Go for the Throat 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
Destroy target nonartifact creature.
Complete guide
Go for the Throat is a premier removal spell in Black that offers high efficiency at the cost of a specific restriction. While it can take down most threats for just two mana, its inability to hit metallic foes makes it a strategic choice for your deck.
Precision Killing
Go for the Throat is an instant that targets a single creature and destroys it. The primary restriction is the word 'nonartifact.' This means you can target any creature that does not have the artifact type, regardless of its color, size, or other abilities like reach or flying.
Checking for Validity
When you cast Go for the Throat, you must choose a legal target that is not an artifact. However, the game checks the legality of this target twice: once when you cast the spell and again when it attempts to resolve. If the creature becomes an artifact in response to the spell, Go for the Throat will fail to resolve and be put into the graveyard with no effect.
When to Cast
Because it is an instant, you can use this spell at any time you have priority. It is often best used during an opponent's combat phase to remove a blocker or an attacker, or in response to an opponent attempting to buff their creature with an aura or equipment.
Common Misconceptions
A common mistake is forgetting that 'nonartifact' applies to the creature's types, not its appearance or mana cost. Even if a creature is made of metal in its art, if it lacks the 'Artifact' type line, it is a fair target. Conversely, even if a creature is mostly organic, if it has the 'Artifact Creature' type, Go for the Throat cannot target it.
Interaction examples
Dark RitualOn turn one, you cast Dark Ritual to add three black mana to your pool. You use two of that mana to cast Go for the Throat, destroying your opponent's nonartifact creature before they can even untap for their second turn.
Vampiric TutorDuring your opponent's end step, you cast Vampiric Tutor to search your library for Go for the Throat and place it on top of your library. On your turn, you draw it and immediately cast it to remove a lethal threat that was preventing you from attacking.
Your opponent attacks with a nonartifact creature. You cast Go for the Throat targeting that creature. Both players pass priority. The spell resolves, the creature is destroyed, and it is moved to the graveyard before it can deal combat damage.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Go for the Throat
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted creature is also an artifact when Go for the Throat tries to resolve, it won't resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted creature is also an artifact when Go for the Throat tries to resolve, it won't resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Go for the Throat
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.