Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Mastering the Stack: Timing with Magus of the Abyss
If you’ve ever eyed a looming endgame and wished you could inject a cruel twist into the turn order, Magus of the Abyss is your spark of black mana mischief. This rare from Double Masters (2xm) brings a proactive, clockwork feel to the stack: at the start of every player’s upkeep, a targeted creature—nonartifact, owned by that player—meets its doom, and it can’t be regenerated. The result is a perpetual, ritualistic pruning that rewards careful timing, spell-slinging discipline, and a healthy respect for APNAP (Active Player / Nonactive Player) order. 🧙🔥💎⚔️
From a card-design perspective, Magus sits at the crossroads of inevitability and manipulation. For four mana (3 generic and 1 black), you deploy a robust 4/3 Human Wizard who isn’t shy about steering the flow of the game. The flavor text anchors the mechanic in lore: “He climbs a staircase of falling souls, fighting the continuous pull of the void.” It’s a perfect juxtaposition of ambition and consequence, a reminder that in multiplayer formats the true battlefield is the stack itself. 🎨
Card snapshot: what Magus brings to the table
- Name: Magus of the Abyss
- Mana Cost: {3}{B} (CMC 4)
- Type: Creature — Human Wizard
- Rarity: Rare
- Set: Double Masters (2xm)
- Power/Toughness: 4/3
- Text: At the beginning of each player's upkeep, destroy target nonartifact creature that player controls of their choice. It can't be regenerated.
- Flavor: “He climbs a staircase of falling souls, fighting the continuous pull of the void.”
- Artist: Kev Walker
- Legalities: Modern legal, Legacy legal, Commander legal
- Price hints (as listed): USD ~ $0.21; USD foil ~ $0.49
How the stack responds to Magus in a game
At the moment the upkeep begins, Magus’s trigger is created and put on the stack for each player. In a two-player duel, that typically means two targets must be chosen—one for each player’s creatures—before the first of those triggers starts resolving. The APNAP rule decides the order: the active player’s upkeep trigger goes on the stack first, then the non-active player’s, so the non-active trigger resolves first. In practice, that means the turn you’re on may see the other player snatching away a critical blocker or a key creature before your own upkeep even begins to play out. This subtle timing dance is where Magus shines as a teaching tool for advanced stack play. 🧙♂️
Targets are chosen when the ability is put on the stack. This means you can’t “save” a creature by responding to the resolution with a removal spell after the fact; you must respond to the trigger as it’s placed on the stack. Conversely, you can counter the trigger entirely with an instant or ability that counters a triggered spell on the stack, effectively neutering the effect for that upkeep. The power here isn’t just in destruction; it’s in forcing both players to confront their board state as the turn clock runs down.
Because the effect can target either player’s creatures, Magus doubles as a strategic tempo tool. You might want to zap your own creature to avoid forcing a more dangerous opponent target on your next upkeep, or you might leverage the destruction to break a troublesome showdown where a single buffed creature threatens a gradual win condition. The key is to plan several turns ahead and to anticipate how your opponent might sequence their own actions around upkeep triggers. And yes, your opponents will mutter about the inevitability of a black-clad arbiter of the void—that’s half the fun. 🎲
“Destruction is a careful art, not a reckless swing.”
Practical deck-building and live-play notes
- Timing discipline: In two-player games, you’ll often see Magus triggering twice in the same round’s upkeep cycle as the turns rotate. Plan your responses to the stack with an eye toward what happens if the other player’s trigger resolves first. The order you assume can be the difference between a late-game stall and an outright tempo swing. 🧙
- Build around opposing threats: Because you can target any player’s creature, Magus rewards you with flexibility. Pair it with a control shell that can hold up countermagic or hand disruption, so you can sculpt the board while keeping your own key creatures safer via indestructible or protection effects. Remember, regeneration won’t save a creature, but indestructibility can—if you time it right. ⚔️
- Multiplayer considerations: In three-plus players, the complexity grows quickly. You may have two or more threats to manage at upkeep; the stack order means some players can absorb a hit before others. Magus can be a unifying pressure point, pushing players to weigh whether to advance their own positions or to fight over someone else’s critical blockers. The visual of the stack becoming a chain of destruction is one of the most satisfying visuals in multiplayer formats. 🧙♀️
- Synergy plays: Consider a deck that blends Magus with Blink effects to reset the field, or with sac outlets that allow you to recast important blockers after they’ve been destroyed. You’re not limited to pure removal; you’re orchestrating a subtle tempo orchestra where every note lands on the exact upkeep moment. 🎨
- Value and collection notes: Double Masters’ reprint keeps Magus accessible. In the current market, the card sits as a budget-friendly rare, with foil variants offering a bit more shine for your binder or display shelf. It’s a fun inclusion for players who enjoy the chess-like nature of timing, rather than raw turboboosts. 💎
Design, lore, and the magic of the moment
Kev Walker’s art for Magus of the Abyss captures a moment of ascent into a chasm of souls, and the flavor text reinforces the thematic gravity of the card. The design speaks to a core MTG experience: the board exists not only in the moment, but as a narrative thread that can loop back and punish or reward you as the upkeep horn sounds. The ability’s black mana roots, paired with a sturdy 4/3 body for a reasonable cost, create a reliable midgame engine that can swing a match when used with precision. And while it’s a creature that is sometimes underestimated in fast metas, its presence demands respect—because timing, like a well-played spell, often wins games before they even hit the graveyard. 🧙🔥
For players who love the intimate mechanics of the stack, Magus of the Abyss is a quintessential study in patience, target selection, and inevitability. It’s not about flashy one-turn sequences; it’s about forcing your opponents into hard choices every upkeep, and savoring the moment when the board finally tilts in your favor. If you’re chasing that classic MTG feel—where every decision resonates with the timing of the turn—you’ll find a lot to love here. 🎲
While you’re plotting your next deep-stack moment, a small everyday upgrade can accompany your game day ritual: consider a practical companion for life beyond the table—the Magsafe Phone Case with Card Holder (Impact Resistant Polycarbonate). It’s a handy carry-on for your tournament days and casual evenings alike. Explore the product here: