Overkill
Instant
Target creature gets -0/-9999 until end of turn.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Final Fantasy
- Price
- $0.30
- EDHREC rank
- #2418
Overkill kills a creature and replaces itself — three mana for removal plus a card is a real rate. Jaws of Defeat does the same job in more decks, but Overkill earns its slot anywhere Sephiroth, Planet's Heir wants to stack damage-based removal that also draws.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Sephiroth, Planet's Heir
Sephiroth, Planet's Heir cares about dealing damage to creatures, and Overkill checks that box while refilling your hand — a two-for-one that directly feeds the engine.
Zenos yae Galvus
Zenos yae Galvus rewards aggressive, combat-focused lines, and Overkill clears a blocker while keeping cards flowing so you stay ahead on resources.
Vincent Valentine
Vincent Valentine's gameplan leans on damage-dealing triggers, making Overkill a natural fit — it removes a threat and draws a card without spending an additional spell slot on the refill.
Massacre Girl, Known Killer
Massacre Girl, Known Killer wants cheap, efficient removal that doesn't require setup, and Overkill's three-mana instant speed fits cleanly into her interactive gameplan.
Kuja, Genome Sorcerer
Kuja, Genome Sorcerer benefits from any removal that replaces itself, and Overkill delivers a clean kill plus a draw at a rate that doesn't strain the curve.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Overkill is legal across every major format but is firmly a Commander card — the singleton environment rewards flexible removal that replaces itself, and three mana for kill-plus-draw is a real rate there. In Modern and Pioneer, three-mana sorcery-speed removal is too slow to compete with the format's threats and tempo demands. Legacy and Vintage have access to so much efficient interaction that Overkill doesn't make the cut. Commander is where it actually lives, specifically in black decks that want to stay on curve while not falling behind on cards.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
OverkillJaws of Defeat
Target opponent loses the game; Near-infinite lifeloss for target opponent
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.30 bulk tier
At $0.30, Overkill is bulk — pick it up without a second thought if the deck wants it. Bulk removal that draws a card tends to stay cheap and available, so there's no urgency to stockpile copies.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Jaws of Defeat
- Sephiroth, Planet's Heir
- Zenos yae Galvus
- Vincent Valentine
- Massacre Girl, Known Killer
- Kuja, Genome Sorcerer
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.