Dispatch
Instant
Tap target creature.
Metalcraft — If you control three or more artifacts, exile that creature.
*Venser wondered if it could still be called a teleportation spell if the destination is oblivion.*
Why Play Dispatch
At its floor, one mana to tap a creature provides decent tempo in artifact-heavy decks that need to buy time. The real power emerges with metalcraft active, transforming this into premium removal that permanently exiles threats for just one white mana. Artifact aggro decks love having cheap interaction that doesn't interfere with their game plan, while controlling artifact decks use it to answer problematic creatures that slip through counterspells.Format Notes
Modern sees the most competitive play in Affinity variants and other artifact-based strategies where achieving metalcraft is trivial. Legacy and Vintage applications are more niche, though it occasionally appears in prison-style decks with cheap artifacts. Commander popularity remains moderate since many artifact decks prefer repeatable removal, but it serves as efficient spot removal in competitive metas where exile effects matter against indestructible commanders.Combos & Synergies
Zero-mana artifacts like Ornithopter and Memnite make metalcraft effortless to achieve while maintaining tempo. Cranial Plating and other equipment provide metalcraft enablers that also advance your board state. In more controlling builds, Thopter Foundry creates artifact tokens that count toward metalcraft while providing incremental value, ensuring Dispatch consistently exiles rather than merely tapping threats.Learn More
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