Crush Contraband MTG Card


Crush Contraband offers card advantage by targeting dual permanent types, saving crucial resources. Instant speed lets players disrupt opponents unexpectedly, maintaining a strategic edge. While versatile, its mana cost and color commitment may limit some deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Choose one or both — • Exile target artifact. • Exile target enchantment.

The Izzet mage knew she would neither get her thermoinverter back nor have the satisfaction of exploding it herself.


Cards like Crush Contraband

Crush Contraband is a versatile removal option within Magic: The Gathering, standing in line with other artifact and enchantment removal spells. It sees comparison to the likes of Disenchant, a staple in white decks famous for its simplified and lower mana cost approach to removing threats. However, Crush Contraband ups the ante by offering the ability to exile not just one but potentially two targets, ensuring those problems don’t resurface from the graveyard.

Invoke the Divine is another relative card, bringing life gain in addition to the destruction of artifacts or enchantments. While the healing bonus can be pivotal in certain matchups, Crush Contraband’s double-target exile feature can disrupt strategies that rely heavily on graveyard recursion. And then there is Return to Dust. At a higher mana cost, it can achieve a similar exile effect, yet it provides flexibility by acting in both the player’s main phase for double impact or at instant speed for a single target.

By offering dual exile capabilities at instant speed, Crush Contraband may appeal to those looking for a solid defense against decks packed with problematic artifacts and enchantments. It strikes a fine balance by providing a strong answer to threats that can decide the outcome of a game.

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Invoke the Divine - MTG Card versions
Return to Dust - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Invoke the Divine - MTG Card versions
Return to Dust - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Crush Contraband by color, type and mana cost

Rapid Fire - MTG Card versions
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Altar's Light - MTG Card versions
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Return to Dust - MTG Card versions
Angel's Mercy - MTG Card versions
Eyes in the Skies - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Comeuppance - MTG Card versions
Rapid Fire - MTG Card versions
Congregate - MTG Card versions
Reverent Mantra - MTG Card versions
Sivvi's Ruse - MTG Card versions
Mirror Strike - MTG Card versions
Surprise Deployment - MTG Card versions
Ray of Distortion - MTG Card versions
Chastise - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Will - MTG Card versions
Semester's End - MTG Card versions
Recuperate - MTG Card versions
Solidarity - MTG Card versions
Altar's Light - MTG Card versions
Aether Shockwave - MTG Card versions
Divine Verdict - MTG Card versions
Return to Dust - MTG Card versions
Angel's Mercy - MTG Card versions
Eyes in the Skies - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Comeuppance - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crush Contraband provides a unique way of dealing with multiple threats at once. Able to target and exile an artifact and an enchantment simultaneously, this card helps conserve resources by handling two potential problems with a single cast. This efficiency aids in maintaining an upper hand in a game where every card counts.

Resource Acceleration: While Crush Contraband itself does not directly accelerate resources, its ability to remove key artifacts can significantly slow down an opponent’s resource acceleration. Destroying an artifact that produces mana or has other cumulative benefits can drastically shift the momentum of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Crush Contraband means that you have the flexibility to respond to threats on the fly, allowing for strategic plays and surprises. You can disrupt an opponent’s plans during their turn, before they can reap the benefits of their powerful artifacts and enchantments. It keeps opponents on their toes and gives you a reactive edge in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Crush Contraband doesn’t make you discard cards upon casting, it’s still important to consider your hand when playing it. If your hand is sparse, using this spell means one less piece of intel on your strategy for your opponent to worry about.

Specific Mana Cost: Crush Contraband necessitates both white mana and generic mana to play. This dual cost requires a commitment to white in your deck’s mana base, which may not always align with the flexibility some strategies aim for.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, Crush Contraband is a significant investment, especially when you’re hoping to deal with threats promptly. Some players might find that other cards offer more immediate or varied solutions for a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crush Contraband offers dual utility handling both enchantments and artifacts, making it a flexible choice for sideboards or main decks aiming to disrupt opponents’ strategies.

Combo Potential: With its unique ability to target two types of permanents simultaneously, it can be a tactical play to weaken opponents’ combos or safeguard your own by clearing a path from potential threats.

Meta-Relevance: Artifact and enchantment-based decks are popular in numerous formats, ensuring Crush Contraband remains a relevant and potent answer to common and powerful archetypes across the game.


How to beat

Crush Contraband is a powerful card in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal for dealing with threats posed by artifacts and enchantments. In a game where such cards can dictate the flow of battle, having the right strategy to counteract Crush Contraband’s potential is crucial. Just like other targeted removal spells, timing and prediction are key. Players must anticipate when their opponent might have Crush Contraband in hand and either bait it out with less critical artifacts or enchantments or wait until the opponent is tapped out or low on resources before deploying their most valuable noncreature permanents.

Adaptability is another factor. Players can favor indestructible or hexproof artifacts and enchantments, or utilize cards like Negate to directly counter Crush Contraband. Moreover, keeping a diverse set of threats—creatures, lands, and planeswalkers—helps in diluting the impact of Crush Contraband as it targets only two types of permanents. It’s about crafting a multifaceted game plan that doesn’t rely too heavily on artifacts and enchantments, thereby reducing the blow from this specific card’s effect.

Ultimately, Crush Contraband’s strength lies in its targeted removal, but with thoughtful deck building and clever playstyle adaptations, players can minimize its impact and maintain control over the game environment.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your gameplay with adept card choices is pivotal in MTG, and Crush Contraband is a formidable tool for any player’s arsenal. Its instant speed and versatile exile effect can turn the tides of a match, offering an edge when facing artifact and enchantment-heavy opponents. Given its role in thwarting opponent strategies and its aptitude for impacting various formats, incorporating Crush Contraband into your collection is a strategic move. Remember, adapting to the evolving game dynamics is the hallmark of a seasoned player. For deeper insights and strategies to optimize your deck around utility cards like Crush Contraband, join the conversation with us. Elevate your MTG gameplay today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crush Contraband MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Zendikar Rising Commander, 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 Crush Contraband and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crush Contraband Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 72015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 132015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
32021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 812015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
42022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 822015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
52024-03-08FalloutPIP 1582015NormalBlackXavier Ribeiro
62024-03-08FalloutPIP 6862015NormalBlackXavier Ribeiro

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crush Contraband has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-10-05 If you've chosen both modes and one of Crush Contraband's targets becomes an illegal target, the other is still exiled.