Rain of RustHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Utility with Entwine

Rain of Rust is a modal spell, meaning you typically choose one effect when casting it: destroy target artifact OR destroy target land. However, thanks to the Entwine keyword, you can pay an additional {3}{R} to select both modes. When entwined, you must choose a valid target for both the artifact and the land portions of the spell.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you announce the spell and choose your mode(s). If you pay the Entwine cost, you choose two targets. Upon resolution, Rain of Rust attempts to destroy the chosen targets. If one target becomes illegal (for example, the artifact is sacrificed in response), the spell will still resolve and destroy the remaining legal target. If both targets are illegal, the spell fails to resolve entirely.

Timing and Mana Management

Because Rain of Rust is an instant, you can cast it at any time you have priority, including your opponent's turn. The base cost is five mana, but the entwined version requires nine total mana. A common mistake is forgetting that Entwine is an additional cost; it does not change the spell's mana value, which remains five regardless of how much mana was spent to cast it.

When to Play It

This spell is best utilized in slower formats or Commander where high-impact artifacts and powerful non-basic lands are prevalent. It serves as a safety valve against artifact-based combos while ensuring you aren't stuck with a dead card if your opponent relies more on their mana base than on gear.

Interaction examples

Stopping Treasure Production

Big Score

Your opponent casts Big Score and creates two Treasure tokens. During their end step, you cast Rain of Rust targeting one of the Treasure tokens to prevent them from having that extra mana available on their next turn.

Entwined Destruction

Unexpected Windfall

If your opponent has a powerful land and a Treasure token from Unexpected Windfall, you can pay {6}{R}{R}{R} to cast Rain of Rust with Entwine. You target the land and the Treasure token, destroying both simultaneously upon resolution.

Responding to Sacrifice

Big Score

You cast Rain of Rust targeting a Treasure token created by Big Score. In response, your opponent sacrifices the Treasure for mana. Because the target is no longer on the battlefield, the artifact mode of Rain of Rust fails. If you had entwined the spell to also target a land, the land would still be destroyed even though the artifact target is gone.