Strangling Soot 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 creature with toughness 3 or less. Flashback(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Complete guide
Strangling Soot is a versatile removal spell that offers double the value for decks playing both Black and Red. This instant allows you to pick off small utility creatures or aggressive threats twice, once from your hand and once from your graveyard.
Precision Removal
Strangling Soot targets a single creature with toughness 3 or less. When you cast it, you must choose a legal target that meets this toughness requirement. If the target's toughness increases above 3 in response to the spell, the spell will have an illegal target upon resolution and fail to do anything.
Flashback Mechanics
Flashback is an alternative cost that allows you to cast Strangling Soot from your graveyard. To do this, you pay {5}{R} instead of its normal mana cost. Once a spell cast with Flashback leaves the stack for any reason—whether it resolves, is countered, or is moved elsewhere—it is exiled instead of returning to the graveyard.
Timing and Costs
Even when using Flashback, you must follow normal timing rules; since Strangling Soot is an instant, you can cast it from your graveyard any time you have priority. Note that the mana value of the spell remains 3 even if you pay the {5}{R} Flashback cost, as mana value is always derived from the printed mana cost in the top right corner.
Common Mistakes
Players often forget that a Flashback spell is exiled even if it is countered. Additionally, remember that you cannot use other alternative costs (like 'without paying its mana cost') when using Flashback, as you can only apply one alternative cost to a spell at a time.
Interaction examples
Deflecting SwatYou cast Strangling Soot targeting an opponent's 2/2 creature. Your opponent responds with Deflecting Swat to change the target. They can only choose a new target that is a 'creature with toughness 3 or less.' They cannot redirect it to a 4/4 creature or a player, as those are not legal targets for the spell.
Chaos WarpYou cast Strangling Soot from your graveyard for its Flashback cost. In response, your opponent casts Chaos Warp targeting Strangling Soot on the stack. As Strangling Soot leaves the stack to be shuffled into your library, the Flashback replacement effect applies: Strangling Soot is exiled instead of being shuffled. You still resolve the rest of Chaos Warp, shuffling your library and revealing the top card.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Strangling Soot
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
"Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Strangling Soot
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.