Archaic's Agony (SOS)

Sorcery

Converge — Archaic's Agony deals X damage to target creature, where X is the number of colors of mana spent to cast this spell. Exile cards from the top of your library equal to the excess damage dealt to that creature this way. You may play those cards until the end of your next turn.

Reliable removal and card advantage engine for red midrange and control decks. Archaic's Agony rewards mana-fixing by scaling its damage output with color diversity—a single extra color turns it into a 5-damage spell that also exiles and temporarily plays cards from your library. The converge mechanic makes it particularly strong in multicolor shells like Gruul or Naya strategies in Pioneer and Commander, where you're already running diverse mana bases. At five mana, it's efficient enough to close out games while generating card advantage, though it requires setup and deck-building commitment to maximize the exile effect.

Secrets of Strixhaven — Uncommon