Declaration in Stone MTG Card


Declaration in Stone offers board control by exiling multiple threats, giving a significant strategic advantage. Efficient mana usage for this sorcery allows a steady progression in your game plan with just two mana. Though restrictive mana requirements limit deck diversity, its ability to permanently remove creatures is invaluable.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Investigate

Text of card

Exile target creature and all other creatures its controller controls with the same name as that creature. That player investigates for each nontoken creature exiled this way.

The message was clear to Sorin—Nahiri had paid Markov Manor a visit.


Cards like Declaration in Stone

Declaration in Stone is an impactful removal spell in Magic: The Gathering. It lines up with other single target removals, like Path to Exile, which also exiles creatures without providing the downside of clue tokens. Although Declaration in Stone does grant clue tokens to your opponent, it has the upside of targeting multiple creatures of the same name for just two mana.

Another spell to consider is Oblivion Ring. This card has a broader removal scope, targeting not just creatures but also other nonland permanents. While Oblivion Ring is more versatile, it is also slower due to its three mana cost and offers the possibility of returned threats if the Ring is removed. On the other hand, Declaration in Stone is specific to creatures but makes their absence permanent.

The ability to potentially clear multiple threats with a single Declaration in Stone can shift the tide of a game, making it a potent option for players. When evaluating removal spells within Magic: The Gathering, Declaration in Stone holds a specific role in managing creature-heavy boards, thus establishing itself as a formidable tool for strategic players.

Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Declaration in Stone by color, type and mana cost

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Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions
Balance - MTG Card versions
Shahrazad - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Martial Coup - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Declaration in Stone. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White HumansMono-White Humans PioneerMono-White HumansPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-22
DecklistDecklist Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Boros AggroBoros Aggro GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024
Jeskai TempoJeskai Tempo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024
Selesnya MidrangeSelesnya Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 11 2024
Boros Death & TaxesBoros Death & Taxes GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024
Jeskai MidrangeJeskai Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 11 2024
Mono-White Death & TaxesMono-White Death & Taxes GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024
Four-color Some Brand of CerealFour-color Some Brand of Cereal GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Declaration in Stone, you’re not just removing a single threat but potentially clearing away multiple copies or tokens of that threat in one sweep. This advantage can significantly tip the scales in a match where an opponent relies on such strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Although Declaration in Stone doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it efficiently uses the mana you have. For just two mana, this sorcery can shift the board state in your favor, allowing you to maintain a mana curve that supports furthering your game plan without setback.

Instant Speed: Even though Declaration in Stone is a sorcery, its impact on the game can feel like it carries the flexibility of an instant. Removing multiple threats at once can instantaneously change the pace and outcome of a game as effectively as many instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Declaration in Stone doesn’t explicitly require a discard, it can feel like a card disadvantage against solitary threats. By spending one card to deal with one creature, you lose the potential to handle multiple threats with a single spell. This can impact your ability to maintain card advantage during critical moments of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Declaration in Stone, demanding both colorless and white mana, makes it somewhat restrictive. This can hinder deck flexibility as it requires a committed investment in white mana sources, potentially limiting the card’s use to specific archetypes that can reliably generate the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost of two mana, Declaration in Stone may appear affordable. However, in the fast-paced environment of MTG, other white removal spells can offer similar or better effects at a lower cost or with additional benefits. This can make Declaration in Stone a less preferred choice, particularly if mana efficiency is paramount in your strategy.


Reasons to Include Declaration in Stone in Your Collection

Versatility: Declaration in Stone has the ability to clear multiple creatures with the same name off the board with a single spell. It’s an ideal fit for decks that need an efficient way to deal with opposing creature build-ups, regardless of their size, making it a solid choice for a variety of deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: The card excels in strategies looking to remove blockers and swing in for the win. When combined with cards that penalize opponents for drawing or having extra cards in hand, Declaration in Stone can be particularly punishing.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy decks consistently present in the meta, Declaration in Stone serves as a powerful tool for removing key threats, disrupting enemy combos, and can swing the momentum of the game in your favor.


How to beat

Declaration in Stone might seem daunting with its ability to exile any number of target creatures that share the same name. As a sorcery that can potentially clear away clusters of tokens or creatures at a relatively low cost, it presents a unique challenge. However, navigating around this spell can be as simple as varying your creature base and avoiding over-committing similar units to the battlefield at once. Diversifying threats ensures that Declaration in Stone’s impact is minimized, allowing you to maintain board presence.

Another strategy involves capitalizing on the Clue tokens provided as compensation. While losing creatures can be a setback, the additional card draw from the tokens can fuel your late-game plans or even help you find answers or threats more rapidly. Smart play includes timing your token redemption to optimize your mana usage and maintain card advantage. Additionally, keeping counter spells or protection spells handy can negate the potential losses or redirect the game’s trajectory. Overall, it’s about balance and counterplay, making sure that every card in Magic: The Gathering serves not just one, but multiple purposes in the grander scheme of the match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Declaration in Stone MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad Promos and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Declaration in Stone and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Declaration in Stone Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 12s2015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
22016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 122015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 1962015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson
42023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 232015NormalBlackTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Declaration in Stone has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-04-08 A face-down creature, such as one cast with a megamorph ability from the Dragons of Tarkir set, has no name and can't share a name with any other creatures.
2016-04-08 Declaration in Stone has only one target. The other creatures with that name aren't targeted. For example, a creature with hexproof will be exiled if it has the same name as the target creature.
2016-04-08 If the target creature is an illegal target when Declaration in Stone tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No creatures will be exiled, including those with the same name as the target.
2016-04-08 If you sacrifice a Clue for another card's cost or effect, such as that of Angelic Purge or Tamiyo's Journal, you can't also pay and sacrifice it to draw a card.
2016-04-08 It's possible to have a creature and a noncreature permanent with the same name, such as two copies of the same land, one of which has become a land creature. Only creatures with that name are exiled by Declaration in Stone.
2016-04-08 The token is named Clue Token and has the artifact subtype Clue. Clue isn't a creature type.
2016-04-08 The tokens are normal artifacts. For example, they can be sacrificed to cast Angelic Purge or targeted by Root Out.
2022-06-10 Unless a token is a copy of another permanent or was explicitly given a name by the effect that created it, its name is the subtypes it was given when it was created plus the word "Token." For example, if an effect creates a 1/1 Soldier creature token, that token is named "Soldier Token."