Virtue's RuinHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Targeted Board Wipe

Virtue's Ruin is a sorcery that targets a specific attribute: the color of a creature. When the spell resolves, it checks every creature currently on the battlefield. If a creature has white in its color identity—whether it is mono-white or multicolored—it is destroyed. Creatures that are not white are completely unaffected, allowing you to maintain your own board state if you are playing other colors.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast Virtue's Ruin by paying its mana cost of two generic and one black mana. Once the spell is on the stack, players may respond with instants or abilities. When Virtue's Ruin resolves, the game checks the color of all creatures currently in play. All creatures that are white are moved to their owners' graveyards simultaneously. Any 'leaves the battlefield' or 'dies' triggers will then be placed on the stack.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Virtue's Ruin only checks for the white color at the moment of resolution. If a creature gains protection from black, Virtue's Ruin will still destroy it because the spell does not target. However, if a creature is phased out or if an effect changes its color to something other than white before the spell resolves, it will survive. Additionally, this card cannot destroy face-down creatures, as they are colorless.

When to Cast

This card is a powerful sideboard option against aggressive white decks or 'Weenie' strategies. Unlike more flexible wipes, its low mana cost allows you to clear the path and still have mana available to develop your own board. Use it when your opponent has overextended their resources into white threats, ensuring a massive swing in tempo.

Interaction examples

Finding the Solution

Demonic Tutor

If your opponent has a lethal board of white creatures, you can use Demonic Tutor to search your library for Virtue's Ruin. Because Virtue's Ruin only costs three mana, you can often tutor and cast it in the same turn, effectively clearing the opponent's side of the field for a total of five mana.

Choosing Your Removal

Toxic Deluge

Suppose your opponent controls several large white creatures and you have several black creatures. While Toxic Deluge would require you to pay a high amount of life and might kill your own units, casting Virtue's Ruin destroys all of your opponent's white creatures for a flat cost of three mana, leaving your black creatures unharmed and your life total intact.