Strixhaven: School of Mages Removal List

This is a list of all the removal in Strixhaven: School of Mages, divided into permanent creature removal, temporary creature removal (such as bounce, tap, and falter effects), non-creature removal, and off-battlefield removal (hand, stack, and graveyard).

Notes

• Mercurial Transformation is listed under Permanent Creature Removal even though it doesn't kill a creature on its own because you can cast it post-combat to kill a creature that has taken any amount of damage. (This is admittedly rather situational.) It is not listed as artifact/enchantment removal even though it can target any non-land permanent because it doesn't remove that permanent without additional help.
• Devastating Mastery is only listed under Permanent Creature Removal even though it returns two non-land permanents to their owner's hand if you pay 2WW instead of 2WWWW, since that's a downside rather than the main effect of the spell.
• These three cards are not listed in Off-Battlefield Removal:
  • Elite Spellbinder because you can still cast the spell once you have access to two additional mana.
  • Silverquill Silencer since it does not prevent you from playing the spell unless you're at three life or less.
  • Strict Proctor because it is quite situational and you can still pay two additional mana to avoid having the trigger countered.
• I'm not listing Planeswalker removal since there are only five Planeswalkers in the set, all at Mythic, so it will rarely come up in Limited.

Permanent Creature Removal

Color	Mana Cost	Card	Rarity	Type	Oracle Text	Notes
Colorless		Introduction to Annihilation		Sorcery	Exile target nonland permanent. Its controller draws a card.
White		Swords to Plowshares		Instant	Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.
		Divine Gambit		Sorcery	Exile target artifact, creature, or enchantment an opponent controls. That player may put a permanent card from their hand onto the battlefield.
		Expel		Instant	Exile target tapped creature.
		Reduce to Memory		Sorcery	Exile target nonland permanent. Its controller creates a 3/2 red and white Spirit creature token.
		Defend the Campus		Instant	Choose one — • Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. • Destroy target creature with power 4 or greater.
	/	Devastating Mastery		Sorcery	You may pay {2}{W}{W} rather than pay this spell's mana cost. If the {2}{W}{W} cost was paid, an opponent chooses up to two nonland permanents they control and returns them to their owner's hand. Destroy all nonland permanents.
		Day of Judgment		Sorcery	Destroy all creatures.
Blue		Resculpt		Instant	Exile target artifact or creature. Its controller creates a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token.
		Mercurial Transformation		Sorcery	Until end of turn, target nonland permanent loses all abilities and becomes your choice of a blue Frog creature with base power and toughness 1/1 or a blue Octopus creature with base power and toughness 4/4.
		Tempted by the Oriq		Sorcery	For each opponent, gain control of up to one target creature or planeswalker that player controls with mana value 3 or less.
		Will, Scholar of Frost		Planeswalker	Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost {1} less to cast. +1: Up to one target creature has base power and toughness 0/2 until your next turn. −3: Draw two cards. −7: Exile up to five target permanents. For each permanent exiled this way, its controller creates a 4/4 blue and red Elemental Creature token.
Black		Lash of Malice		Instant	Target creature gets +2/-2 until end of turn.
		Eliminate		Instant	Destroy target creature or planeswalker with converted mana cost 3 or less.
		Flunk		Instant	Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is 7 minus the number of cards in that creature's controller's hand.
	/	Baleful Mastery		Instant	You may pay {1}{B} rather than pay this spell's mana cost. If the {1}{B} cost was paid, an opponent draws a card. Exile target creature or planeswalker.
		Doom Blade		Instant	Destroy target nonblack creature.
		Necrotic Fumes		Sorcery	As an additional cost to cast this spell, exile a creature you control. Exile target creature or planeswalker.
		Umbral Juke		Instant	Choose one: — • Target player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. • Create a 2/1 white and black Inkling creature token with flying.
		Mage Hunters' Onslaught		Sorcery	Destroy target creature or planeswalker. Whenever a creature blocks this turn, its controller loses 1 life.
		Embrose, Dean of Shadow		Creature	{T}: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature, then Embrose, Dean of Shadow deals 2 damage to that creature. Whenever a creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it dies, draw a card.	4/4
		Crux of Fate		Sorcery	Choose one — • Destroy all Dragon creatures. • Destroy all non-Dragon creatures.
		Professor Onyx		Planeswalker	Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. +1: You lose 1 life. Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard. −3: Each opponent sacrifices a creature with the greatest power among creatures that player controls. −8: Each opponent may discard a card. If they don't, they lose 3 life. Repeat this process six more times.
		Deadly Vanity		Sorcery	Choose a creature or planeswalker, then destroy all other creatures and planeswalkers.
Red		Crackle with Power		Sorcery	Crackle with Power deals five times X damage to each of up to X targets.
		Academic Dispute		Instant	Target creature blocks this turn if able. You may have it gain reach until end of turn. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
		Shock		Instant	Shock deals 2 damage to any target.
		Lightning Bolt		Instant	Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.
		Flamethrower Sonata		Sorcery	Discard a card, then draw a card. When you discard an instant or sorcery card this way, Flamethrower Sonata deals damage equal to that card's mana value to target creature or planeswalker you don't control.
		Grapeshot		Sorcery	Grapeshot deals 1 damage to any target. Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)
		Heated Debate		Instant	This spell can't be countered. (This includes by the ward ability.) Heated Debate deals 4 damage to target creature or planeswalker.
		Igneous Inspiration		Sorcery	Igneous Inspiration deals 3 damage to any target. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
		Start from Scratch		Sorcery	Choose one — • Start from Scratch deals 1 damage to any target. • Destroy target artifact.
	/	Urza's Rage		Instant	Kicker {8}{R} (You may pay an additional {8}{R} as you cast this spell.) This spell can't be countered. Urza's Rage deals 3 damage to any target. If this spell was kicked, instead it deals 10 damage to that permanent or player and the damage can't be prevented.
		Chaos Warp		Instant	The owner of target permanent shuffles it into their library, then reveals the top card of their library. If it's a permanent card, they put it onto the battlefield.
		Draconic Intervention		Sorcery	As an additional cost to cast this spell, exile an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. Draconic Intervention deals X damage to each non-Dragon creature, where X is the exiled card's mana value. If a creature dealt damage this way would die this turn, exile it instead. Exile Draconic Intervention.
		Pigment Storm		Sorcery	Pigment Storm deals 5 damage to target creature. Excess damage is dealt to that creature's controller instead.
		Lukka, Wayward Bonder		Planeswalker	+1: You may discard a card. If you do, draw a card. If a creature card was discarded this way, draw two cards instead. −2: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of your next upkeep. −7: You get an emblem with "Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, it deals damage equal to its power to any target."
		Explosive Welcome		Instant	Explosive Welcome deals 5 damage to any target and 3 damage to any other target. Add {R}{R}{R}.
Green	/	Mage Duel		Sorcery	This spell costs {2} less to cast if you've cast another instant or sorcery spell this turn. Target creature you control gets +1/+2 until end of turn. Then it fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)
		Tangletrap		Instant	Choose one — • Tangletrap deals 5 damage to target creature with flying. • Destroy target artifact.
		Devouring Tendrils		Sorcery	Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature or planeswalker you don't control. When the permanent you don't control dies this turn, you gain 2 life.
Multi-Color		Deadly Brew		Sorcery	Each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. If you sacrificed a permanent this way, you may return another permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.
		Decisive Denial		Instant	Choose one — • Target creature you control fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) • Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {3}.
	/	Mortality Spear		Instant	This spell costs {2} less to cast if you gained life this turn. Destroy target nonland permanent.
		Rip Apart		Sorcery	Choose one — • Rip Apart deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker. • Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
		Despark		Instant	Exile target permanent with converted mana cost 4 or greater.
		Lightning Helix		Instant	Lightning Helix deals 3 damage to any target and you gain 3 life.
		Vanishing Verse		Instant	Exile target monocolored permanent.
		Witherbloom Command		Sorcery	Choose two — • Target player mills three cards, then you return a land card from your graveyard to your hand. • Destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent with mana value 2 or less. • Target creature gets -3/-1 until end of turn. • Target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
	-	Awaken the Blood Avatar		Sorcery	As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This spell costs {2} less to cast for each creature sacrificed this way. Each opponent sacrifices a creature. Create a 3/6 black and red Avatar creature token with haste and "Whenever this creature attacks, it deals 3 damage to each opponent."
	/	Closing Statement		Instant	This spell costs {2} less to cast during your end step. Destroy target creature or planeswalker you don't control. Put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature you control.
		Electrolyze		Instant	Electrolyze deals 2 damage divided as you choose among one or two targets. Draw a card.
		Prismari Command		Instant	Choose two — • Prismari Command deals 2 damage to any target. • Target player draws two cards, then discards two cards. • Target player creates a Treasure token. • Destroy target artifact.
		Putrefy		Instant	Destroy target artifact or creature. It can't be regenerated.
		Culling Ritual		Sorcery	Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value 2 or less. Add {B} or {G} for each permanent destroyed this way.
		Silverquill Command		Sorcery	Choose two — • Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains flying until end of turn. • Return target creature card with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. • Target player draws a card and loses 1 life. • Target opponent sacrifices a creature.
		Lorehold Command		Instant	Choose two — • Create a 3/2 red and white Spirit creature token. • Creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain indestructible and haste until end of turn. • Lorehold Command deals 3 damage to any target. Target player gains 3 life. • Sacrifice a permanent, then draw two cards.
		Creative Outburst		Instant	Creative Outburst deals 5 damage to any target. Look at the top five cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. {U/R}{U/R}, Discard Creative Outburst: Create a Treasure token.
		Magma Opus		Instant	Magma Opus deals 4 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. Tap two target permanents. Create a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token. Draw two cards. {U/R}{U/R}, Discard Magma Opus: Create a Treasure token.
Hybrid		Rise of Extus		Sorcery	Exile target creature. Exile up to one target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)

Temporary Creature Removal

Color	Mana Cost	Card	Rarity	Type	Oracle Text	Notes
White		Detention Vortex		Enchantment	Enchant nonland permanent Enchanted permanent can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated. {3}: Destroy Detention Vortex. Only your opponents may activate this ability and only as a sorcery.
		Study Break		Instant	Tap up to two target creatures. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
		Academic Probation		Sorcery	Choose one — • Choose a nonland card name. Opponents can't cast spells with the chosen name until your next turn. • Choose target nonland permanent. Until your next turn, it can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.
Blue	/	Bury in Books		Instant	This spell costs {2} less to cast if it targets an attacking creature. Put target creature into its owner's library second from the top.
		Frost Trickster		Creature	Flying When Frost Trickster enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.	2/2
		Divide by Zero		Instant	Return target spell or permanent with mana value 1 or greater to its owner's hand. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
		Kelpie Guide		Creature	{T}: Untap another target permanent you control. {T}: Tap target permanent. Activate only if you control eight or more lands.	2/2
	/	Multiple Choice		Sorcery	If X is 1, scry 1, then draw a card. If X is 2, you may choose a player. They return a creature they control to its owner's hand. If X is 3, create a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token. If X is 4 or more, do all of the above.
		Will, Scholar of Frost		Planeswalker	Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost {1} less to cast. +1: Up to one target creature has base power and toughness 0/2 until your next turn. −3: Draw two cards. −7: Exile up to five target permanents. For each permanent exiled this way, its controller creates a 4/4 blue and red Elemental Creature token.
		Snow Day		Instant	Tap up to two target creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step. Draw two cards, then discard a card.
Red		Claim the Firstborn		Sorcery	Gain control of target creature with converted mana cost 3 or less until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
		Hall Monitor		Creature	Haste {1}{R}, {T}: Target creature can't block this turn.	1/1
		Mascot Interception		Sorcery	This spell costs {3} less to cast if it targets a creature token. Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gets +2/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.
Multi-Color		Quandrix Command		Instant	Choose two — • Return target creature or planeswalker to its owner's hand. • Counter target artifact or enchantment spell. • Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature. • Target player shuffles up to three target cards from their graveyard into their library.
		Aether Helix		Sorcery	Return target permanent to its owner's hand. Return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.
		Magma Opus		Instant	Magma Opus deals 4 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. Tap two target permanents. Create a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token. Draw two cards. {U/R}{U/R}, Discard Magma Opus: Create a Treasure token.

Artifact, Enchantment, and Land Removal

Color	Mana Cost	Card	Rarity	Type	Oracle Text	Notes
Colorless		Introduction to Annihilation		Sorcery	Exile target nonland permanent. Its controller draws a card.
White		Detention Vortex		Enchantment	Enchant nonland permanent Enchanted permanent can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated. {3}: Destroy Detention Vortex. Only your opponents may activate this ability and only as a sorcery.
		Divine Gambit		Sorcery	Exile target artifact, creature, or enchantment an opponent controls. That player may put a permanent card from their hand onto the battlefield.
		Academic Probation		Sorcery	Choose one — • Choose a nonland card name. Opponents can't cast spells with the chosen name until your next turn. • Choose target nonland permanent. Until your next turn, it can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.
		Reduce to Memory		Sorcery	Exile target nonland permanent. Its controller creates a 3/2 red and white Spirit creature token.
	/	Devastating Mastery		Sorcery	You may pay {2}{W}{W} rather than pay this spell's mana cost. If the {2}{W}{W} cost was paid, an opponent chooses up to two nonland permanents they control and returns them to their owner's hand. Destroy all nonland permanents.
Blue		Resculpt		Instant	Exile target artifact or creature. Its controller creates a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token.
		Divide by Zero		Instant	Return target spell or permanent with mana value 1 or greater to its owner's hand. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
		Kelpie Guide		Creature	{T}: Untap another target permanent you control. {T}: Tap target permanent. Activate only if you control eight or more lands.	2/2
		Will, Scholar of Frost		Planeswalker	Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost {1} less to cast. +1: Up to one target creature has base power and toughness 0/2 until your next turn. −3: Draw two cards. −7: Exile up to five target permanents. For each permanent exiled this way, its controller creates a 4/4 blue and red Elemental Creature token.
Red		Start from Scratch		Sorcery	Choose one — • Start from Scratch deals 1 damage to any target. • Destroy target artifact.
		Stone Rain		Sorcery	Destroy target land.
		Chaos Warp		Instant	The owner of target permanent shuffles it into their library, then reveals the top card of their library. If it's a permanent card, they put it onto the battlefield.
Green		Tangletrap		Instant	Choose one — • Tangletrap deals 5 damage to target creature with flying. • Destroy target artifact.
		Containment Breach		Sorcery	Destroy target artifact or enchantment. If its mana value is 2 or less, create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life."
		Krosan Grip		Instant	Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.) Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
		Primal Command		Sorcery	Choose two — • Target player gains 7 life. • Put target noncreature permanent on top of its owner's library. • Target player shuffles their graveyard into their library. • Search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Multi-Color		Fracture		Instant	Destroy target artifact, enchantment, or planeswalker.
	/	Mortality Spear		Instant	This spell costs {2} less to cast if you gained life this turn. Destroy target nonland permanent.
		Rip Apart		Sorcery	Choose one — • Rip Apart deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker. • Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
		Despark		Instant	Exile target permanent with converted mana cost 4 or greater.
		Vanishing Verse		Instant	Exile target monocolored permanent.
		Witherbloom Command		Sorcery	Choose two — • Target player mills three cards, then you return a land card from your graveyard to your hand. • Destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent with mana value 2 or less. • Target creature gets -3/-1 until end of turn. • Target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
		Prismari Command		Instant	Choose two — • Prismari Command deals 2 damage to any target. • Target player draws two cards, then discards two cards. • Target player creates a Treasure token. • Destroy target artifact.
		Putrefy		Instant	Destroy target artifact or creature. It can't be regenerated.
		Culling Ritual		Sorcery	Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value 2 or less. Add {B} or {G} for each permanent destroyed this way.
		Aether Helix		Sorcery	Return target permanent to its owner's hand. Return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.
		Blot Out the Sky		Sorcery	Create X tapped 2/1 white and black Inkling creature tokens with flying. If X is 6 or more, destroy all noncreature, nonland permanents.
		Magma Opus		Instant	Magma Opus deals 4 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. Tap two target permanents. Create a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token. Draw two cards. {U/R}{U/R}, Discard Magma Opus: Create a Treasure token.

Off-Battlefield Removal

Color	Mana Cost	Card	Rarity	Type	Oracle Text	Notes
Colorless		Cogwork Archivist		Artifact Creature	Reach {2}, {T}: Put target card from a graveyard on the bottom of its owner's library.	4/5
White		Mana Tithe		Instant	Counter target spell unless its controller pays {1}.
		Academic Probation		Sorcery	Choose one — • Choose a nonland card name. Opponents can't cast spells with the chosen name until your next turn. • Choose target nonland permanent. Until your next turn, it can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated.
		Revel in Silence		Instant	You opponents can't cast spells or activate planeswalkers' loyalty abilities this turn. Exile Revel in Silence.
Blue		Reject		Instant	Counter target creature or planeswalker spell unless its controller pays {3}. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting into its owner's graveyard.
		Negate		Instant	Counter target noncreature spell.
		Test of Talents		Instant	Counter target instant or sorcery spell. Search its controller's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with the same name as that spell and exile them. That player shuffles, then draws a card for each card exiled from their hand this way.
		Counterspell		Instant	Counter target spell.
		Memory Lapse		Instant	Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard.
		Divide by Zero		Instant	Return target spell or permanent with mana value 1 or greater to its owner's hand. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
		Whirlwind Denial		Instant	For each spell and ability your opponents control, counter it unless its controller pays {4}.
Black		Duress		Sorcery	Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
		Inquisition of Kozilek		Sorcery	Target player reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it with converted mana cost 3 or less. That player discards that card.
		Agonizing Remorse		Sorcery	Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it or a card from their graveyard. Exile that card. You lose 1 life.
		Go Blank		Sorcery	Target player discards two cards. Then exile all cards from that player's graveyard.
		Callous Bloodmage		Creature	When Callous Bloodmage enters the battlefield, choose one — • Create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life." • You draw a card and you lose 1 life. • Exile target player's graveyard.	2/1
		Pestilent Cauldron		Artifact	{T}, Discard a card: Create a 1/1 black and green Pest creature token with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life." {1}, {T}: Each opponent mills cards equal to the amount of life you gained this turn. {4}, {T}: Exile four target cards from a single graveyard. Draw a card.
		Professor Onyx		Planeswalker	Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. +1: You lose 1 life. Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard. −3: Each opponent sacrifices a creature with the greatest power among creatures that player controls. −8: Each opponent may discard a card. If they don't, they lose 3 life. Repeat this process six more times.
Green		Primal Command		Sorcery	Choose two — • Target player gains 7 life. • Put target noncreature permanent on top of its owner's library. • Target player shuffles their graveyard into their library. • Search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Multi-Color		Decisive Denial		Instant	Choose one — • Target creature you control fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) • Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {3}.
		Humiliate		Sorcery	Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. Put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
		Quandrix Command		Instant	Choose two — • Return target creature or planeswalker to its owner's hand. • Counter target artifact or enchantment spell. • Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature. • Target player shuffles up to three target cards from their graveyard into their library.
Hybrid		Daemogoth Woe-Eater		Creature	At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature. When you sacrifice Daemogoth Woe-Eater, each opponent discards a card, you draw a card, and you gain 2 life.	7/6
		Rise of Extus		Sorcery	Exile target creature. Exile up to one target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)