Catastrophe MTG Card


Catastrophe can clear the board of creatures or lands, offering strategic flexibility during a match. Its dual functionality makes it a unique tactical choice, compared to similar, more restrictive cards. Effective counters include resilient creatures, counterspells, and diversifying threats.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy all lands or all creatures. Creatures destroyed this way cannot regenerate this turn.

Radiant's eyes flashed. "Go, then," the angel spat at Serra, "and leave this world to those who truly care."


Cards like Catastrophe

With its powerful ability to disrupt the battlefield, Catastrophe is an intriguing card in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. It draws a parallel with a notorious card, Armageddon, as both can obliterate all lands when played. However, Catastrophe offers versatility that Armageddon lacks, presenting players with a choice to destroy either all creatures or all lands, thereby tailoring the effect to the current game state.

Another comparable card is Wrath of God, a classic for clearing the board of creatures without the option to target lands. Catastrophe stands out by encompassing this effect with the added flexibility of targeting key resources on the battlefield. Day of Judgment is a more modern equivalent to Wrath of God, but like its predecessor, it limits its scope solely to creatures, missing the strategic breadth provided by Catastrophe’s dual capacity.

Choosing between disruption or a board wipe makes Catastrophe a strategic wildcard in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique place among its counterparts. Its dual-mode provides a significant tactical advantage, making it an exceptional card within the arsenal of game-altering spells.

Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Armageddon - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Catastrophe by color, type and mana cost

Icatian Town - MTG Card versions
Righteous Fury - MTG Card versions
Guan Yu's 1,000-Li March - MTG Card versions
Kirtar's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Devastating Mastery - MTG Card versions
Austere Command - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Solar Tide - MTG Card versions
Final Judgment - MTG Card versions
Chronomantic Escape - MTG Card versions
Spectral Procession - MTG Card versions
Planar Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Open the Vaults - MTG Card versions
Nomads' Assembly - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Sudden Disappearance - MTG Card versions
Terminus - MTG Card versions
Vanquish the Foul - MTG Card versions
Plea for Guidance - MTG Card versions
Triplicate Spirits - MTG Card versions
Icatian Town - MTG Card versions
Righteous Fury - MTG Card versions
Guan Yu's 1,000-Li March - MTG Card versions
Kirtar's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Devastating Mastery - MTG Card versions
Austere Command - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Solar Tide - MTG Card versions
Final Judgment - MTG Card versions
Chronomantic Escape - MTG Card versions
Spectral Procession - MTG Card versions
Planar Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Open the Vaults - MTG Card versions
Nomads' Assembly - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Sudden Disappearance - MTG Card versions
Terminus - MTG Card versions
Vanquish the Foul - MTG Card versions
Plea for Guidance - MTG Card versions
Triplicate Spirits - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Catastrophe offers crucial control by enabling you to dismantle your opponent’s board presence, leading to potential card advantage as you disrupt their planned strategies and card synergies.

Resource Acceleration: While Catastrophe itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its ability to clear the board can set back your opponent’s resource development, indirectly accelerating your position in the game by giving you the potential to capitalize on the newfound space to develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: As a powerful sorcery, Catastrophe’s impact is felt at a decisive moment in your turn, forcing opponents to play cautiously knowing that you have the capacity to reset the board state, thereby dictating the pace and flow of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The playability of Catastrophe can be hampered by strategic disadvantages when it necessitates discarding cards. This requirement can deplete a player’s hand, making it crucial to weigh the benefits of using Catastrophe against the potential cost of losing other valuable cards from your grip.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is specific to white, Catastrophe’s inclusion is primarily confined to decks that are based on or heavily feature this color. This can sometimes restrict deck-building options and limit the card’s utility in a more diverse or multicolored deck environment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana total that reaches six, including a rather hefty double white mana requirement, Catastrophe stands on the expensive side, especially when compared with other board wipes or land destruction cards. Players must consider their mana curve and the impact of dedicating such a significant portion of their mana resources in a single turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Catastrophe allows for strategic flexibility in your deck, whether you need to destroy all lands to halt your opponents in their tracks or clear the board of creatures to gain the upper hand.

Combo Potential: It serves as a key piece in control decks, setting up the stage for a game-winning combo once the field is cleared or locking out opponents by decimating their mana base.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that’s largely dominated by aggressive strategies and ramp decks, Catastrophe can be a game changer, effectively resetting the board and providing a clear path to victory against such tactics.


How to beat

Catastrophe is known for its sheer flexibility in disrupting opponents’ strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its dual-mode presents a significant threat as it can either clear all creatures or destroy all lands, depending on the scenario. When facing Catastrophe, your approach to securing victory involves astutely managing resources and maintaining card advantage. An effective strategy is cultivating a board presence that can swiftly recover from a wipe, employing creatures with undying or persist mechanics to ensure they come back even after Catastrophe resolves.

Another tactic involves the use of counterspells to prevent Catastrophe from ever taking effect. Blue players can keep mana open for countermagic or invest in spells like Negate or Disallow. Additionally, playing with instant-speed creature spells allows you to re-establish your board after the Catastrophe has passed. It’s also worth considering diversifying your threats, not overcommitting to the board, and having land regeneration abilities or land cards in hand to bounce back in the event of a mass land destruction.

Ultimately, responding to Catastrophe requires a careful blend of foresight and adaptability—holding back enough to survive its resolution while still applying pressure on your opponent. Mastering the timing and balance of these elements can ensure that even the most catastrophic events can be surmounted.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG requires understanding every card’s nuances, such as Catastrophe’s diverse applications. To elevate gameplay, it’s essential to recognize the strategic timing and context in which to deploy such potent spells. Whether it’s resetting the field or paving the way for a decisive combo, versatility is key. Embrace the challenge of complex decision-making and smart deck-building to utilize this card’s full potential. For strategic insights, in-depth card analysis, and guidance on when to cause or avoid a Catastrophe, join our player’s community to enhance your skills and collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Catastrophe MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Catastrophe and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Catastrophe Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 1999-11-12. Illustrated by Andrew Robinson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 61997NormalBlackAndrew Robinson
21999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 121997NormalWhiteAndrew Robinson
32020-09-26The ListPLST USG-61997NormalBlackAndrew Robinson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Catastrophe has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Catastrophe card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 You choose land or creatures when the spell resolves.