Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Two-for-One That Reconfigures the Combat Equation
On the surface, Contract Killing is black’s classic flavor: removal that answers a threat. But in the grand tapestry of creature combat, its second half—two Treasure tokens—transforms the tempo and the math of duels across later turns 🧙♂️🔥. For five mana, you don’t just erase a danger; you seed two flexible mana sources that can be spent to color-match a follow-up play, pivot your plan, or awaken a finisher when your opponent least expects it. That dual impact is what makes this card a thoughtful inclusion for decks that prize tempo, disruption, and a touch of ramp. 💎
Understanding the Card’s Math in Typical Combat Scenarios
Let’s break down how the numbers play out in real games, keeping the focus on creature combat and the way this spell shifts outcomes on the battlefield. The key is balancing removal value with immediate and future mana generation.
- One-for-one removal with a future engine: Destroying a single blocker or threat on turn five buys you a clean slate. If your opponent’s board is a mix of evasive or recurring threats, that removal buys you critical time while the two Treasure tokens start producing a colorful mana runway for post-combat plays. The immediate impact is a temporary swing in board presence; the long-term impact is a flexible resource base you can spend on a bigger plan next turn. ⚔️
- Treasure as a color‑fixing ramp engine: Each Treasure token can be sacrificed to add one mana of any color. That means the two tokens effectively give you up to two color-adjusted mana sources in subsequent turns, usable to cast value spells that swing the next combat or to deploy an aura or pump that pushes a final hit through. In practice, you’re turning a removal spell into a momentum boost that can bridge to a more decisive attack phase. 💎⚡
- Threat density and follow-up pressure: If you’re staring down a board with multiple creatures or a stubborn blocker, the built-in tempo of removing one while accelerating your own threat density can push the game into a phase where your next threat is multi-metric—more damage, more blockers, or both. The math favors you when the two treasures enable you to cast a two- or three-mana spell that answers a second threat the same turn or next. 🧙♂️
- Color flexibility in the late game: Treasure tokens shine brightest when your mana base needs fixing or when you’re leaning on colored spells to finish. The ability to choose the color of the mana you’re generating means you’re less often stranded on a color you can’t cast, which reduces the probability of getting stuck in a mana drought during critical combat moments. This nuance is where the card’s “two-for-one” nature truly pays off. 🎨
Treasure Tokens: The Real Engine Behind the Card
Treasure tokens aren’t just cute flavor; they’re a practical engine for battlefield momentum. In Ixalan-era decks, artifacts that generate mana or provide color flexibility are prized because they unlock lines of play that standard removal alone cannot. Two Treasure tokens mean you can pay for a surprise spell that changes a combat equation, or you can bank mana for a late-game kick, such as a finisher or a protective spell. The math isn’t about two extra mana; it’s about two extra decisions you can model across turns—the difference between trading and dominating. And as the game stretches into mid-to-late turns, those two treasures become a board-state lever you can pull to shift the outcome in your favor. 🧭🎲
Deckbuilding and Strategic Takeaways
When you slot Contract Killing into a deck, you’re not just adding removal and a ramp engine; you’re inviting a new rhythm to your games. Here are a few practical takeaways to keep your board math sharp:
- Need for efficient targets: Favor threats that you can hit with a reasonable confidence level. A clean kill on a problematic blocker or a dangerous attacker buys you time and sets up your Treasure-sourced plays nicely.
- Integrate with Treasure synergies: Look for other artifacts or instant-speed plays that benefit from color-flexible mana. Cards that reward mana when spent or that task your opponent with difficult decisions dovetail beautifully with the treasures you generate. 🔗
- Plan for the next two plays: If you can anticipate a two-spell sequence powered by Treasure mana, you’ll often come out ahead in both tempo and resources. It’s about sequencing: the removal, then the ramp, then the payoff. ⚔️💎
- Curving into finishers: In an aggro-leaning or midrange shell, the two treasures can fund a late-game finisher that your original removal would not have enabled on its own. A cautious opponent may overcommit to the board, and your Treasure-fueled spells can close the game faster than expected. 🔥
“For a price, the floating city of High and Dry offers all the amenities a pirate could want: rest, recreation, and revenge.” A line like this isn’t just flavor—it’s a reminder that in Ixalan, wit and wealth can tilt the battlefield as much as steel and sorcery. 🧙♂️🎨
Flavor, Art, and Design Perspective
Winona Nelson’s art captures the mood of Ixalan’s adventurous blend of piracy and magic. The image communicates a moment where danger meets opportunity: a targeted strike lands, and the battlefield blooms with treasure—the kind of visual storytelling that makes players pause and think about the long game rather than just the next attack. The flavor text reinforces the world-building, reminding us that the mana we net from a spell can also be the currency for more plans, more schemes, and more stories. The card’s design embodies a classic, elegant symmetry: a decisive removal paired with a cheap, flexible payoff that scales with the game. 🎨
Practical Gameplay Tips for Real Matches
- Identify the right moment to cast: when your threat density on the board makes the removal feel like a preface to a bigger turn, you’re usually in the sweet spot. 🧭
- Keep Treasure tokens in mind as a flexible budget: don’t spend them on small plays if you’re building toward a high-impact spell or a critical blocker. Use them strategically to maximize the next two or three turns. 💎⚡
- Pair with disruption: a counterspell or a deny-some-threat plan can be devastating when you’ve already removed one creature and added two color-ready mana sources. The tempo can swing heavily in your favor. 🧙♂️
- Assess your opponent’s curve: if they’re flush with mana or creatures, the two Treasures can be key to pushing through a finisher or protecting a crucial attacker on the swing back. ⚔️
If you’re crafting a shell that leans into disruption plus ramp, Contract Killing is a thoughtful choice. It’s not simply about removing a threat—it’s about converting that removal into a powered-up, flexible plan that can outpace an opponent who misreads your mana base. And in the spirit of Ixalan’s adventurous ethos, it’s a reminder that sometimes a good bargain can tilt the entire battlefield in your favor. 🧙♂️🔥💎