Adverse Conditions MTG Card


The card offers mid-game adaptability by creating an Eldrazi Scion token for resource and hand flexibility. Its instant speed allows reactive plays, gaining an edge by disrupting opponent momentum. However, the discard cost and specific mana requirements can limit its universal application.
Adverse Conditions - Battle for Zendikar
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Devoid
Released2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameBattle for Zendikar
Set codeBFZ
Number54
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJason Rainville

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) Tap up to two target creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step. Put a 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature token onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this creature: Add to your mana pool."


Cards like Adverse Conditions

Adverse Conditions is an intriguing utility card in Magic: The Gathering that provides both creature control and token generation. In comparison, Frost Breath is another card that impacts creatures by tapping them, preventing them from untapping during their controller’s next untap step. However, Frost Breath lacks Adverse Conditions’ additional advantage—creating a colorless Eldrazi Scion creature token that can be sacrificed for mana.

Looking towards another relative, Encase in Ice from the realm of Frost effects, shares the trait of restricting creatures, but it does so by enchanting and immobilizing a red or green creature. The versatility and immediate impact of Adverse Conditions can twist the game flow in your favor by spontaneously generating board presence and mana resources, aspects that Encase in Ice does not offer.

Ultimately, when evaluating these cards in player decks for control and tempo, Adverse Conditions offers a unique blend of delaying opponent strategies and accelerating your own, positioning it as a strategic choice in decks exploiting tap-down mechanics and token synergy.

Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Encase in Ice - MTG Card versions
Frost Breath - MTG Card versions
Encase in Ice - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Adverse Conditions by color, type and mana cost

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Sudden Storm - MTG Card versions
Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Sudden Storm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Adverse Conditions shines by enabling a strategy pivot mid-game, providing players with a crucial ‘eldrazi scion’ token. This token can be sacrificed to draw a card, ensuring valuable deck cycling and maintaining a hand that adapts to the evolving battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: The inclusion of the eldrazi scion token serves not only as card draw potential but also as a resource accelerator. It grants an additional mana when sacrificed, thus propelling your game plan forward and allowing for rapid deployment of other pivotal spells or creatures.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Adverse Conditions is heightened by its instant speed. This timely utility lets players react to an opponent’s actions during their turn, disrupting their flow and ensuring that your defenses remain fortified. Whether it’s during a surprise attack or at the end of a turn, the speed at which this card can be played can drastically alter the course of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Adverse Conditions involves discarding another card, which may not be ideal when your hand is already dwindling or the card quality is too valuable to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Adverse Conditions requires both colorless and blue mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in multicolored or colorless decks that struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed for Adverse Conditions can be hefty compared to other options. Players might find themselves at a disadvantage when faster or more impactful spells are available for the same or lesser cost.


Reasons to Include Adverse Conditions in Your Collection

Versatility: Adverse Conditions offers utility in various settings, assisting players in controlling the game tempo. It operates efficiently in both main and sideboard positions, depending on your opponents’ strategies.

Combo Potential: This card creates an Eldrazi Scion token, which can be sacrificed for mana. It can synergize with decks that thrive on token generation or require sacrifices for triggering powerful effects and combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where tempo plays are key, Adverse Conditions can disrupt opponent turns and provide you with crucial time to set up your win conditions or protect against aggressive decks.


How to beat

Adverse Conditions is a card that can create sudden tempo swings in Magic: The Gathering, thanks to its ability to both delay your opponent’s assault and develop your board presence with an Eldrazi Scion token. To effectively confront this card, consider embracing strategies that either preemptively remove creatures from the battlefield or employ tactics that aren’t reliant on creature attacks. Cards that can counter noncreature spells or offer hexproof protection to your creatures are particularly valuable, as they can nullify the impact of Adverse Conditions. Additionally, since Adverse Conditions is commonly found in blue-aligned decks known for their control elements, playing cards that can’t be countered, or using instant-speed removals after your opponent’s resources have been used up, can ensure a more stable board state and reduce the disruption caused by this multifaceted card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Adverse Conditions MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Adverse Conditions and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Adverse Conditions has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-08-25 A card with devoid is just colorless. It's not colorless and the colors of mana in its mana cost.
2015-08-25 Adverse Conditions tracks the creatures, but not their controller. If either of the creatures changes controllers before its first controller's next untap step has come around, then it won't untap during its new controller's next untap step.
2015-08-25 Cards with devoid use frames that are variations of the transparent frame traditionally used for Eldrazi. The top part of the card features some color over a background based on the texture of the hedrons that once imprisoned the Eldrazi. This coloration is intended to aid deckbuilding and game play.
2015-08-25 Devoid works in all zones, not just on the battlefield.
2015-08-25 Eldrazi Scions are similar to Eldrazi Spawn, seen in the Zendikar block. Note that Eldrazi Scions are 1/1, not 0/1.
2015-08-25 Eldrazi and Scion are each separate creature types. Anything that affects Eldrazi will affect these tokens, for example.
2015-08-25 If a card loses devoid, it will still be colorless. This is because effects that change an object's color (like the one created by devoid) are considered before the object loses devoid.
2015-08-25 Other cards and abilities can give a card with devoid color. If that happens, it's just the new color, not that color and colorless.
2015-08-25 Sacrificing an Eldrazi Scion creature token to add to your mana pool is a mana ability. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to.
2015-08-25 Some instants and sorceries that create Eldrazi Scions require targets. If all targets for such a spell have become illegal by the time that spell tries to resolve, the spell won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't get any Eldrazi Scions.
2015-08-25 You can cast Adverse Conditions with no targets. When it resolves, you'll get an Eldrazi Scion. However, if you cast Adverse Conditions with any targets and all of those targets are illegal as it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't get the Eldrazi Scion in that case.