Introduction to Annihilation 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
Exile target nonland permanent. Its controller draws a card.
Complete guide
Introduction to Annihilation is a versatile Lesson sorcery that provides universal removal for any nonland permanent. While it comes at a higher mana cost and grants your opponent a card, its ability to deal with any threat regardless of color or type makes it a staple for sideboards.
Universal Removal at a Cost
Introduction to Annihilation allows you to exile any nonland permanent, including creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalkers. Because it exiles rather than destroys, it bypasses indestructible and prevents graveyard recursion. The trade-off for this flexibility is that the permanent's controller draws a card as the spell resolves.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When you cast Introduction to Annihilation, you choose a single target nonland permanent. If the target is illegal when the spell tries to resolve (for example, if it gained Hexproof or was sacrificed in response), the entire spell is removed from the stack and no one draws a card. If the target is still legal, the permanent is moved to the exile zone, and then its controller must draw one card.
Understanding the Lesson Subtype
As a Lesson, this card can be fetched from your sideboard during a game if you cast a spell that allows you to 'learn.' However, you are also free to include it in your main deck just like any other sorcery. It follows all standard rules for sorcery-speed spells and interacts normally with effects that copy or counter spells.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common error is attempting to target a land, such as a basic Forest or a non-creature utility land; Introduction to Annihilation explicitly states it must be a 'nonland' permanent. Additionally, remember that if you target your own permanent, you are the one who will draw the card, which can occasionally be used as a desperate cycling maneuver.
Interaction examples
Wandering Archaic // Explore the VastlandsIf you cast Introduction to Annihilation while your opponent controls Wandering Archaic, the Archaic's ability triggers. If you do not pay {2}, your opponent may copy your spell. The copy resolves first, exiling a nonland permanent of their choice and letting that permanent's controller draw a card. Then, your original spell resolves, exiling your target and letting its controller draw.
Selective ObliterationSelective Obliteration is excellent for clearing colored boards but leaves colorless permanents untouched. If your opponent has a powerful colorless artifact creature that survived your Selective Obliteration, you can use Introduction to Annihilation afterward to exile that specific remaining threat.
In a situation where you desperately need to find a specific card in your library, you can cast Introduction to Annihilation targeting one of your own tokens or low-value artifacts. The permanent is exiled, and since you are the controller, you draw a card.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Introduction to Annihilation
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Lesson is a spell subtype found on some instant and sorcery cards in the Strixhaven set. The Lesson subtype has no special rules associated with it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Although you may want to include Lessons in your sideboard if you’re playing with cards that instruct you to learn, Lesson cards can be included in your main deck like other instant or sorcery cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Introduction to Annihilation
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.