All 5 Black Artifact Removal Cards in Magic Ranked

Last updated on September 4, 2025

Gate to Phyrexia | Illustration by Sandra Everingham

Artifact removal isn’t exactly something that black is known for, but it does exist! You just sometimes have to squint a little bit. If you run a mono-black deck, sometimes you need to make do with what you’re given and not look the gift horse in the mouth!

Today we review the tools black has at its disposal to deal with artifacts. If you're past the point of adding red, green or white, that's why you're here.

What Are Black Artifact Removal Cards in MTG?

Embrace Oblivion | Illustration by Andreas Zafiratos

Black artifact removal spells are pretty much what it says on the tin, black cards that can deal with problematic artifacts on the board (that's to say, black removal spells that kill artifacts, rather than removal spells that kill black artifacts). This could be by destroying them, exiling them, making your opponent sacrifice them, or something else. They’re not super common, though, so you won’t see many effects like this.

Note that cards like Mythos of Nethroi since we're limiting ourselves to cards with a mono black color identity.

Honorable Mention: Rats of Rath

Rats of Rath can’t quite make the true list because it can’t get rid of your opponents’ artifacts, but it does allow you to deal with your own artifacts. Sacrifice effects are likely just better, but this can help out in a pinch or an edge case and deserves at least a mention.

#5. Perilous Predicament

The 5-mana instant removal spells are a Limited design, but Perilous Predicament still only hurts artifact creatures when it comes to artifacts. Nice as a potential two-for-one, but there are more consistent and versatile alternatives in whatever format you choose.

#4. Quag Feast

If vehicles were more problematic, Quag Feast would be more meaningful. As it is, you make the meta call, will you reliably have targets for this Feast, and can you consistently meet the graveyard requirement? If you answered ‘yes' to both, then Quag Feast is a strong option for your deck.

#3. Embrace Oblivion

Embrace Oblivion costs you a permanent and can only get ahold of spacecraft, but at least it costs just one and those spacecraft are popular with the kids these days.

#2. Phyrexian Tribute

Since black doesn’t usually allow you to flat-out destroy artifacts, it generally comes at a hefty cost when it lets you do it. Phyrexian Tribute comes with a pretty big one. Not only does it cost 3 mana, but you also need to sacrifice two creatures. Of course, this can be turned into an upside with a death trigger, but it’s still a definite cost, which is a lot for a one-off effect.

#1. Gate to Phyrexia

In a similar vein to Phyrexian Tribute, Gate to Phyrexia requires you to sacrifice your own creatures to deal with opposing artifacts. The bonus here is that you only need to sacrifice one per upkeep and also that it’s somewhat repeatable given that you can activate it once in every upkeep. Not as good as what some other colors can do, but still an interesting card.

Alternative Ways to Deal with Artifacts

Unfortunately, that's all there is at black's disposal when it comes to conditional and restricted removal of artifacts. However, there are some alternatives available within black’s portion of the color pie.

Discard / Hand Disruption

Discard is something that black does fantastically, and what better way to deal with tricky cards is there than making sure it can’t be cast in the first place? Whether you use targeted discard like Thoughtseize or get rid of your opponent’s hand a card at a time with something like Dreams of Steel and Oil or Intimidation Tactics, this is a preemptive strike.

Edicts or Force Sacrifices

Black is also very good at making your opponents sacrifice their stuff. This often comes in the form of having to discard non-land permanents, because forcing them to sacrifice only artifacts doesn’t exist quite yet. This means a minion like Braids, Cabal Minion comes fresh off the Commander ban list and eager among the Commander game changers to make loads of impact. Otherwise Shard of the Void Dragon or Phyrexian Obliterator are ways to deal with artifacts if your opponent manages to get them down.

Extraction/Lobotomy

Memoricide, Cranial Extraction, and Dispossess each go after a specific named card in a zone other than the battlefield (as in: the graveyard, hand, or library). These certainly can work in tandem with other effects, but won't address an artifact that is in play.

Wrap Up

Shard of the Void Dragon | Illustration by Alex Konstad

Dealing with artifacts is not something that black was designed to do, and the color pie and its restrictions are part of what makes Magic what it is. Mono-colored decks have drawbacks, and that’s part of the fun. However, with black getting more ways to deal with enchantments, like Feed the Swarm, maybe we’ll see similar effects for artifacts in the near future.

Personally, I’ve never felt that I’ve been particularly weak to artifacts when playing black decks, and you have enough other things going on to find another way around. Do you wish there was a way to get rid of them cleanly, though? Do you think the move with enchantment removal in recent years is something you’d like to see repeated? Or do you believe that restrictions bring innovation, and enjoy that puzzle?

Let us know in the comments or over on Draftsim' Twitter, and I hope to see you next time.