Return to Dust

Instant

Exile target artifact or enchantment. If you played this spell during one of your main phases, you may exile up to one other target artifact or enchantment.

Discussion (51)

jakeyuki12 on Suns_Champion's Boros Deck Template

3 weeks ago

Some removal is missing. Path to Exile, Winds of Abandon, Return to Dust, Wear & Tear, Heliod's Intervention.

ClockworkSwordfish on Mono-White Keyword Banding

1 month ago

If you're having issues with mana, then I definitely wouldn't extend the deck to three colours! Instead consider making room for the likes of Marble Diamond, Pearl Medallion, Worn Powerstone and Temple of the False God as well as the various white cards that can piggyback off your opponent's ramp, like Tithe, Gift of Estates, Knight of the White Orchid and Oreskos Explorer.

Also, I'm surprised you aren't running Errand of Duty! Having access to banding at instant speed is pretty handy. I'd also recommend Return to Dust over Ray of Distortion - it gets two targets for four mana rather than ten mana, and exiles them to boot - and something like Brave the Sands since banding pairs well with vigilance.

Another thing to consider is that banding is at its best when you have a scapegoat to soak up all the damage. That could be anything from Cho-Manno, Revolutionary to Seraph of the Sword to Darksteel Myr.

Azeworai on Dark Eyes and Careless Hair (Alela EDH)

1 month ago

I definitely understand that. There is a point in each deck's life where you just feel, "Wait, but I like all of these cards," maugre any good argument against it. Here is the opposing side, whereupon I have some arguments against a few cards, leastway to bring forth my opinion.

If you're not going infinite, Altar of the Brood is lacking, sometimes acting as an affliction. It mills the opponents, thusly furthering strategies such as Chainer or the selcouth and sparsely known Muldrotha (Who plays her, am I right?). The deck appears to have naught in terms of combo lines in its current variation, so meseems this is an easy exclusion.

Now, Unwinding Clock is great, but how are you actually abusing with this untapping? The payoffs seem to be Bident of Thassa, Spear of Heliod, Ethersworn Adjudicator, and a few instants, withal not being enough (There's more, yet I am indolent). Taffy can be interesting, though I think another draw engine would be more potent, or add more reward to the deck for the sake of this working.

Thopter Spy Network... Kill it. Murder it with all of the removal. This is a worse Reconnaissance Mission, for it only triggers upon artifact creatures and at most once. Inutile.

You know what's great? Casting a Treasure Mage and "failing to find." There is distinct lack of 6 CMC tutor targets in the deck, thusly making this a worse Belbe's Percher. Red rum. Following their ensample is the esteemed Trophy Mage, which has a seldom few targets, yet is probably worth it, though notable for the guillotine pile.

I am biased, I don't like voltron, I kind of somedeal maybe perhaps don't quite very much enjoy Mace of the Valiant. It is slow, is bereft of any game betime, and requires much time being upon the table. The mace may very well be of use, though I personally would not run it. Must...keep...drawing...CARDS!

That shall be all, folk. Good luck with your cardboard murder conquest!

griffstick on Good cheap staples to pick …

2 months ago

This are the staple cards you need to get.

Creatures

• Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
• Birds of Paradise
• Sakura-Tribe Elder
• Eternal Witness
• Llanowar Elves
• Elvish Mystic
• Deathrite Shaman
• Avacyn's Pilgrim
• Faeburrow Elder
• Reclamation Sage
• Kenrith, the Returned King
• Dockside Extortionist
• Elves of Deep Shadow
• Solemn Simulacrum
• Sisay, Weatherlight Captain
• Sun Titan
• Noble Hierarch
• Seedborn Muse
• Notion Thief
• Jegantha, the Wellspring
• Thassa's Oracle
• Baleful Strix
• Blood Artist
• Shalai, Voice of Plenty
• Tatyova, Benthic Druid
• Avenger of Zendikar
• Wood Elves
• Coiling Oracle
• Acidic Slime

Instants

• Swords to Plowshares
• Counterspell
• Cyclonic Rift
• Beast Within
• Dovin's Veto
• Brainstorm
• Chaos Warp
• Assassin's Trophy
• Mystical Tutor
• Path to Exile
• Swan Song
• Eladamri's Call
• Anguished Unmaking
• Heroic Intervention
• Enlightened Tutor
• Boros Charm
• Negate
• Fierce Guardianship
• Vampiric Tutor
• Abrupt Decay
• Mortify
• Growth Spiral
• Generous Gift
• Putrefy
• Utter End
• Krosan Grip
• Arcane Denial
• Lim-Dul's Vault
• Terminate
• Despark
• Teferi's Protection
• Dark Ritual
• Nature's Claim
• Veil of Summer
• Crackling Doom
• Rakdos Charm
• Fact or Fiction
• Return to Dust
• Harrow

Sorceries

• Cultivate
• Demonic Tutor
• Farseek
• Kodama's Reach
• Rampant Growth
• Ponder
• Windfall
• Blasphemous Act
• Supreme Verdict
• Ruinous Ultimatum
• Eerie Ultimatum
• Merciless Eviction
• Faithless Looting
• Vandalblast
• Preordain
• Nature's Lore
• Harmonize
• Wrath of God
• Skyshroud Claim
• Decimate
• Explosive Vegetation
• Diabolic Tutor

Artifacts

• Sol Ring
• Arcane Signet
• Izzet Signet
• Boros Signet
• Azorius Signet
• Orzhov Signet
• Dimir Signet
• Rakdos Signet
• Talisman of Creativity
• Lightning Greaves
• Swiftfoot Boots
• Simic Signet
• Talisman of Conviction
• Talisman of Dominance
• Talisman of Hierarchy
• Golgari Signet
• Gruul Signet
• Fellwar Stone
• Skullclamp
• Mana Crypt
• Selesnya Signet
• Mind Stone
• Talisman of Progress
• Talisman of Indulgence
• Fist of Suns
• Chromatic Lantern
• Commander's Sphere

Enchantments

• Smothering Tithe
• Rhystic Study
• Rhythm of the Wild
• Mystic Remora
• Sylvan Library
• Mirari's Wake
• Zendikar Resurgent
• Temur Ascendancy
• Ghostly Prison
• Phyrexian Arena

Planswalkers

• Narset, Parter of Veils

I hope this helps because it took forever to type out.

Azeworai on Life Drain - EDH

2 months ago

Alright, I have some suggestions. Now, never have I dipped in the complot of nocent life-gain, but I do see some follies withal the current decklist.

So, ramp and card draw are necessities of any commander strategy. I typically play decks that dump their hands aggressively, thus I have far more draw than normal. Around 34 slots grant me card advantage and 11 slots are for ramp. Here, you have four cards of ramp and five cards of draw. Granted, one of the draw engines is your commander, but that's six-mana afore it does so.

Furthermore, there are plenty of cards in here that just lack reach. Ajani's Sunstriker is horrid to draw turn 8 and onwards. It may be aggressive betime in the match, yet it is outclassed far too quickly.

So, what I'd cut due to card quality: Agent of Masks, Ajani's Sunstriker, Drana's Emissary, Fog Bank, Goldenglow Moth, Grim Guardian, Night Market Lookout, Oreskos Sun Guide, Pride Guardian, Servant of Tymaret, Wall of Essence, Elixir of Immortality, Fountain of Renewal, Narrow Escape, Spell Pierce, and Mana Leak.

Alright, same drill but I wish to offer some substantiation afore I denunciate these.

1. Coastal Piracy is a very potent card in decks possessing cheap, evasive creatures. This deck does not, thence I would advise ablating it; merely too inutile.

2. Sinister Possession and Stab Wound, no matter how much I love the Wound, are easily removed. A sacrifice outlet just negates this effect. The Possession in particular doesn't seem to do anything against certain creatures. Chainer, Dementia Master or Oracle of Mul Daya just don't oft attack or block. Even if, it is a mere two damage. Sure, it may stack quickly, but there are better ways to do so.

3. Condescend is just outclassed so quickly. Counterspells above two mana must do something potent, and this is potentially more. Scrying 2 is fine, but that also doesn't do much.

4. I have never seen Dramatic Rescue ere now, but I know not why it would be run. Just put in a Swords.

5. Dismiss into Dream is sweet, but this deck cannot deem to hent much from it.

Lovely! Now upon what I would add.

Given that the curve is rather high, I'd add Pristine Talisman; Arcane Signet; the talismans of dominance, progress, and hierarchy; Orzhov, Azorius, and Dimir signet; Mind Stone; and Worn Powerstone. This should grant you later plays far earlier in any match.

Unto thee, benison in card draw. Painful Truths is one I much enjoy. Sign in Blood or Night's Whisper are cheap and efficient. Phyrexian Arena and Underworld Connections go in quite a few decks. Well of Lost Dreams is just splendid. Fact or Fiction is never bad. Dawn of Hope is slow but on-theme. Erebos, God of the Dead seems all too perfect due to its static and activated abilities. Dream Trawler is awfully enticing for gameplans such as this. Lastly, Unfulfilled Desires is a hidden gem that I play in any deck that produces blue and black mana.

Of course, just some efficient engines and finishers. Debt to the Deathless and Exsanguinate are each nocent once resolved. K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth could also be fine, but lacking depending on your hand, for it cares only if the cost is black. Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord fetches fallen utility creatures from the yard and proffers much in life-gain. Aetherflux Reservoir does much in murdering everyone, too.

I'd recommend some more wraths in this deck. Fumigate is perfect, Merciless Eviction or Austere Command deal with those pesky artifacts efficiently, Elspeth, Sun's Champion is never bad, Supreme Verdict is fine though pricey, or Kaya's Wrath is always lovely. Take your pick.

Okay, now for some other upgrades on the basics of the deck. Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, Abolish, Return to Dust, Murderous Rider, Anguished Unmaking, Despark, Hero's Downfall, Reality Shift, Generous Gift, Pongify, Rapid Hybridization, and Heliod's Intervention all remove permanents efficiently and at instant speed. Vindicate is fine but a sorcery.

As options for better counterspells, Absorb, Counterspell, Negate, Countersquall, and Dovin's Veto are all cheap whiles bearing value at all moments in the game.

Finally, some more life gain payoffs as consideration: Authority of the Consuls has oft shut down my strategies, Ajani's Pridemate gets far too large, Blind Obedience does something similar, Divinity of Pride and Serra Ascendant are giant threats in their own right, Bloodthirsty Aerialist does the same, Propaganda and Ghostly Prison make opponents pay to deal damage, Soul Warden and Soul's Attendant are early drops that allow for quite a bit of life to be gained, Archangel of Thune is always potent, Vona, Butcher of Magan is spicey, Angel of Vitality bolsters your engine, Boon Reflection doubles it, Twilight Prophet can get out of hand, Beacon of Immortality puts you heavensly ahead, Ajani, Strength of the Pride can win games on its own, and Felidar Sovereign demands an immediate answer.

That's all from me! Have a lovely day.

Oh, and I suppose I'll put a deck of my own here. Let the Nightmare Go On.. is a constant favourite of mine and The Lands Restored offers commensurate enjoyment.

Thank you and farewell.

Slymaster9 on Win-ota, (Boros) Unity Squad

2 months ago

Out

Vandalblast

Terminus

In

Sunforger

Return to Dust

On the chopping block:

Waves of Aggression

Response / Resurgence

Unbreakable Formation

Krummy_MTG on Waiting for Godo - cEDH primer

2 months ago

KaloShin If you are concerned about Return to Dust and other exile effects, I would recommend Karn, the Great Creator. I have also used Relic of Progenitus as piece of graveyard interaction as well as a way to recur Helm of the Host if it gets destroyed: activate Karn's -2 ability, hold priority, target yourself with the relic, exile helm, return it to your hand from exile. This is repeatable. The benefits are that both Karn and Relic are both decently powerful (if conditional) stax pieces. If you are playing Price of Power, Karn, the Great Creator becomes even more punishing.

Oldcrow80 on Mangara, The Diplomat EDH

2 months ago

I cast Return to Dust as an instant all the time when someone tries to combo off or does something that would adversely affect my board.