1. Underrated spot removal spells shouldn't be frequently played (i.e. not spells listed on top list for EDHREC overall or for respective color)
2. Underrated spot removal spells should be viable to the point where they can be used effectively in most games against a significant number of creatures (i.e. not spells like [[Eye Gouge]] or [[Human Frailty]].
3. Underrated spot removal spells don't necessarily have to be competitive or even semi competitive viable but they shouldn't be terrible. At the bare minimum they should have a worthwhile benefit or an efficient mana cost.
To get the ball rolling here are a couple spot removal spells that I've found success with these spells:
Submerge: In a meta that reliably runs forests, which is practically every meta, this spells answers creatures of all sizes including indestructible ones for free. It is a fantastic way to respond to tutors and ramp spells and is difficult for opponents to see coming because we can cast it while tapped out.
Oust: An excellent tempo play that unconditionally temporarily remove creatures of all sizes and indestructible ones for one mana. Sorcery speed but still incredibly efficient.
Radiant Purge: An efficient removal spell that exiles permanently. It answers most commanders along with efficient or problematic creatures including Baleful Strix and Notion Thief. It also has the benefit of removing enchantments and artifacts including the resilient enchantment gods like Athreos, God of Passage.
Submerge: In a meta that reliably runs forests, which is practically every meta, this spells answers creatures of all sizes including indestructible ones for free. It is a fantastic way to respond to tutors and ramp spells and is difficult for opponents to see coming because we can cast it while tapped out.
I'll also point out that Submerge is decent tech for Vial Smasher + Ux lists as it becomes a Lava Axe as well. Snuff Out is also decent in that aspect.
Submerge: In a meta that reliably runs forests, which is practically every meta, this spells answers creatures of all sizes including indestructible ones for free. It is a fantastic way to respond to tutors and ramp spells and is difficult for opponents to see coming because we can cast it while tapped out.
I'll also point out that Submerge is decent tech for Vial Smasher + Ux lists as it becomes a Lava Axe as well. Snuff Out is also decent in that aspect.
Vial Smasher+UG could run Yavimaya Dryad and ensure Submerge is free!
Flame Slash is very good. It kills most of the heavily played commanders and tons of problematic creatures for only 1 mana.
Banishing Stroke feels so good to play when you miracle with it, but even if you don't it's still decent. It removes so many things, gets around indestructible and graveyard shenanigans plus it's an instant.
Soul Snare is a nice Condemn variant that is an excellent rattlesnake variant and is a solid Sun Titan target.
i cant get behind victim of night anymore man, way too many damn vamps & zombies running around these days
It's definitely seen better days. That being said, one specific vamp is not usually your problem if you're seeing Edgar Markov decks around. Spot removal won't cut it. Zombies do kind of share that trait, too, with exceptions like Grimgrin and such.
It's probably fairly equivalent to Eyeblight's Ending in versatility, although I do like that it's cheaper.
Beyond Rapid Hybridization and Pongify, there are quite a nice number of spot removal hijinks in blue. Turn to Frog, Ovinize, and Snakeform all take away critical abilities, including indestructible and reshuffle effects for Eldrazi Titans and Mirrodin colossi. Even better is Polymorphist’s Jest which does the same thing to all the creatures of a player without targeting (believe me that one wrecks board states hard!). Another wrecking ball is Curse of the Swine which also exiles the cards! Not bad for a color not normally screaming hard spot removal.
For that matter, Sudden Spoiling is clutch, too. I have come to love Hex, too. I know that’s not instant or obscure but dang it’s great.
Chain of Vapor is a card that's very good in very specific decks that hasn't become widely popular. I get that it has a "downside," but I'm still surprised that people haven't gotten excited about it as a political card. There's a bunch of ways to break it by targeting your own things, and sometimes it still saves your life for one mana.
Bounce in general is pretty underrated. I get that you have to play around ETBs, but a lot of times the tempo can still be worth it.
In general, I think Pacifism effects (especially ones that delete rules text à la Darksteel Mutation) are underused. You can just Sun Titan them on to a creature with shroud or hexproof.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
In general, I think Pacifism effects (especially ones that delete rules text à la Darksteel Mutation) are underused. You can just Sun Titan them on to a creature with shroud or hexproof.
Pulse is crazy expensive, too.
The pacifism effects can be good. Obviously O-ring is nice for hitting anything ever. My favourite is Prison Term. It's just mean.
personally i hate any spot removal that bounces or tucks because most of the time they're going to get another etb trigger. it'll depend on the meta however, if its a less advanced meta its less of a problem. in a more advanced meta there's a greater density of etb oriented creatures so a lot of that removal is a boon.
i'll second tragic slip its dramatically under played and almost always gets its morbid trigger.
aftershock has been tremendously beneficial, not just in monored
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We all know about Swords to Plowshares, Path To Exile, Go for the Throat, Reality Shift and Beast Within but what are some less used creature spot removal spells that are worth considering playing? What characteristics about those spells makes them underrated?
1. Underrated spot removal spells shouldn't be frequently played (i.e. not spells listed on top list for EDHREC overall or for respective color)
2. Underrated spot removal spells should be viable to the point where they can be used effectively in most games against a significant number of creatures (i.e. not spells like [[Eye Gouge]] or [[Human Frailty]].
3. Underrated spot removal spells don't necessarily have to be competitive or even semi competitive viable but they shouldn't be terrible. At the bare minimum they should have a worthwhile benefit or an efficient mana cost.
To get the ball rolling here are a couple spot removal spells that I've found success with these spells:
Submerge: In a meta that reliably runs forests, which is practically every meta, this spells answers creatures of all sizes including indestructible ones for free. It is a fantastic way to respond to tutors and ramp spells and is difficult for opponents to see coming because we can cast it while tapped out.
Oust: An excellent tempo play that unconditionally temporarily remove creatures of all sizes and indestructible ones for one mana. Sorcery speed but still incredibly efficient.
Radiant Purge: An efficient removal spell that exiles permanently. It answers most commanders along with efficient or problematic creatures including Baleful Strix and Notion Thief. It also has the benefit of removing enchantments and artifacts including the resilient enchantment gods like Athreos, God of Passage.
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Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsI'll also point out that Submerge is decent tech for Vial Smasher + Ux lists as it becomes a Lava Axe as well. Snuff Out is also decent in that aspect.
stuff
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
Rend Flesh is another pet card that will sometimes make the cut in B/x decks, hits most relevant creatures and is an easier casting cost than Murder
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
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Beating Face with Bane
Beatrice, the Golden Witch
Banishing Stroke feels so good to play when you miracle with it, but even if you don't it's still decent. It removes so many things, gets around indestructible and graveyard shenanigans plus it's an instant.
Soul Snare is a nice Condemn variant that is an excellent rattlesnake variant and is a solid Sun Titan target.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Pongify and Rapid Hybridization can't be beat for cost, and it's not an effect you see a lot of in blue.
I'll second Dispatch, it's decent tech in my Sydri build.
It's definitely seen better days. That being said, one specific vamp is not usually your problem if you're seeing Edgar Markov decks around. Spot removal won't cut it. Zombies do kind of share that trait, too, with exceptions like Grimgrin and such.
It's probably fairly equivalent to Eyeblight's Ending in versatility, although I do like that it's cheaper.
For that matter, Sudden Spoiling is clutch, too. I have come to love Hex, too. I know that’s not instant or obscure but dang it’s great.
Bounce in general is pretty underrated. I get that you have to play around ETBs, but a lot of times the tempo can still be worth it.
Draft my Peasant Cube.
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Innistrad - The Darkest Night
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It's an instant and it kills both birds and rings.
Tragic Slip is an auto-include in Ghave and other Aristocrat decks.
I want to say Putrefy and Mortify. The problem is, WB has Vindicate and G has Beast Within and Maelstrom Pulse. But you can only have one Beast Within, and Vindicate and Pulse are sorceries.
In general, I think Pacifism effects (especially ones that delete rules text à la Darksteel Mutation) are underused. You can just Sun Titan them on to a creature with shroud or hexproof.
On phasing:
Pulse is crazy expensive, too.
The pacifism effects can be good. Obviously O-ring is nice for hitting anything ever. My favourite is Prison Term. It's just mean.
I always considered those format staples. They are both a big step above Vindicate and Maelstrom Pulse because of the instant speed. I'd say Mortifys real competition is Anguished Unmaking and Utter End.
i'll second tragic slip its dramatically under played and almost always gets its morbid trigger.
aftershock has been tremendously beneficial, not just in monored