Agate Assault is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Choose one — • Agate Assault deals 4 damage to target creature. If that creature would die this turn, exile it instead. • Exile target artifact.
Complete guide
Agate Assault is a versatile red sorcery that provides essential utility for dealing with pesky creatures and artifacts alike. Whether you need to burn away a threat or dismantle a machine, this spell ensures your problems don't come back from the graveyard. It is a flexible tool for players who need to manage the board state efficiently.
Choosing Your Mode
Agate Assault is a modal spell, meaning you must choose its function at the moment you cast it. You can either deal 4 damage to a target creature—with a built-in exile clause—or you can simply exile a target artifact. Once you have chosen a mode and a legal target, the spell is put onto the stack.
Understanding the Exile Clause
The first mode creates a replacement effect. If the creature dealt damage by Agate Assault would die for any reason during the same turn, it is exiled instead of being placed in the graveyard. This applies even if the damage itself wasn't lethal, but the creature dies later in the turn due to another effect or combat.
When to Cast Agate Assault
As a Sorcery, you can only cast this during your main phase when the stack is empty. It is best used to remove high-value artifacts that your opponent relies on or to pick off creatures with 'dies' triggers that you want to avoid, such as those that return to the battlefield or grant benefits upon entering the graveyard.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is forgetting that the target must be legal for the spell to resolve. If you target an artifact and that artifact gains Hexproof or is sacrificed in response, Agate Assault will fail to resolve and have no effect. Additionally, remember that the damage mode only targets creatures, not players or planeswalkers.
Interaction examples
Jeska's WillIf you cast Jeska's Will while controlling your commander, you can generate a large amount of red mana. You can then use that mana to cast Agate Assault to exile an opponent's powerful artifact, effectively using your commander's presence to clear the way for your strategy.
Wheel of FortuneIf you have Agate Assault in hand but no good targets, you might choose to cast Wheel of Fortune first. After everyone draws seven new cards, you may find a high-priority creature target. You can then use your newly drawn mana to cast Agate Assault, dealing 4 damage and ensuring that creature is exiled if it dies this turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Agate Assault
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The replacement effect from Agate Assault’s first mode will exile the target creature if it would die this turn for any reason, not just due to lethal damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Agate Assault
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.