguard their board earlier. Deny Existence differs by granting players the ability to exile the countered spell, preventing any strategies that revolve around graveyard retrieval.
Another peer in this area is Dissolve, which delivers a similar counter and exile combination, though at a slightly higher cost but with the added benefit of scrying. This can help optimize future draws, giving it an edge in deck manipulation. Conversely, Sinister Sabotage also enables countering with a surveil advantage to refine the deck’s strategy further. Though Deny Existence doesn’t boast these additional deck sifting capabilities, the ability to exile any spell without restrictions gives it a unique position in a player’s arsenal.
Given these comparisons, Deny Existence is a well-positioned tool for those wishing to assert control and banish opponents’ strategies permanently, making it a reliable card for disrupting and molding the trajectory of the game.
Cards similar to Deny Existence by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Deny Existence MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Deny Existence 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 Magic products
Printings
The Deny Existence Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Christopher Moeller.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 55 | 2015 | normal | black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 2 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 60 | 2015 | normal | black | Christopher Moeller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Deny Existence has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
