Price$0.70 – $19.27
Buy on TCGplayerAssassin's Trophy
Instant
LegalRemovalRank #124
Destroy target permanent an opponent controls. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Why is this card good?
Premium removal for any Golgari-based deck. Assassin's Trophy is one of the cleanest answers in Magic: two mana, instant speed, and it kills anything an opponent controls — creatures, artifacts, enchantments, planeswalkers, even lands. That flexibility is exactly what Commander demands, where you face wildly different threats across multiple opponents and can't afford narrow removal.
The downside — giving them a basic land — is almost irrelevant in EDH. A ramped land late in the game does nothing to swing a multiplayer board, and trading two mana to destroy a game-warping permanent is a fantastic rate. The body of basics in a typical deck means they'll usually find one, but you rarely care.
Who wants it: any Jund, Abzan, Sultai, or Golgari deck running enough black-green sources. It's a staple unconditional answer alongside Beast Within and Vindicate-style effects.
When to skip it: only if your colors don't support consistently, or in heavy ramp metas where free-landing an opponent matters more than usual. Otherwise, near-autoinclude.
consistently, or in heavy ramp metas where free-landing an opponent matters more than usual. Otherwise, near-autoinclude.Related cards
Abrupt Decay
BG instant removal for low-cost permanents, uncounterable.
Putrefy
BG instant destroying creature or artifact without ramping opponent.
Maelstrom Pulse
BG sorcery destroying any nonland permanent.
Beast Within
Green instant destroying any permanent, gives a token.
Vindicate
Comparable broad destruction in BG color territory.
Anguished Unmaking
Exiles any nonland permanent at instant speed.
Pernicious Deed
BG sweeper destroying multiple permanents by mana value.
Hull Breach
BG instant destroying artifact and/or enchantment cheaply.