Hideous End MTG Card


Hideous End combines creature removal with direct life point damage, offering two advantages in one. Its instant speed allows for reactive play and surprise tactics during your opponent’s turn. Despite mana specificity and cost considerations, Hideous End remains a viable removal option.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Destroy target nonblack creature. Its controller loses 2 life.

"A little dark magic won't stop me. The worse the curse, the better the prize." —Radavi, Joraga relic hunter, last words


Cards like Hideous End

Hideous End finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a potent removal spell with a twist. It closely resembles other kill spells like Doom Blade, bypassing color restrictions by targeting nonblack creatures and causing loss of life rather than just creature destruction. Unlike Doom Blade, Hideous End has the added impact on the opponent’s life total, making it a choice for decks focusing on life manipulation and control strategies.

Another card that shares similarities is Go for the Throat, an efficient creature removal tool. At two mana, it destroys a nonartifact creature, offering broader utility in artifact-heavy metas. Despite that, it doesn’t directly affect life points, creating a tactical fork in the road for players choosing between sheer removal or life-based strategies. Murder is also a comparison point; it’s unconditional removal at three mana, offering versatility but lacking the bonus effect on the life total that Hideous End provides.

Weighing in the benefits and situational adaptability, Hideous End holds its ground within the removal spells category. Its dual-functional nature caters to those who want to disrupt the board while also pressuring the opponent’s life, positioning it uniquely against its counterparts.

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
Murder - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hideous End by color, type and mana cost

Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Stench of Decay - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Hapato's Might - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions
Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Stench of Decay - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Hapato's Might - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hideous End, when resolving, offers the dual benefit of removing an opposing creature while simultaneously causing life loss to its controller, effectively swinging the board and life total in your favor which can be a strategic advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Hideous End doesn’t directly provide mana or resource acceleration, the removal of a potential blocker can inadvertently speed up your own resource development by clearing the path for more aggressive plays or attacks.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Hideous End grants the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. This allows for surprise tactics, making it more difficult for opponents to safely commit to advantageous plays or to recover quickly from a sudden setback.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hideous End doesn’t directly demand the discard of a card, not having the discard option restricts strategic flexibility. This could be critical in scenarios where the alteration of hand contents could pivot the game’s outcome.

Specific Mana Cost: Hideous End requires both black and colorless mana, meaning it cannot be cast in a deck that lacks black mana sources. This can be restrictive and requires players to carefully consider their mana base when including cards with specific colored mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Hideous End priced at three mana, two of which are black, players may find themselves weighing their options against other removal spells that cost less. In a game where tempo can determine the winner, the mana cost of Hideous End might deter players from including it in their decks, especially when faster, more accessible, and flexible removal options are available.


Reasons to Include Hideous End in Your Collection

Versatility: Hideous End proves to be a useful card in a variety of black-inclusive decks. Its ability to destroy target non-black creature while causing its controller to lose 2 life offers a swing in board and life advantage.

Combo Potential: This instant increases the synergy in decks that capitalize on life-loss or death-triggered mechanics. It fits well in strategies involving cards that benefit from creatures dying, such as those with morbid or revolt abilities.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy decks often dominating play, Hideous End serves as an efficient removal tool. Despite the rise of multicolored creatures, the card still holds merit for its capacity to tilt the battlefield in favor of the controller by disrupting the opponent’s board presence.


How to beat

Hideous End is a notable spell when discussing removal options in Magic: The Gathering. It doesn’t just destroy a non-black creature but dents the opponent’s life total as well. This card can disrupt the rhythm of creature-based strategies, giving players a two-fold advantage by clearing the board and edging the life race.

To successfully navigate against Hideous End, consider diversifying your threats. By including creatures that are black or possess hexproof, you make it more challenging for your opponent to find a valid target. Inclusion of instant-speed protection spells or abilities that can counteract removal at crucial junctures is also key. Cards like Blossoming Defense protect your creatures and can negate the impact of spells like Hideous End.

Lastly, be mindful of your life total. With Hideous End, your opponent aims to transition from board control to life pressure. Maintaining a buffer can keep you out of range and afford you the time to outmaneuver this removal tactic. Always remember that the best defense against a card like Hideous End is a well-considered, multi-angled strategy that anticipates and neutralizes your opponent’s plays.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hideous End MTG card by a specific set like Planechase and Zendikar, 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 Hideous End and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hideous End Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2009-09-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 8 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 312003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
22009-10-02ZendikarZEN 982003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32010-03-19Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the CoalitionDDE 262003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
42014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 522015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
52016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 522015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6852015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
72020-09-26The ListPLST DDR-522015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hideous End has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-10-01 If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time Hideous End resolves, the entire spell doesn’t resolve. No one loses life.