Disintegrate MTG Card


Disintegrate can decisively remove creatures, providing a strategic edge in MTG gameplay. The card demands a significant mana investment, factoring into deck construction strategy. Inclusion in your collection offers versatility and meta-relevance in red-focused decks.
Card setsReleased in 19 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Disintegrate does X damage to one target. If target dies this turn, it is removed from game entirely and cannot be regenerated. Return target to its owner's deck only when game is over.


Cards like Disintegrate

Disintegrate is a classic card with a straightforward effect in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal direct damage and remove creatures from the game without leaving room for regeneration bears resemblance to cards like Fireball. Yet, Fireball’s flexibility in hitting multiple targets sets it apart. Disintegrate focuses all its power on a single target, ensuring its total annihilation if the damage is lethal.

Another card that shares this destructive potential is Incinerate. Although Incinerate does not exile the creature if it dies, it prevents regeneration, similar to Disintegrate. Incinerate also differs in that it can target players, while Disintegrate’s power is confined to creatures. Moreover, Incinerate’s lower mana cost makes it a cheaper alternative for quick damage.

Lastly, Red Sun’s Zenith also mirrors Disintegrate’s key feature – exiling creatures it destroys. However, Red Sun’s Zenith shuffles back into its owner’s library, potentially offering repeated usage. Considering these aspects, Disintegrate has its niche in MTG as a reliable one-shot finisher, suited for those moments when you need certainty that a creature won’t be coming back.

Fireball - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Red Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Red Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Disintegrate by color, type and mana cost

Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Seething Anger - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Landslide - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Lava Burst - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Command - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Seething Anger - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Landslide - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Lava Burst - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Command - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Disintegrate successfully resolves, it typically removes a key creature from the board, resulting in a one-for-one trade that can shift the balance in your favor. This potentially denies your opponent crucial resources and can disrupt their game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Although Disintegrate itself doesn’t directly provide acceleration, the removal of an opponent’s mana dork or critical creature can indirectly impede their resource progression, giving you a relative acceleration in available resources.

Instant Speed: Disintegrate, being a sorcery, requires strategic planning for its use. While it doesn’t have the flexibility of an instant, the ability to deal exact damage to a creature or player allows for calculated decisions that can pave the way for a game-winning move during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Disintegrate does not impose a discard requirement on the player, thereby not diminishing the player’s hand and allowing for continued strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: Disintegrate requires a dedicated red mana commitment, potentially restricting its inclusion exclusively to decks with a strong red mana base or those that can reliably generate red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base cost plus additional mana for increased damage, Disintegrate’s total mana investment can be significant, especially in a fast-paced game where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Disintegrate in Your Collection

Versatility: Disintegrate is a flexible card that can be slotted into a variety of Red-based decks. Its direct damage capability makes it a good fit for burn strategies or as a removal tool for pesky creatures.

Combo Potential: Its ability to deal a precise amount of damage offers great synergy with spell amplification effects or cards that benefit from noncombat damage being dealt. This opens up interesting interactions and increases the power of your plays.

Meta-Relevance: Disintegrate’s capacity to exile creatures it destroys can be a significant advantage in formats where graveyard strategies are prevalent. This ability to disrupt opponent’s tactics keeps the card relevant, regardless of temporal meta shifts.


How to beat

Disintegrate is a classic damage-dealing spell in the realm of MTG that can serve as both removal for creatures and a finishing blow to opponents. To successfully counter this card, a player needs to optimize their deck with damage prevention or redirection abilities. Introducing counterspells such as Counterspell or Negate into your playing strategy is an effective way to nullify Disintegrate’s impact before it hits the board.

Additionally, incorporating indestructible creatures provides a safeguard against Disintegrate, which cannot destroy them. Another strategy is to rely on instant-speed healing spells or abilities that increase life total beyond the damage threshold. Finally, hexproof and shroud are also worth considering since they prevent Disintegrate from targeting your creatures. By proactively defending against direct damage spells like Disintegrate, players can maintain a strong board presence and secure their path to victory.

Adapting to and countering your opponent’s tactics with these methods will raise your game to the next level and demonstrate your mastery over MTG’s nuanced strategies.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Disintegrate MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Disintegrate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Disintegrate Magic the Gathering card was released in 17 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1401993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1411993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1411993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1411993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1411993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1421993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1421993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1421993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 1851993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 1851993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
111996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 301993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
121996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 311993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
131997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2191997NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
141997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 jk2191997NormalGoldAnson Maddocks
151997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 pm2191997NormalGoldAnson Maddocks
162002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 624292015NormalBlackDave Kendall
172006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 581997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
182022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4341997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
192022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1372015NormalBlackAnson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Disintegrate has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Disintegrate 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 Disintegrated creatures do not go to the graveyard at all before being exiled. They do not trigger abilities which trigger due to a creature going to the graveyard.
2004-10-04 The “can’t regenerate” is an effect of Disintegrate and not an effect of the damage. It works even if the damage is prevented or redirected. If redirected, the damage does not take this effect with it.