Star of Extinction 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 land. Star of Extinction deals 20 damage to each creature and each planeswalker.

Complete guide

Star of Extinction is a devastating sorcery that represents a literal apocalypse for the battlefield. By combining land destruction with a massive sweep of creatures and planeswalkers, it can turn the tide of any game that has stalled into a board stall. This red spell is the ultimate equalizer, ensuring that almost nothing survives its impact.

What It Does

Star of Extinction has two primary effects that occur in a specific order. First, it targets and destroys a single land on the battlefield. Second, it deals exactly 20 damage to every creature and every planeswalker currently in play, regardless of who controls them.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When you cast Star of Extinction, you must choose a target land. Upon resolution, that land is destroyed immediately. After the land is gone, the spell deals 20 damage to each creature and planeswalker. Because all the damage happens simultaneously, abilities that trigger on damage or death will wait until the spell has finished resolving to be put onto the stack.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that the land destruction is a targeted effect. If the target land becomes illegal (for example, if it gains Indestructible or is sacrificed in response), the land will not be destroyed, but the damage will still be dealt to all creatures and planeswalkers. Also, remember that 20 damage is usually enough to kill anything, but creatures with Protection from Red or Indestructible will survive the impact.

When to Play It

This spell is best utilized when your opponent has established a complex board state with multiple creatures or powerful planeswalkers. Since it also destroys a land, it is an excellent way to remove problematic utility lands like those that generate extra mana or provide combat advantages while simultaneously clearing the way for your next move.

Interaction examples

Total Board Wipe

You cast Star of Extinction targeting an opponent's Mountain. The Mountain is destroyed. Then, every creature on the board and every planeswalker takes 20 damage. In most standard games, this will result in every non-land permanent (except enchantments and artifacts) being moved to the graveyard.

Cleaning Up After Combat

Full Throttle

If you cast Full Throttle to engage in multiple combat phases and your creatures are blocked or survive, you can follow up in your post-combat main phase with Star of Extinction. This ensures that even if your creatures didn't finish the job in combat, the 20 damage will clear out any remaining defenders and destroy a crucial land your opponent was relying on.

Handling Different Types of Removal

All Is Dust

In a deck with heavy mana, you might choose between All Is Dust and Star of Extinction. While All Is Dust forces a sacrifice of colored permanents (bypassing Indestructible), Star of Extinction uses raw damage and specifically targets a land. If your opponent has an Indestructible creature, Star of Extinction will deal damage but won't kill it, whereas All Is Dust would force them to sacrifice it.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.