VindicateHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Vindicate allows you to destroy any target permanent. Unlike many other removal spells that are restricted to non-land permanents or specific card types like creatures or enchantments, Vindicate can target anything currently on the battlefield, including lands, planeswalkers, and artifacts.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Vindicate by paying one white, one black, and one generic mana, then you choose a single target permanent. Once the spell resolves, the targeted permanent is destroyed and moved to its owner's graveyard. If the target becomes illegal before resolution (for example, if it gains Hexproof or is sacrificed in response), Vindicate will fail to resolve and be put into your graveyard with no effect.

Common Mistakes

The most frequent error is forgetting that Vindicate is a sorcery, meaning you cannot use it in response to an opponent's action on their turn. Additionally, players sometimes forget it can target lands; while it might feel aggressive, destroying an opponent's key utility land or a color-fixing source is a perfectly valid and often winning strategy.

When to Play It

You should play Vindicate when your opponent controls a 'must-answer' threat that your other spells cannot reach. Because it is so flexible, it is often best to hold it until you identify the single most impactful permanent on the board, rather than using it on the first creature you see.

Interaction examples

Finding Your Answer

Demonic Tutor

If your opponent has a powerful permanent you cannot beat, you can cast Demonic Tutor to search your library for Vindicate. After putting Vindicate into your hand and shuffling, you can then cast it to destroy that specific threat immediately.

Strategic Board Clearing

Toxic Deluge

In a situation where your opponent has many small creatures and one powerful artifact, you can cast Toxic Deluge to clear the creature tokens by paying the appropriate life. Then, use Vindicate to destroy the remaining artifact, leaving your opponent with an empty board.

Targeting Utility

If your opponent controls a land that provides a significant advantage, you can cast Vindicate targeting that land. Since the card text says 'target permanent' and does not exclude lands, the land will be destroyed and placed in the graveyard.