Sublime Exhalation MTG Card


Great for multiplayer games, reducing its mana cost for each opponent present. Limited use in one-on-one matches due to its high base mana cost. Particularly impactful in metagames crowded with creature-based decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Undaunted

Text of card

Undaunted (This spell costs less to cast for each opponent.) Destroy all creatures.

Exhale, and let the winds carry your soul for all eternity.


Cards like Sublime Exhalation

Sublime Exhalation brings uniqueness to the board wipe category in Magic: The Gathering. This card mirrors the functionality of board wipe staples like Day of Judgment, which universally clears creatures off the battlefield. However, Sublime Exhalation has a noteworthy pivot – its mana cost decreases for each player in the game, making it a powerhouse in multiplayer formats like Commander.

Next, we observe Rout, another similar contender in sweeping the board. Rout grants the flexibility of casting it as an instant by paying additional mana, offering strategic depth and the potential to alter the state of play significantly. Sublime Exhalation lacks this flexibility, being a sorcery, but can become much more mana-efficient in a game with numerous players. Another comparison is Fumigate, which eliminates all creatures and provides life gain based on the number eliminated. This extra benefit is a draw for decks looking for board control and life stabilization.

Considering mana efficiency, flexibility, and added value, Sublime Exhalation stands out in games with several adversaries, highlighting the dynamics that shape multiplayer interactions and making it a formidable choice amongst board wipes in Magic: The Gathering.

Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions
Fumigate - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions
Fumigate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sublime Exhalation by color, type and mana cost

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Look at Me, I'm the DCI - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Tribute - MTG Card versions
Realm-Cloaked Giant // Cast Off - MTG Card versions
Brilliant Restoration - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Approach of the Second Sun - MTG Card versions
Dimensional Breach - MTG Card versions
Roar of Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Enduring Ideal - MTG Card versions
Hour of Reckoning - MTG Card versions
Sunscour - MTG Card versions
Mass Calcify - MTG Card versions
Devout Invocation - MTG Card versions
Deploy to the Front - MTG Card versions
Profound Journey - MTG Card versions
Providence - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sublime Exhalation pays for itself by potentially wiping the board of multiple creatures, ensuring you stay ahead of the game by reducing the number of threats your opponents have on the field without sacrificing your own card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While this card does not directly accelerate resources, by clearing the battlefield, it indirectly allows you to make more efficient use of your mana in following turns, as you might need to cast fewer spells to establish control.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Sublime Exhalation doesn’t have the benefit of instant speed. However, its potency during your turn can be just as strategic when timed correctly, especially prior to deploying your own threats to an empty board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Being a part of the Commander series, Sublime Exhalation may not be as broadly versatile in formats beyond Commander. Its efficiency relies heavily on the number of opponents you have, potentially leaving it lackluster in one-on-one formats.

Specific Mana Cost: Sublime Exhalation demands white mana, thus requiring a commitment to that color in your deck. Its seven-mana base cost might pose restrictions to deck building, especially in multicolored decks looking for diverse mana availability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of seven mana, Sublime Exhalation can be considered costly, especially if you’re not playing against several opponents to utilize its cost-reduction mechanic. In situations where you’re facing off against fewer opponents, there are lower-cost alternatives that could provide board-clearing effects without such a significant investment of resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sublime Exhalation’s unique condition for its Undaunted ability allows it to adjust its mana cost based on the number of players, making it a flexible choice for multiplayer formats like Commander. Its sweeping effect can also fit into various control or midrange decks that require reliable board clears.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that thrive on a clear battlefield. It can serve as a reset button in decks involving graveyard play or in combination with cards that benefit from creatureless states, such as those that capitalize on ‘the monarch’ mechanic or enchantments that reward you for having no creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with creature-based tactics or token generation, Sublime Exhalation stands out as a valuable control tool. Its potential to even the playing field can be pivotal in swinging the momentum of multiplayer games or in giving you much-needed breathing room against aggressive decks.


How to beat

Sublime Exhalation presents a unique challenge as a board wipe in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out with its scaling mana cost, making it potentially cheaper in games with multiple players. But, like any other card, it can be countered with strategic play. Understanding the card’s mechanics is the key to turning the tide in your favor.

One approach is to maintain a diversified board state with both creatures and non-creature permanents. This can mitigate the impact of Sublime Exhalation since it only targets creatures. Additionally, playing creatures with indestructible or those that can regenerate shields your board from such sweeping effects. Counterspells are also an effective method to thwart Sublime Exhalation, as you can directly prevent it from resolving. Lastly, keeping a low profile by not overextending the board with creatures can dissuade an opponent from using a board wipe prematurely.

Playing around Sublime Exhalation boils down to anticipation and resource management. By setting up a resilient board and keeping reactive measures in hand, you can easily navigate through the potential devastation it brings. The card’s potential to turn games around is considerable, but with these strategies, players can beat Sublime Exhalation and maintain control over the game’s flow.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sublime Exhalation MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2016 and Commander Anthology Volume II, 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 Sublime Exhalation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sublime Exhalation Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-11-11 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Lake Hurwitz.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-11Commander 2016C16 52015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
22018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 362015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 4752015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 602015NormalBlackLake Hurwitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sublime Exhalation has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-11-08 Causing an opponent to lose the game after you’ve announced that you’re casting a spell with undaunted and determined its total cost won’t cause you to have to pay more mana.
2016-11-08 Effects that reduce what you pay to cast a spell don’t affect its converted mana cost. Sublime Exhalation’s converted mana cost is 7, regardless of how many opponents you have or how much mana you spent to cast it.