Crush Contraband

Strategy & Gameplay

Crush Contraband is a versatile white instant from the PIP set that serves as an elegant answer to two of Magic's most persistent problem permanents in a single card. This flexible removal spell allows you to choose to exile either an artifact, an enchantment, or both if you have appropriate targets available, making it exceptionally efficient in game states where you're facing multiple threats across these permanent types. The beauty of this card lies in its adaptability: in matchups heavy on artifacts like affinity or equipment-focused strategies, you can focus your exile on those threats, while against enchantment-heavy decks featuring cards like Uro or problematic auras, you maintain the option to shift your removal accordingly. At three mana with a single white component, it slots cleanly into white-based control, midrange, and even some aggressive strategies that need targeted answers. The card's constructed viability extends across numerous formats. In Pioneer and Modern, Crush Contraband provides maindeckable or sideboard-quality removal for creature-heavy artifact decks and enchantment-focused strategies. In Legacy and Vintage, while competition from cards like Swords to Plowshares exists, the dual-threat coverage makes it relevant. Commander and Oathbreaker players particularly appreciate this card's efficiency in singleton formats where facing diverse permanent types is inevitable. The instant speed ensures you maintain interaction during opponents' turns, and the exile effect bypasses indestructible and regeneration while preventing graveyard recursion strategies. Whether you're building control, tempo, or midrange shells, Crush Contraband offers the kind of flexible, efficient removal that rewards player skill in threat assessment and optimal sequencing.