Make Obsolete: Mastering the Luck–Skill Tightrope in MTG

In TCG ·

Make Obsolete — MTG Kaladesh card art by Darek Zabrocki

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Luck, Skill, and Kaladesh: A Close Look at Make Obsolete

MTG thrives on a delicate dance between randomness and skill. The randomness is never more obvious than when you topdeck the exact card you need at the exact moment you need it, while the skill side hides in how you read the board, sequence your plays, and anticipate your opponent’s plan. Make Obsolete, a Kaladesh instant, is a compact microcosm of that tension. For a modest 3 mana and a single black mana, you fire off Creatures your opponents control get -1/-1 until end of turn and suddenly the terrain of the game shifts. 🧙‍♂️🔥

Released in 2016 as part of Kaladesh, this uncommon instant from the sandboxed workshop of aether-powered design embodies a quintessential MTG moment: you commit to a plan, you execute it, and you watch the board tilt in your favor with a well-timed burst of precision. The card’s mana cost — {2}{B} — is a neat reminder that black loves to punish big boards while keeping an eye on the clock. Its flavor text, “Yesterday's marvels are today's antiques,” nods to Kaladesh’s culture of rapid innovation and the sometimes cruel aftertaste of obsolescence. In a world where luck can swing a game on a single draw, Make Obsolete rewards not sheer chance but the player who can sense when a temporary diminishment of power matters most. ⚔️💎

Consider the practical side. The spell affects only creatures your opponents control, making it a guardstone for tempo play rather than a sweeping board wipe. It shines in environments where your opponent relies on a handful of efficient creatures or a unifying combat plan. The instant speed means you can catch attacks on the stack, respond to a combat trick, or set up a surprise blocker for a post-combat swing. The interplay with randomness comes into sharp relief here: you never know exactly what your opponent will draw next, but you can maximize the moments that matter by timing Make Obsolete to hit when their board gets momentum — a small, deliberate nudge that preserves your life total and maintains pressure. 🎲

“Yesterday's marvels are today's antiques.” — Kaladesh flavor

From a design perspective, Make Obsolete sits at an interesting crossroads. It’s a black instant that doesn’t erase threats; it softens them. That choice influences deck-building decisions in both Limited and Constructed formats. In Limited, you’re often racing to establish a board, and a single removal spell that also punishes an opposing board can swing a game’s outcome with low variance. In Constructed, its narrow scope can still be priceless in matchups where an opponent’s plan hinges on a handful of creatures with boosted stats or ETB triggers. The rarity and color identity reinforce the thematic flavor: a deft little negation of progress, a reminder that obsolescence can be elegant armor when wielded at the right moment. 🧙‍♂️

Strategy notes: reading the room and timing your exhale

  • Timing is everything: cast Make Obsolete when your opponent’s board presence is about to snowball, especially after they’ve committed to a big attack or a crowded board. A late cast won’t always save you, but a well-timed -1/-1 can swing the tempo in your favor.
  • Balance with your curve: at 3 mana, you’re not overpaying for a single-answer spell; you’re price-t.token an event that potentially buys you a turn or two of breathing room. Use it when you’ve got a strategic plan to capitalize on the reduced board state.
  • Mind the math: -1/-1 is a temporary pressure point, not a permanent trade. Pair this with other removal or evasive threats to maximize the likelihood of a favorable combat outcome.
  • Deckcraft considerations: black decks that weave together life-drain, removal, and tempo can slot Make Obsolete into a tight sequence. It shines when you’re fighting for card advantage and trying to reduce the impact of a menacing line of attackers.

The card’s clean silhouette — a straightforward flash of negation in a world of intricate artifacts and clever contraptions — mirrors Kaladesh’s design ethos: a celebration of clever tricks over sheer raw power. The art by Darek Zabrocki captures a moment of obsolescence with a wink, inviting players to savor the idea that even in a glittering age of innovation, old ideas can still bear weight. 🎨

On a collector’s level, Make Obsolete has its own small but meaningful story. Its foil versions, while modest in price, carry a slice of Kaladesh’s craftsmanship and a reminder that uncommon cards can punch above their weight in the right hands. For players who chase niche interactions, the card’s specific condition — targeting only opponents’ creatures — can become a favorite puzzle piece in the broader tapestry of your deck’s strategy. 💎

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