Discard spells in Magic: The Gathering, particularly those of the black card variety, are a cornerstone of control and disruption strategies. These cards allow players to strip their opponents of valuable resources before they can even be played, effectively neutering their game plan and creating opportunities for a decisive victory. From targeted hand disruption to sweeping discard effects, black offers a diverse array of tools for controlling the flow of the game. Mastering these tools is essential for any player looking to dominate the metagame and outmaneuver their opponents. This article will delve into some of the best black discard cards in MTG, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and the strategies they enable. We'll explore both classic staples and more recent additions, highlighting their impact on various formats.
Thoughtseize: The Pinnacle of Targeted Discard
Thoughtseize is arguably the most powerful and ubiquitous black discard cards ever printed. For the low cost of one black mana and 2 life, you get to look at your opponent’s hand and choose any nonland card to discard. This gives you perfect information about their strategy and allows you to remove their most crucial threat, be it a powerful creature, a game-winning spell, or even a key piece of their mana base. The cost of 2 life is often negligible compared to the advantage gained from disrupting your opponent's plan. Thoughtseize sees play in nearly every format where it’s legal, from Modern to Legacy, and is a staple in competitive decks looking to control the early game and establish dominance.
Inquisition of Kozilek: Early Game Control
Inquisition of Kozilek offers a similar effect to Thoughtseize but with a slightly different restriction. It allows you to target a player and look at their hand, choosing a nonland card with a mana value of 3 or less to discard. While it can’t hit every card in your opponent’s hand, it’s still incredibly effective at disrupting early game plays and removing key threats like removal spells, mana ramp, or early creatures. Its low mana cost makes it a perfect turn-one play, allowing you to assess the board state and react accordingly. Inquisition of Kozilek is a staple in Modern and other formats where its ability to disrupt early game strategies is highly valued.
Hymn to Tourach: Random Discard Power
Hymn to Tourach is a classic black card that forces your opponent to discard two cards at random. While it doesn't give you the same level of control as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, its low mana cost and the potential to disrupt your opponent's hand significantly make it a powerful early game play. The randomness can sometimes backfire, but more often than not, it will hit key resources and cripple your opponent's ability to develop their board. Hymn to Tourach is a popular choice in formats like Pauper and other budget-conscious decks where its efficiency outweighs the lack of precision.
Collective Brutality: Versatile Discard and More
Collective Brutality is a modal spell that offers a variety of effects, including discard. For a base cost of 1 black mana, you can choose up to two modes from the following: target opponent discards a card, deal 2 damage to target creature or player, and you gain 2 life. The versatility of Collective Brutality makes it a valuable tool in any black-based deck. It can disrupt your opponent's hand, remove a problematic creature, or provide a crucial life buffer in a pinch. The ability to escalate the spell by paying an additional cost further enhances its flexibility, allowing you to tailor its effects to the specific situation. This card is particularly effective in matchups where you need to be able to react to a variety of threats.
Mind Twist: A Devastating Hand Wipes
Mind Twist, while more mana intensive, can be absolutely devastating. This sorcery allows you to force your opponent to discard a number of cards equal to the amount of mana you pay. Imagine casting this for X=3 or 4 in the early game - you can effectively wipe out your opponent’s hand, leaving them top-decking for answers. This card shines in formats where mana acceleration is prevalent, allowing you to cast it earlier and gain a significant advantage. However, its high mana cost makes it less viable in faster formats where you need to interact early and often. It’s a risky play, but the potential reward is immense, often leading to a swift victory.
Liliana of the Veil: Planeswalker Disruption
Liliana of the Veil is a powerful planeswalker that not only provides discard but also controls the board. Her +1 ability forces each player to discard a card, disrupting both your opponent's hand and yours. This can be particularly effective in decks that are built to take advantage of the graveyard or that can quickly rebuild their hand with card draw. Her -2 ability forces a player to sacrifice a creature, providing valuable removal. And her ultimate can completely cripple your opponent by separating their permanents into two piles, forcing them to sacrifice one. Liliana of the Veil is a versatile threat that can control the game in multiple ways, making her a valuable asset to any black-based deck.
Bottomless Pit: Persistent Discard
Bottomless Pit offers a different angle on discard. This enchantment forces each player to discard a card during their upkeep. This persistent effect can be incredibly disruptive, slowly but surely stripping away your opponent's resources over time. While it affects you as well, it can be particularly effective in decks that are built to operate with a smaller hand size or that can generate card advantage through other means. It also shines in decks that aim to control the board and grind out the game, as it limits your opponent's options and makes it harder for them to mount a comeback.
Cabal Therapy: Sacrificing for Disruption
Cabal Therapy is a unique discard spell that requires you to sacrifice a creature as part of its cost. You name a card, and the targeted player reveals their hand and discards all cards with that name. This can be incredibly powerful if you have a good read on your opponent's hand or if you're playing against a deck with a lot of redundancy. The flashback cost allows you to cast it again later in the game, even after you've run out of creatures. Cabal Therapy is often used in conjunction with cards that generate creature tokens or that can easily bring creatures back from the graveyard, mitigating the downside of sacrificing a creature.
The Rack and Shrieking Affliction: Punishing Empty Hands
These cards don’t directly cause discard, but they heavily synergize with discard strategies. The Rack and Shrieking Affliction deal damage to opponents based on how few cards they have in hand. After you’ve effectively stripped their hand with discard spells, these enchantments become potent sources of direct damage. They are the perfect finishing touch for a black discard based control deck. Consider these when building a discard-centric strategy.
Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Discard
Black offers a plethora of powerful black discard cards for controlling the game and disrupting your opponent's plans. From targeted removal like Thoughtseize to sweeping effects like Mind Twist, there's a discard spell to suit every strategy and play style. Mastering the art of discard is essential for any player looking to dominate the metagame and outmaneuver their opponents. By carefully choosing your discard spells and combining them with other control elements, you can create a formidable deck that can crush the competition. Remember to consider the mana cost, the level of control, and the synergies with your other cards when building your discard-based deck. Good luck, and may your opponents' hands always be empty!
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