Urgent ExorcismHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Urgent Exorcism allows you to target and destroy a single permanent, provided it has the Spirit creature type or the Enchantment card type. Because it is an instant, you can cast it during any player's turn to disrupt their strategy or save yourself from an incoming attack.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast Urgent Exorcism and choose a valid target—either a Spirit or an Enchantment. As the spell resolves, it checks if the target is still legal; if the target has gained hexproof or left the battlefield, the spell fails. If the target is still legal, it is moved from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that a permanent can be both a Spirit and an Enchantment (like an enchantment creature), but it still only counts as one target. Additionally, remember that 'destroy' effects are stopped by Indestructible, so Urgent Exorcism will not work against a Spirit or Enchantment with that keyword.

When to Play It

This card is best used in sideboards or formats where Spirits and Enchantments are prevalent. It is particularly effective against 'Oblivion Ring' style effects or powerful Spirit lords that buff an opponent's entire army.

Interaction examples

Cleaning Up the Board

Path to Exile

If your opponent has two threats—a Spirit and a non-Spirit creature—you can use Urgent Exorcism to destroy the Spirit and Path to Exile to exile the other creature. This allows you to conserve your more flexible exile removal for targets that Urgent Exorcism cannot touch.

Managing Resources

Swords to Plowshares

When facing an Enchantment Creature, you have the choice of using Urgent Exorcism or Swords to Plowshares. Using Urgent Exorcism is often better because it destroys the permanent without giving your opponent life, which Swords to Plowshares would trigger based on the creature's power.