Swords to Plowshares — Magic: The Gathering card

Swords to Plowshares

{W}
Instant

Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.

Set Ice Age
Rarity Uncommon
Artist Kaja Foglio

Why Play Swords to Plowshares

For just one mana, you get unconditional creature removal that bypasses indestructible, regeneration, and death triggers by exiling the target. Control decks rely on this efficiency to answer threats ranging from aggressive one-drops to massive late-game creatures without investing significant mana. The life gain drawback is typically negligible since removing a problematic creature is almost always worth giving your opponent a few life points. Play it reactively to answer immediate threats or proactively to clear blockers before attacking.

Format Notes

Legacy and Vintage decks consider this among the premier removal spells due to its mana efficiency and universal applicability. Commander tables see this card constantly as it handles everything from commanders to combo pieces in multiplayer games. The ban in Historic reflects Wizards' philosophy of keeping older, highly efficient answers out of digital-first formats to maintain creature viability.

Combos & Synergies

White-based control shells pair this with counterspells like Force of Will and card selection like Brainstorm to maintain tempo while finding answers. Flickering effects such as those from Restoration Angel can target your own creatures in response to removal, letting you exile them with Swords to Plowshares for a significant life boost. Death and Taxes strategies use it alongside Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to disrupt opponents while maintaining efficient removal.

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Instant Exile