Magic: The Gathering Card Review: Crush Contraband

TL;DR Summary

Crush Contraband is an instant removal spell that allows players to exile either artifacts or enchantments, making it a versatile tool for controlling the board. Its flexibility and power make it a staple in many decks, particularly in formats with a high concentration of artifact and enchantment-based strategies.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Crush Contraband is an instant spell that can be played at any time, including during combat. When played, it allows the player to choose one or both targets on the battlefield, which must be either artifacts or enchantments. If a target is an artifact or enchantment, the player exiles it from the game, rendering it unable to interact with other permanents and deal damage.

One key aspect of Crush Contraband's mechanics is its ability to exile multiple targets at once. This makes it particularly effective against decks that rely on multiple artifacts or enchantments for their strategy. For example, if an opponent has two enchantments protecting a valuable artifact, Crush Contraband can be played to exile both the enchantment and the artifact, leaving the opponent's board vulnerable.

Crush Contraband also interacts with other removal spells in interesting ways. Since it is an instant spell, it can be played at any time during the turn, including before or after combat has begun. This makes it a great tool for disrupting opponents' plans before they have a chance to develop their board state. Additionally, Crush Contraband's ability to exile multiple targets makes it particularly effective when paired with other removal spells that target single permanents.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Crush Contraband is a highly versatile spell that can be used in a variety of contexts. Here are some examples:

• Artifact control: Crush Contraband excels at controlling the board by exiling artifacts. This makes it particularly effective against decks that rely on artifacts for their strategy, such as Token decks or artifact-based combo spells.
• Enchantment removal: By exiling enchantments, Crush Contraband can help players disrupt opponents' plans and gain an advantage on the battlefield. This is particularly important in formats with a high concentration of enchantment-based strategies.
• Combo acceleration: When paired with other removal spells that target single permanents, Crush Contraband can be used to accelerate combo spells by exiling key targets before they have a chance to trigger.

Some example decks that use Crush Contraband effectively include:

• Token control: Decks like Mono-White Tokens or Red Token decks often rely on artifacts and enchantments for their strategy. Crush Contraband is an excellent tool for disrupting these decks.
• Combo spells: Decks that run combo spells, such as Abrupt Decay + Crush Contraband, can use Crush Contraband to accelerate the resolution of the combo.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Crush Contraband is a valuable addition to many deck archetypes, particularly those focused on artifact or enchantment control. Here are some examples:

• Artifact removal: Decks that focus on removing artifacts from the board often include Crush Contraband as a core component.
• Enchantment removal: Similar to artifact removal, decks that focus on removing enchantments will often include Crush Contraband in their list.
• Combo acceleration: As mentioned earlier, Crush Contraband can be used to accelerate combo spells by exiling key targets before they have a chance to trigger.

Some example deck builds that incorporate Crush Contraband include:

• Mono-White Tokens: This deck focuses on controlling the board with tokens and removing artifacts with Crush Contraband.
• Red Token: Similar to Mono-White Tokens, this deck uses Crush Contraband to control the board while generating tokens.
• Combo spell: As mentioned earlier, decks that run combo spells like Abrupt Decay + Crush Contraband can use Crush Contraband to accelerate the resolution of the combo.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Crush Contraband has been a staple in many formats, particularly in those with a high concentration of artifact and enchantment-based strategies. Here are some examples:

• Modern: Crush Contraband is commonly played in Modern decks that focus on artifact or enchantment control.
• Standard: In Standard formats, Crush Contraband is often included in decks that run combo spells or artifact/enchantment removal strategies.
• Vintage: While not as ubiquitous as it once was, Crush Contraband still sees play in some Vintage decks that rely on artifact or enchantment-based strategies.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

Crush Contraband's mechanics are straightforward: when played, the player exiles one or both targets on the battlefield. However, there are a few technical notes to keep in mind:

• Multiple targets: Crush Contraband can exile multiple targets at once, making it particularly effective against decks that rely on multiple artifacts or enchantments.
• Exile target: The text of Crush Contraband specifies that the target must be either an artifact or an enchantment. However, if a target is both an artifact and an enchantment (such as Ethershatter), Crush Contraband will exile only one of these qualities.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Crush Contraband's art depicts a figure wielding a sword and shield, symbolizing the spell's ability to protect and defend. The flavor text reads: "With a swift stroke, you shatter the contraband that threatens your hold." This reflects the spell's ability to exile artifacts or enchantments, rendering them unable to interact with other permanents.

Crush Contraband was first introduced in the Magic: The Gathering set Scars of Mirrodin in 2010. Since then, it has become a staple in many formats and decks, particularly those focused on artifact or enchantment control.

Summary of Key Points

• Crush Contraband is an instant removal spell that can exile either artifacts or enchantments.
• Its flexibility and power make it a versatile tool for controlling the board.
• It interacts with other removal spells in interesting ways, making it particularly effective when paired with other removal spells.
• Crush Contraband excels at artifact control and enchantment removal, making it an excellent addition to many deck archetypes.
• The spell has been widely played in formats such as Modern, Standard, and Vintage.

Conclusion

Crush Contraband is a powerful removal spell that can be used to control the board and disrupt opponents' plans. Its flexibility and power make it a staple in many decks, particularly those focused on artifact or enchantment control. By understanding its mechanics, interactions, and strategic uses, players can unlock new possibilities for their deck builds and improve their overall gameplay experience.

Additional Information

• Crush Contraband is often paired with other removal spells to create powerful combinations.
• The spell's ability to exile multiple targets makes it a valuable addition to many decks.
• Crush Contraband has been played in various formats, including Modern, Standard, and Vintage.