TerminateHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unconditional Destruction

Terminate is a straightforward destruction spell that targets any creature on the battlefield, regardless of its color, power, or toughness. Unlike many other removal spells, it does not care if the creature is an artifact, a legendary threat, or a small token. The primary restriction is that it must target a 'creature,' so it cannot hit enchantments, lands, or planeswalkers unless they have been turned into creatures by another effect.

Bypassing Regeneration

The most unique aspect of Terminate is the clause stating the target cannot be regenerated. Regeneration is a keyword action that acts as a 'shield' to replace a destruction event; however, Terminate explicitly forbids this. If a player attempts to activate a regeneration ability in response to Terminate, that ability will resolve and create a shield, but when Terminate resolves, it will ignore that shield and destroy the creature anyway.

Timing and Targeting

As an instant, Terminate can be cast at almost any time: during your turn, your opponent's turn, or even in response to an ability. Upon casting, you must choose a legal target. If the creature gains 'Hexproof' or 'Protection from Black or Red' in response, Terminate will lose its target and fail to resolve (fizzle). If the target is still legal when the spell resolves, the creature is moved directly to its owner's graveyard.

When to Cast Terminate

Because Terminate is so efficient, you should generally save it for creatures that you cannot handle through combat or that provide your opponent with significant value. Since it stops regeneration, it is the perfect answer for creatures that usually feel invincible. However, remember that destruction does not stop 'Indestructible' creatures; for those, you would need an effect that reduces toughness or exiles the card.

Interaction examples

Accelerating into Removal

Dark Ritual

On turn one, you can cast Dark Ritual to add three Black mana to your pool. You can then use one Black mana and one Red mana from a land to cast Terminate immediately, allowing you to destroy a creature before your opponent even has a chance to untap for their second turn.

Double the Destruction

Dalek Drone

If your opponent has two major threats, you can cast Dalek Drone to trigger its 'Exterminate!' ability to destroy one creature. While that ability is on the stack, you can cast Terminate to destroy the second creature. This allows you to wipe out two targets while putting a 3/3 flyer with menace onto the battlefield.

Responding to a Warp

Chaos Warp

If an opponent targets your creature with Chaos Warp, you can respond by casting Terminate on a different creature. Terminate will resolve first, destroying its target. Then, Chaos Warp will resolve, shuffling your creature into your library and potentially giving you a new permanent from the top.