Ray of Ruin (LCI)

Ray of Ruin
Casting Cost: {4}{B}
Card Type: Sorcery
Card Text:
Exile target creature, Vehicle, or nonbasic land. Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom.)
Flavour Text:
"We know Chimil's light as a warming, healing presence, but make no mistake: to those who would desecrate her lands, it is a terrible force of scouring fury."
-Akal Pakal, First Steward of Oteclan
Artist: Sam Rowan

Card Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:

  • Versatility in targeting creatures, Vehicles, or nonbasic lands.
  • Exile effect permanently removes the targeted card, bypassing most forms of recursion.
  • Scry 1 provides additional deck manipulation, aiding in drawing desired cards.

• Weaknesses:

  • Higher mana cost may limit its use in early game situations.
  • Single-target removal, which can be less effective in multi-threat scenarios.

Deck Utility:

• Control Decks: Ideal for control strategies needing to remove key threats or troublesome lands.

• Midrange Decks: Fits well in midrange strategies for its versatility and ability to eliminate significant threats.

• Versatile Removal Needs: Useful in any deck requiring flexible removal options.

Interactions and Combos:

• Synergy with Scry and Top-Deck Manipulation: Enhances decks focused on controlling the top of the library.

• Anti-Vehicle and Land Strategies: Particularly effective in metas where Vehicles or powerful nonbasic lands are prevalent.

Flavor and Lore:
The flavor text, as spoken by Akal Pakal, hints at the duality of Chimil's light, a theme likely vividly captured in Sam Rowan's artwork. It suggests a narrative where sacred lands are fiercely protected against desecration.

Overall Impression:
Ray of Ruin is a potent removal tool, especially valuable in formats where nonbasic lands, Vehicles, or resilient creatures are common. Its ability to exile a wide range of targets makes it a strong inclusion in various decks, particularly those that value flexibility in their removal suite. The added scry 1 is a nice bonus, allowing for some degree of control over upcoming draws. Despite its higher cost, the card's overall utility makes it a powerful option in the right circumstances.