It seems like mutilate is one of the best cards for control right now, if your really desperate to play it. Its the only sweeper that deals with undying and thragtusk tokens because the -x/-x persists till end of turn, killing the returned undying creatures and spawned tokens that come back into play the turn you play it (maybe thats obvious, but I thought I would write that in case some newer people haven't grasped it yet).
Sure it requires swamps, but how many swamps (edit: in play) do you really need for it to be good? I think 2-3 is probably enough - the main creatures that would be a problem for other sweepers are strangleroot geist and thragtusk.
As long as you are running evolving wilds, or something else that ensures you are getting swamps in your multicolour deck - I think mutilate is really good.
What does everyone else think? Is mutilate only for Mono Black Control, and hence not very good, or is the best removal for any control deck that can play black (and it seems like maybe you should be running black, all things considered, if you want to play control).
The basic issue is how many swamps you need for it to be good. It's arguably better than Black Sun's Zenith, but the design constrictions + the presence of Undying the format make it relatively unimpressive right now.
Now, if there were lands that tapped for multiple colors of mana but still counted as Swamps, you'd be on to something...
I have heard vague rumors of a moustache-dispensing vending machine in a distant laundromat, across the street from a tattoo parlor. However, this information is shaky, and time is of the essence.
Mutilate is a perfectly fine card in any Heavy Black control list, not just MBC. You just need to have enough swamps to ensure Mutilate is going to kill the majority of threats, so fewer duals, until RtR, and fewer utility lands.
However, it is not anywhere near as powerful as the original poster seems to think.
All Creatures (who are in play when Mutilate resolves) get -X/-X until end of turn. Undying creatures come back as "new" creatures, and Thragtusk's Token is very much a new Token. By the time these creatures enter/re-enter the Battlefield, Mutilate has resolved and it's effect has ended.
The only way to deal with Undying creatures is via bounce (not recommended) or exile. The only way to deal with Thragtusk, and by deal with I mean mitigate, is via Phantasmal Image/Metamorph/Evil Twin/Clone.
^"Only" doesn't apply in either cases. Removal+Graveyard hate works on undying; Surgical Extraction is a very popular SB card partly for this reason. A 3/x first strike creature (AKA Blade Splicer) deals with the more popular undying creatures and Thragtusk well enough.
Its the only sweeper that deals with undying and thragtusk tokens because the -x/-x persists till end of turn, killing the returned undying creatures and spawned tokens that come back into play the turn you play it (maybe thats obvious, but I thought I would write that in case some newer people haven't grasped it yet).
I use the Duels Of The Planeswalkers layout, though I'm right-handed and keep my deck and GY to the left. I dare you to ask me how tempting it is to hold flying creatures in a floating pattern over the table.
I have been getting a ton of use out of my Nihil Spellbombs as of late and Tormod's Crypt looks better and better these days with all the Strangleroots running around.
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Sure it requires swamps, but how many swamps (edit: in play) do you really need for it to be good? I think 2-3 is probably enough - the main creatures that would be a problem for other sweepers are strangleroot geist and thragtusk.
As long as you are running evolving wilds, or something else that ensures you are getting swamps in your multicolour deck - I think mutilate is really good.
What does everyone else think? Is mutilate only for Mono Black Control, and hence not very good, or is the best removal for any control deck that can play black (and it seems like maybe you should be running black, all things considered, if you want to play control).
http://magiccards.info/query?q=mutilate&v=card&s=cname
Yeah I know that's why I said board sweeper. We don't have many of them going into RtR.
Now, if there were lands that tapped for multiple colors of mana but still counted as Swamps, you'd be on to something...
However, it is not anywhere near as powerful as the original poster seems to think.
All Creatures (who are in play when Mutilate resolves) get -X/-X until end of turn. Undying creatures come back as "new" creatures, and Thragtusk's Token is very much a new Token. By the time these creatures enter/re-enter the Battlefield, Mutilate has resolved and it's effect has ended.
gg control.
Thanks for giving me the heads up.
Uhhh, no.
"Only creatures on the battlefield at that time will be affected."
Sever is really underrated.
Nihil spellbomb is also really good against undying
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
Standard:
Glissa and Friends:symg::symb:
Modern:
Budget Jund:symg::symb::symr:
Commander:
Jor Kadeen Voltron:symw::symr: