Murder: A Timeless Removal Spell

Overview and Application

Murder is a fundamental black instant that destroys target creatures, providing an essential removal tool for controlling and aggressive decks alike. Its low mana cost of {1}{B}{B} makes it an attractive option for various formats, offering flexibility in its usage across Constructed and Limited environments.

Mechanics and Interactions

As a basic instant, Murder's implications on gameplay are significant:

• Immediate Response: It allows players to respond immediately to their opponents' creature plays, negating potential threats.
• Low Mana Cost: Its relatively low mana cost compared to other removal options makes it a staple in many black-heavy decks.
• Specific Targeting: Murder targets creatures specifically, interacting with various card types such as enchantments and artifacts that provide creature-like functionality.

The destruction effect of Murder is critical to understand:

• Target Restrictions: It cannot target player-controlled tokens or noncreature permanents created by non-token effects.
• Counter and Destruction: If a player attempts to cast Murder targeting an illegal permanent, the spell will be countered and destroyed.

Synergies and Combos

Murder's impact on gameplay is most pronounced when combined with other removal spells. Pairing it with Abrupt Decay creates a potent tool for dealing with threats:

(Abrupt Decay + Murder)
Destroy target creature or enchantment.

When played in conjunction with token-generating cards like Tribal Ambassador, Murder can become an aggressive force:

(Tribal Ambassador + Murder)
Create two 1/1 black Zombie creature tokens.

Strategic Uses and Synergies

Murder's applications extend beyond straightforward removal. It plays a crucial role in various strategies due to its versatility:

• Control Decks: By combining Murder with additional removal spells or counterspells like Counterspell, players can maintain a strong hand presence and dictate the pace of the game.
• Combo Decks: Cards like Golgari Findbroker synergize with Murder, enabling aggressive starts and quick board control.
• Aggressive Decks: Using Murder in conjunction with powerful creatures such as Savagery or Dreg Mangler accelerates the opponent's demise.

Notable combos involving Murder include:

• (Murder + Abrupt Decay): A 1-mana, 2-card combo that eliminates any threat.
• (Tribal Ambassador + Murder): Creates two 1/1 black Zombie creature tokens on demand.

Deckbuilding and Archetypes

Murder fits into various deck archetypes:

• Control Decks: Its low mana cost and versatility make it an attractive choice for control players seeking to maintain a strong hand presence.
• Aggressive Decks: By leveraging Murder in aggressive decks, players can accelerate board control and overwhelm their opponents.

Deckbuilders often consider pairing Murder with other removal spells like Abrupt Decay or Slaughter Pact, as well as cards that generate tokens or provide additional value.

Format Viability

Murder's viability across different formats is influenced by the metagame:

• In Constructed environments, its versatility and low mana cost make it a staple in many black-heavy decks.
• Limited formats often see Murder as an attractive option due to its straightforward application.

Its competitive context is further shaped by emerging trends and popular deck archetypes.