Desert Twister MTG Card


Desert Twister provides crucial control by eliminating any permanent, affecting the opponent’s strategy significantly. While powerful, its specific and high mana cost can limit its use to certain deck types or situations. Despite its drawbacks, its ability to remove any target makes it a valuable asset in mono-green decks.
Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy any card in play.


Cards like Desert Twister

Desert Twister is a versatile removal spell hailing from the expansive world of Magic the Gathering. Its broad capability to destroy any target makes it akin to the infamous Vindicate. However,Vindicate enjoys the benefit of a lesser mana cost, which can be pivotal in quicker-paced games. Despite that, Desert Twister is not restricted by color, offering a unique advantage in mono-green decks that might lack diverse removal options.

Taking a glance at another relative, Bramblecrush distinguishes itself by being slightly less expensive mana-wise and still maintains the ability to target noncreature permanents. While it doesn’t share the same level of flexibility as Desert Twister, not being able to target creatures or planeswalkers can be a tradeoff for the reduced cost. On the other end, there’s Beast Within, its ability to target any permanent is temptingly efficient, plus it resolves at instant speed. The downside? It leaves the opponent with a 3/3 creature, quite the departure from Desert Twister’s clean slate approach.

In summary, Desert Twister claims its spot in MTG as a comprehensive solution for any permanent, a rare trait within green’s color pie. Its cost is steep, but its guaranteed answer to threats is invaluable, especially in decks that can accommodate the mana investment.

Vindicate - MTG Card versions
Bramblecrush - MTG Card versions
Beast Within - MTG Card versions
Vindicate - MTG Card versions
Bramblecrush - MTG Card versions
Beast Within - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Desert Twister by color, type and mana cost

Rebirth - MTG Card versions
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Verdant Mastery - MTG Card versions
Tuinvale Treefolk // Oaken Boon - MTG Card versions
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See the Unwritten - MTG Card versions
Joraga Invocation - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Renewal - MTG Card versions
Verdant Confluence - MTG Card versions
Selvala's Stampede - MTG Card versions
Genesis Storm - MTG Card versions
Rishkar's Expertise - MTG Card versions
Strength of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Wolf's Quarry - MTG Card versions
Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Collective Unconscious - MTG Card versions
Verdant Mastery - MTG Card versions
Tuinvale Treefolk // Oaken Boon - MTG Card versions
Titania's Command - MTG Card versions
Storm the Festival - MTG Card versions
One Dozen Eyes - MTG Card versions
Tromp the Domains - MTG Card versions
Doubling Chant - MTG Card versions
Grim Flowering - MTG Card versions
Rain of Thorns - MTG Card versions
See the Unwritten - MTG Card versions
Joraga Invocation - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Renewal - MTG Card versions
Verdant Confluence - MTG Card versions
Selvala's Stampede - MTG Card versions
Genesis Storm - MTG Card versions
Rishkar's Expertise - MTG Card versions
Strength of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Wolf's Quarry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cleaning the battlefield of any troublesome permanents, Desert Twister offers a decisive swing in control over the game’s progress. By removing key pieces from your opponent’s strategy, you indirectly gain card advantage as their options become limited.

Resource Acceleration: While Desert Twister itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its ability to destroy any land can set your opponent back on their mana curve. This disruption can slow them down significantly, providing you with an indirect form of resource acceleration as you continue to develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Desert Twister can be woven seamlessly into your turn’s strategy. Although it’s not at instant speed, the power to dismantle any permanent on the board without targeting restrictions is a tactical element that can prove invaluable at crucial junctures in a match.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Desert Twister requires a relatively color-heavy investment of two green mana, which might restrict it to green-centric or two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a broader range of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana, this card can be considered quite expensive for its single-target removal effect. Players might find that other removal options available in the MTG universe could provide more cost-effective ways to deal with threats on the board.

Discard Requirement: Although Desert Twister doesn’t require a card to be discarded as part of its casting cost, its high mana requirement could leave a player low on other resources, including the cards in hand, especially if they are ramping up to cast it early in the game.


Reasons to Include Desert Twister in Your Collection

Versatility: Desert Twister is a powerful spell that can seamlessly integrate into various decks due to its ability to destroy any target without any restrictions on card type. Whether it’s pesky permanents or threatening enchantments, Desert Twister offers a solution to remove key pieces from the board.

Combo Potential: In decks that utilize a lands matter theme, Desert Twister can be a game-changer. It can easily be retrieved from the graveyard with certain card abilities, readying it for another round of destruction. This recycling capability enables it to be more than a one-off spell in long, drawn-out games.

Meta-Relevance: While it may not be a staple in every format, Desert Twister’s ability to handle any problematic nonland permanent makes it an excellent sideboard choice against meta-dominant decks that rely on specific artifacts, creatures, or enchantments to win.


How to beat

Desert Twister stands as a versatile destruction tool in the world of Magic: The Gathering, boasting the rare capacity to target any permanent. Unlike spells with a narrower focus, such as Nature’s Claim or Disenchant that restrict their removal to enchantments or artifacts, Desert Twister’s broad scope allows players to eliminate any potential threat regardless of its type.

Overcoming Desert Twister requires a multifaceted approach, beginning with countermagic. Spells like Counterspell or Negate can intercept Desert Twister before it takes effect. Additionally, swiftly applying pressure on the battlefield can force an opponent to use their mana elsewhere, tying up resources that might otherwise be spent on casting a high-cost spell like Desert Twister. Furthermore, one can employ permanents with hexproof or shroud abilities, such as Invisible Stalker or Vine Mare, which inherently evade Desert Twister’s reach.

Ultimately, while Desert Twister is an undeniable force capable of altering the state of the game, a well-structured strategy that prioritizes precautionary plays and resource management can dampen its impact, preserving your key assets from being engulfed by this ubiquitous spell’s grasp.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Desert Twister MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Revised Edition, 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 Desert Twister and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Desert Twister Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-12-17Arabian NightsARN 461993NormalBlackSusan Van Camp
21994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1921993NormalWhiteSusan Van Camp
31994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1921993NormalBlackSusan Van Camp
41994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1921993NormalWhiteSusan Van Camp
51995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2401993NormalWhiteSusan Van Camp
61995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2401993NormalBlackSusan Van Camp
71997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2881997NormalWhiteSusan Van Camp
81999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 2431997NormalBlackKevin Murphy
92009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 1151997NormalBlackSusan Van Camp
102014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 2032015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
112014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1882015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
122015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1812015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
132017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1002015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
142019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11812015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
152020-09-26The ListPLST CMA-1002015NormalBlackNoah Bradley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Desert Twister has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal