Darkblast MTG Card


Darkblast’s dredge ability provides card advantage by allowing multiple uses and maintaining hand resources. Moderate mana flexibility is a key pro, along with instant speed for strategic creature removal and disruption. Discarding and mana restrictions can impose limitations on Darkblast, influencing its deck compatibility and impact.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Dredge,Mill

Text of card

Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Dredge 3 (If you would draw a card, instead you may put exactly three cards from the top of your library into your graveyard. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, draw a card.)


Cards like Darkblast

Darkblast serves as a key player in the realm of repeatable removal options in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its peers in cards like Last Gasp and Disfigure, which also facilitate creature removal. Darkblast sets itself apart with its Dredge ability, allowing players to return it from the graveyard to the hand by dredging up three cards from the top of the library. Last Gasp and Disfigure, while providing a higher damage output without needing to self-mill, lack the flexibility that Dredge offers.

Other relatives in this category include Dead Weight and Fatal Push, both adept at dealing with small threats. Dead Weight offers a persistent effect as an enchantment, reducing a creature’s power and toughness. Fatal Push can potentially hit bigger targets, thanks to its Revolt trigger, but neither possesses Darkblast’s unique capability to be used multiple times by exploiting the library.

Taking all of these characteristics into account, Darkblast uniquely shines in MTG with its blend of on-demand creature weakening and strategic self-mill synergy. The combination allows players to control the battlefield while fueling graveyard strategies, making it stand out in its class of removal spells.

Last Gasp - MTG Card versions
Disfigure - MTG Card versions
Dead Weight - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Last Gasp - MTG Card versions
Disfigure - MTG Card versions
Dead Weight - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Darkblast by color, type and mana cost

Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Vendetta - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Vendetta - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Darkblast. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DredgeDredge ModernDredge$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Saturday - 9:00 am
DoomsdayDoomsday LegacyDoomsdayLegacy Preliminary 2024-02-19 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Darkblast may seem like a single-target removal, but its dredge ability lets you replace a draw with it from the graveyard, effectively letting you have access to this card multiple times. This maintains your hand resources while controlling the board.

Resource Acceleration: While Darkblast doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, its inexpensive casting cost aids in conserving mana for other uses. This can indirectly accelerate your resources by allowing more flexibility in your mana spending.

Instant Speed: Darkblast’s instant status can disrupt your opponent’s plans unexpectedly. It allows for surprise removal of key creatures during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions, which can be a game-changer especially when they’re committing to spells or abilities that require creature sacrifices.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Darkblast offers a dredge ability which replaces your draw, it also forces you to discard, potentially depleting important hand resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Darkblast requires black mana, which restricts its integration to certain color-specific or compatible multi-colored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a varied MTG meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only one black mana seems low cost, the impact of Darkblast may appear negligible when compared to other removal spells. There are numerous alternatives that might offer more powerful board control for a similar, if not the same, mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Darkblast offers a unique edge as it serves multiple roles. It’s more than just a removal spell; it can be a strategic way to decrease the power of an opponent’s creature or manage threats while it easily slots into graveyard-based strategies thanks to its dredge mechanic.

Combo Potential: This card shines in conjunction with other graveyard manipulation cards. Its dredge ability allows you to replace your draw to return Darkblast to your hand, fueling your graveyard with fresh options and synergizing with various strategies that thrive on a well-stocked graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where small creatures dominate, Darkblast becomes a recurring nightmare for opponents. It keeps key utility creatures in check and can be a game-changer against aggressive decks that rely on a swarm of low-toughness creatures.


How to beat

Darkblast is a unique card in the realm of MTG, offering both a dredge mechanic and a way to diminish the power of creatures. This can be particularly potent in altering the dynamic of creature-based strategies, making it a card one must prepare to face. But how does one navigate against such an adaptive tool? A straightforward strategy is to look beyond creature-based play. Cards that rely less on the battlefield and more on non-creature spells evade Darkblast’s influence. Additionally, having creatures with higher toughness out of Darkblast’s range ensures they remain on the board, maintaining your presence in the game.

Another angle to consider is the use of instant-speed spells to buff your creatures temporarily, putting them out of range of the card’s -1/-1 effect when it matters most. Lastly, exiling Darkblast from the graveyard removes the recurrent dredging threat, stunting your opponent’s capacity to reuse it. It’s the combination of strategic deck construction and timely play that will ultimately guide players to overcome the challenges posed by Darkblast.

With a keen understanding of your deck’s strengths and the right counters at your disposal, Darkblast becomes a manageable obstacle on the path to victory in the complex and ever-evolving tapestry of MTG strategies.


BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG enthusiasts, it’s clear that Darkblast holds nuanced power in your arsenal. Its ability to recur with the dredge mechanic provides valuable adaptability, making it a key card in controlling the battlefield against weenie strategies. Optimizing your deck with such unique spells can turn the tides of a duel in your favor. Interested in expanding your strategic play and diving deeper into the intricacies of graveyard-focused decks? Dive into further insights and tactics with us. Whether you’re facing a horde of tiny creatures or looking to capitalize on your graveyard resources, we’ve got the expertise to enhance your gameplay. Learn more and upgrade your deck’s capabilities today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Darkblast MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and GRN Guild Kit, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Darkblast and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Darkblast Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Randy Gallegos.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 822003NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
22018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 512015NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6092015NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
42020-09-26The ListPLST GK1-512015NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
52024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4541997NormalBlackRandy Gallegos

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Darkblast has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Darkblast card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2013-06-07 Dredge lets you replace any card draw, not just the one during your draw step.
2013-06-07 Once you decide to replace a draw using a card’s dredge ability, that card can’t be removed from your graveyard “in response.” (Replacement effects don’t use the stack.)
2013-06-07 You can’t use dredge unless you’re going to draw a card and the card with dredge is already in your graveyard.