Winds of Abandon MTG Card


Capable of exiling multiple threats, Winds of Abandon grants significant advantage through efficient board control. The card’s flexibility at instant speed allows for strategic plays and adapts to various game scenarios. Despite its higher mana investment, its versatility and exile effect make it a choice inclusion for decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Overload

Text of card

Exile target creature you don't control. For each creature exiled this way, its controller searches their library for a basic land card. Those players put those cards onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle their libraries. Overload (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")


Cards like Winds of Abandon

Winds of Abandon stands out as a unique removal opportunity within Magic: The Gathering. When evaluated against other exile effects, such as Path to Exile, we find both serve a similar basic function. However, Winds of Abandon offers a significantly broader sweep, allowing for a potential board clear at a higher expense. Path to Exile is leaner on the mana cost yet only targets a single creature.

Comparing to another card, Settle the Wreckage, Winds of Abandon delivers a more controlled eviction by not requiring the attacking clause that Settle does. This grants the caster the liberty to remove threats at their own pacing. Conversely, Settle the Wreckage’s defensive nature can turn the tide unexpectedly in combat. Day of Judgment is another card in this field yet it lacks the exile component, favoring destruction over permanent removal. While it has a similar mana value to Winds of Abandon’s overload cost, the inability to selectively preserve your own creatures makes Winds more flexible in various strategic scenarios.

Altogether, Winds of Abandon offers a dynamic edge in deckbuilding, giving players the flexibility of single or multiple target removal that is hard to replace in the format, positioning it as a powerful tool in a player’s arsenal.

Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Settle the Wreckage - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Settle the Wreckage - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Winds of Abandon by color, type and mana cost

Balance - MTG Card versions
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Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions
Balance - MTG Card versions
Shahrazad - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Martial Coup - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Winds of Abandon. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White MidrangeMono-White Midrange ModernMono-White MidrangeModern Challenge 64 2024-04-14 (1)
Boros MidrangeBoros Midrange ModernBoros MidrangeModern Challenge 64 2024-04-14
Mono-White MartyrMono-White Martyr ModernMono-White Midrange$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Sunday - 9:00 am (Gold)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Winds of Abandon exemplifies efficient card advantage by potentially removing multiple threats from the battlefield in one fell swoop. This can tip the scales in your favor, as you deal with numerous problems with a single card, efficiently simplifying the game to your benefit.

Resource Acceleration: While Winds of Abandon doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense, it indirectly influences resource management by forcing opponents to spend their next turns and mana rebuilding their board presence, giving you a clear tempo advantage.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed removal cannot be overstated. Winds of Abandon can disrupt enemy strategies during the most opportune time—either in the midst of combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn. This timing allows you to make informed decisions while keeping your options open as the game unfolds.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some removal spells, Winds of Abandon doesn’t require you to discard, but it does force a tough decision: clearing the board could potentially set your opponents up for enhanced board presence later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires white mana, narrowing its compatibility primarily to decks that include or focus on white color schemes, barring its play in some multicolor builds without proper mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base cost of two mana and a hefty six mana for the Overload feature, this card can be a significant mana investment, especially when compared to other versatile removal options like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares that operate at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Winds of Abandon offers a high level of flexibility, acting as a single-target removal or a scalable sweeper. This allows it to adapt to various game states, either saving you from immediate threats or clearing the path for a game-winning swing.

Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key component in combo decks, particularly those that capitalize on opponents having no blockers. By exiling multiple creatures, you pave the way for massive creature-based combos or direct damage follow-ups.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment crowded with creature-heavy decks, Winds of Abandon’s capacity to deal with multiple threats at once makes it exceptionally powerful. Its ability to exile rather than destroy is crucial in bypassing death triggers and indestructible creatures, making it a strategic inclusion in many deck lists.


How to Beat Winds of Abandon

Winds of Abandon has made its mark as a potent removal option in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a way to clear the board of multiple threats in a single swoop. Indeed, its overload mechanic can radically swing games by temporarily removing creatures and giving opponents a mana boost. Now, to navigate around this disruptive force, consider a few strategies. First, diversifying threats across different permanent types can lessen the impact of Winds of Abandon, as it only targets creatures.

Moreover, playing creatures with enter the battlefield (ETB) or death-triggered abilities can counterbalance the tempo loss caused by removal. This way, you still gain some value even when your creatures are exiled. Also, conserve mana for counterspells if you’re in blue, or be ready to regenerate or give your creatures indestructible if they’re aligned with other colors. Lastly, try to bait out the Winds of Abandon with less vital creatures before committing your key players to the battlefield.

While powerful, Winds of Abandon is not unbeatable. Smart play, strategic deck building, and a keen sense of timing can help ensure that when the winds do come, they won’t blow away your chances at victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Winds of Abandon requires foresight and a keen strategic mind. If you’re intrigued by its potential for clear skies and victorious paths in MTG, then enhancing your understanding of this card is your next move. Learn to wield this powerful spell to its utmost capacity, navigate the delicate mana economics, and integrate it fluidly into your existing decks. With every match, there’s an opportunity to outmaneuver opponents and pave your way to triumph with a well-timed Winds of Abandon. Ready for a deeper dive into its mechanics and tactical applications? Join us at BurnMana, where your mastery of MTG cards like Winds of Abandon reaches new heights.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Winds of Abandon MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons Art Series, 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 Winds of Abandon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Winds of Abandon Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2019-06-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 996711997NormalBlackJames Paick
22019-06-05Modern Horizons Art SeriesAMH1 312015Art seriesBorderlessNoah Bradley
32019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 372015NormalBlackNoah Bradley
42020-09-26The ListPLST MH1-372015NormalBlackNoah Bradley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Winds of Abandon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-06-14 Because a spell with overload doesn’t target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with hexproof or protection from the appropriate color.
2019-06-14 If a creature is exiled but ends up in another zone (most likely because it’s a player’s commander in the Commander variant), it’s still a “creature exiled this way” for Winds of Abandon.
2019-06-14 If you don’t pay the overload cost of a spell, that spell will have a single target. If you pay the overload cost, the spell won’t have any targets.