Hand of Death MTG Card


Hand of Death allows efficient board control by removing threats at instant speed, which can tilt a game’s balance. The requirement to discard a card when using Hand of Death can be a significant setback in resource management. Despite its mana cost and casting constraints, the card’s versatility in certain decks makes it a formidable removal spell.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy any one creature that isn't black. (A creature is black if it has o B in its cost.)

Death claims all but the darkest souls.


Cards like Hand of Death

Hand of Death stands as an accessible removal option in MTG, occupying a niche similar to that of Murder. Both provide a straightforward solution to take out a threatening creature on the field. Hand of Death excels in its cost efficiency for black mana decks, notably requiring one less mana than Murder to be cast, which can be crucial in pivotal game moments.

Expanding on removal options, we have Doom Blade, another black spell akin to Hand of Death but with a more limited scope, restricting its use to nonblack creatures. It is cheaper by one mana, which makes it a preferable choice in a meta with fewer black creatures. Conversely, Go for the Throat serves a similar purpose but situates its restriction on nonartifact creatures instead. It provides versatility in a different axis, making each of these cards situationally effective.

In evaluating their roles, Hand of Death is a middle ground in cost and flexibility, offering targeted creature removal without the restrictions found in some of its alternatives. Its balance between mana efficiency and general applicability gives it an important role in black-centered deck strategies.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hand of Death by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
Wicked Pact - MTG Card versions
Nature's Ruin - MTG Card versions
Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
Brush with Death - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Grim Tutor - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - MTG Card versions
Soul Burn - MTG Card versions
Noxious Vapors - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Crippling Fatigue - MTG Card versions
Flaying Tendrils - MTG Card versions
Victimize - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Hand of Death provides a strategic advantage by allowing players to directly remove a threat from the board. This efficient removal can equate to card advantage, as one card from your hand deals with an opposing creature, potentially saving multiple cards from being used in its stead.

Resource Acceleration: While Hand of Death itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the typical sense of providing mana or ramp, the removal of a key creature can indirectly accelerate your game plan by clearing the way for your own creatures to attack and reducing the opponent’s resources.

Instant Speed: A significant strength of Hand of Death lies in its instant speed. This allows players to react flexibly to opponents’ actions, removing creatures during their turn or in response to specific spells or abilities. Having the capability to act on the fly, especially during combat, provides a tactical edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hand of Death necessitates the discarding of a card, which can be particularly painful when your hand is already dwindling. This requirement can make the card less appealing in tight situations where every resource counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both black and generic mana, the casting cost restricts Hand of Death primarily to mono-black or two-color decks that include black. This limitation can potentially stifle the card’s versatility in a multicolored deck environment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that sits on the higher side for its provided effect, there may be alternative removal spells in MTG that achieve similar outcomes with a less demanding investment, making Hand of Death less efficient by comparison.


Reasons to Include Hand of Death in Your Collection

Versatility: Hand of Death is one of those cards that offer flexibility in deck building. It can be a key removal piece in various deck archetypes, from aggro to control strategies, effectively dealing with threats on the board.

Combo Potential: Its ability to destroy a target creature can be synergized with other cards that capitalize on death triggers or graveyard mechanics, making it a crucial combo enabler in such decks.

Meta-Relevance: Considering its straightforward creature destruction at a manageable cost, Hand of Death remains relevant in metas dominated by creature-based strategies, providing a timely answer to opposing threats.


How to Beat Hand of Death

Hand of Death is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card that adds a layer of strategy to creature removal. What sets this card apart is its ability to destroy target nonblack creature at a relatively low cost. While powerful, there are several ways to play around it. To maintain the upper hand against Hand of Death, prioritize using creatures that are either black or have hexproof or indestructible attributes. These characteristics render your creatures impervious to Hand of Death’s targeting ability.

It’s also beneficial to have a diverse lineup in your deck. Utilize multicolored creatures or those with protection from black. Creatures equipped with enchantments like Swiftfoot Boots or those that can regenerate further minimize the impact of Hand of Death on your gameplay. Additionally, countering it with spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can shut down your opponent’s removal attempts. Always be mindful of your opponent’s untapped lands and potential for casting Hand of Death, and strategically plan your creature plays to ensure your valuable pieces remain on the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hand of Death MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal, 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 Hand of Death and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hand of Death Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2000-04-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 961997NormalBlackJohn Coulthart
21997-05-01PortalPOR 96†1997NormalBlackJohn Coulthart
31998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 741997NormalBlackHeather Hudson
41999-07-01Starter 1999S99 801997NormalWhiteHeather Hudson
52000-04-01Starter 2000S00 251997NormalWhiteHeather Hudson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hand of Death has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal