Lethal Sting MTG Card


Lethal Sting enables board control while preserving hand size, a tactical advantage in MTG. While not an instant, well-timed use of Lethal Sting can significantly impact the battlefield. It demands strategic deck building, given its self-impact and color-specific mana cost.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Lethal Sting, put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control. Destroy target creature.

Initiates once believed defeat was the worst fate possible—a sentiment they quickly abandoned.


Cards like Lethal Sting

Lethal Sting is a unique addition to black control cards in Magic: The Gathering, bringing its own flavor of removal to the table. This spell draws a parallel with other removal spells like Murder, which provides a straightforward way to destroy any target creature without any additional requirements. Lethal Sting offers a nuanced perspective by adding a -1/-1 counter to a creature you control as part of its casting cost, thus turning the creature you already control into a necessary component for the spell’s execution.

Another comparable card is Grasp of Darkness, which, like Lethal Sting, can deal with most creatures. While Grasp of Darkness doesn’t make you put a counter on your creature, it does require double black mana and only gives creatures -4/-4 until end of turn. In contrast, Lethal Sting’s permanent -1/-1 counter can be advantageous in a deck utilizing counter synergies. Then there’s the card Fatal Push, renown for its efficiency in dealing with low-cost creatures and even larger threats if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield that turn, offering flexibility missing in Lethal Sting’s mechanics.

Consequently, Lethal Sting holds its ground in the array of black control spells in MTG, marked particularly by its potential interaction with your own creatures, which can turn the required sacrifice into an unexpected boon.

Murder - MTG Card versions
Grasp of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Grasp of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Lethal Sting by color, type and mana cost

Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - MTG Card versions
Touch of Death - MTG Card versions
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Buried Alive - MTG Card versions
Choking Sands - MTG Card versions
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Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
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Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - 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
Pain's Reward - MTG Card versions
Darkpact - MTG Card versions
Demonic Attorney - MTG Card versions
Jovial Evil - 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
Infernal Contract - MTG Card versions
Coercion - MTG Card versions
Hand of Death - MTG Card versions
Forced March - MTG Card versions
Stupor - 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
Pain's Reward - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lethal Sting provides the opportunity to manage your battlefield while maintaining your hand. You can place a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control in exchange for the removal of a potentially more threatening creature your opponent controls, effectively balancing the board without losing card presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Lethal Sting doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure, it can be considered a form of resource acceleration as it removes blockers or threats without expending multiple cards. This potentially frees up your mana for other strategic plays, keeping you ahead in the resource race.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Lethal Sting cannot be cast at instant speed; however, its strategic impact on the game might be similar to what one could expect from instant-speed interaction. By planning ahead and using it during your main phase, you can create openings for your attacks or disrupt your opponent’s planned synergies at crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lethal Sting demands that you put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control as part of its casting. This self-imposed drawback can be problematic, especially if you’re running low on creatures or are reliant on every one of your creatures’ strength to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: With a specific mana cost that includes black, Lethal Sting requires a firm commitment to black mana sources in your deck. This can complicate your mana base, particularly in multicolor decks where mana flexibility is critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana might seem fair, but when efficiency is key, there are alternative removal spells in the game that get the job done without the additional cost of weakening your own creatures. These alternatives can often provide the same, if not more, value rendering Lethal Sting less appealing in fast-paced or highly competitive environments.


Reasons to Include Lethal Sting in Your Collection

Versatility: Lethal Sting works seamlessly in any deck that is heavy on counters, such as those exploiting the proliferate mechanic or requiring a means to place +1/+1 counters on creatures for added benefits.

Combo Potential: It also can act as a cornerstone in combo builds, assisting in the activation of abilities that trigger on placing or removing counters, potentially clearing the way for an unobstructed attack or enabling certain win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: Given the landscape often adorned with formidable creatures, having a removal option like Lethal Sting in your collection ensures you can deal with threats across a spectrum of offensive strategies, keeping you on top of the competition.


How to Beat

Lethal Sting presents itself as a peculiar challenge in the form of removal in the Magic: The Gathering arena. The ability to place a -1/-1 counter on a creature can be a subtle yet powerful tactic, disrupting your opponent’s board state. But like every strategy, there are ways to turn the tables against this card. The key to overcoming Lethal Sting lies in utilizing creatures that thrive on counters or ones that are expendable by nature.

Utilizing creatures with undying or persist abilities, for instance, can nullify the impact of Lethal Sting. Since these creatures come back when they die, the -1/-1 counter from Lethal Sting might even reset their toughness, readying them for another round. Indestructible creatures also stand strong against such targeted removal, as they ignore the lethal consequences of the negative counters. Additionally, having sacrificial creatures that you can afford to lose or that will trigger beneficial effects upon dying can also help you maintain your position on the battlefield despite your opponent’s attempts to pierce through with Lethal Sting.

At its core, understanding and anticipating removal cards and crafting your deck with resilient or synergistic creatures is essential in forging a path to victory in Magic: The Gathering, especially when facing threats like Lethal Sting.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lethal Sting MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Mystery Booster, 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 Lethal Sting and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lethal Sting Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Randy Vargas.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 672015NormalBlackRandy Vargas
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7002015NormalBlackRandy Vargas
32020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1102015NormalBlackRandy Vargas
42020-09-26The ListPLST HOU-672015NormalBlackRandy Vargas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lethal Sting has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-07-14 If you don’t control any creatures or can’t put any -1/-1 counters on any creature you control, you can’t cast Lethal Sting.