Deem Worthy MTG Card

Amonkhet (AKH)
2017-04-28 - Number 127

Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
2020-08-13 - Number 150

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 520

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Abilities	Cycling

Key Takeaways

Deem Worthy’s cycling ability offers strategic card flow management, making it more than just a burn spell.
Its instant speed offers flexibility, letting players respond to threats and maintain board control.
While powerful, it requires careful deck construction due to its specific mana cost and discard potential.

Text of card

Deem Worthy deals 7 damage to target creature. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.) When you cycle Deem Worthy, you may have it deal 2 damage to target creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deem Worthy stands out among other burn spells as it not only deals a solid amount of damage but also offers the potential for card draw. This cycling ability enables players to filter through their deck and maintain a flow of resources, keeping their hand stocked with options.

Resource Acceleration: While Deem Worthy itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the typical sense of providing mana, it efficiently removes blockers or threats, accelerating your path to victory. Clearing the way for your creatures to attack can be just as critical as ramping up mana resources in paving the way for a win.

Instant Speed: The flexibility to cast Deem Worthy at instant speed makes it a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal. This allows you to be reactive to your opponent’s moves, taking out creatures during their turn or in response to an action, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy and preserving your board state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Deem Worthy often involves a choice that can be tough — deciding if it’s worth it to discard another card from your hand. If your hand is already running low, this forced decision can potentially hinder your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The flexibility of Deem Worthy is somewhat constrained by its specific mana requirement. Being a red card, it demands a certain commitment to red mana sources in your deck, which could limit its inclusion to strictly red or red-inclusive decks, potentially reducing its utility across different types of gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the realm of MTG where efficiency is key, Deem Worthy’s mana cost might be seen as a bit steep for the damage it deals. There are a variety of other cards that could potentially offer similar or better damage outputs at a lower cost, making the assessment of its worthiness pivotal during deck construction and gameplay.

Reasons to Include Deem Worthy in Your Collection

Versatility: Deem Worthy provides a valuable flexibility in play. Its dual utility as both a direct damage spell and a cycling ability allows for adaptability in various situations. You can leverage it for removal or cycle it for card advantage, depending on your in-game needs.

Combo Potential: When cycled, Deem Worthy also lets you deal damage to a creature, opening up possibilities for combos with cards that trigger upon cycling or dealing damage. It’s a versatile piece that could fit into decks with a cycling theme or those looking to exploit damage-based triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment filled with creature-heavy decks, having an instant-speed removal that can take out key threats is essential. Deem Worthy stands out in such a meta, offering solid removal that can shift the balance of the game in your favor while maintaining your card flow.

How to beat

Deem Worthy is a versatile removal card in MTG offering both direct damage to creatures and the potential for card draw. To effectively counter this strategy, consider using indestructible creatures that can withstand the initial damage. Additionally, leveraging spells that grant hexproof can make your creatures invalid targets for Deem Worthy’s ability.

Tactics such as rushing with a horde of smaller creatures can also dilute Deem Worthy’s impact, as it’s limited to targeting a single creature. Employ cards with recursion abilities from the graveyard, making it less detrimental if your creature is destroyed. Furthermore, countering Deem Worthy with a timely Negate or similar counterspell can neutralize this threat at a crucial moment, securing your creatures and maintaining board presence.

Ultimately, while Deem Worthy poses a clear danger by combining removal with card advantage, a well-tuned deck with the right strategies can effectively negate its advantages and keep you in command of the game. By playing smart and anticipating its use, you can turn the tide and render Deem Worthy less formidable.

Cards like Deem Worthy

Deem Worthy is an intriguing spell in the diverse landscape of removal options available within MTG. It’s a force to be reckoned with, offering both direct damage and the potential for a useful card draw. This instant card parallels other spells like Lightning Strike or Abrade – both offer the direct damage component but at a lower mana cost. Where Deem Worthy shines is in its cycling ability, allowing players to draw a card if the spell doesn’t suit the current game situation.

Another card that mirrors the flexibility of Deem Worthy is Hieroglyphic Illumination, which can either cycle for a card or act as card draw in the late game. However, it lacks the removal aspect. There’s also Sweltering Suns, which can clear multiple creatures in one sweep and boasts cycling, yet it doesn’t offer the targeted precision that Deem Worthy provides.

Overall, Deem Worthy offers a unique combination of versatility and power, making it a formidable option for players seeking control and adaptability in their gameplay. While similar spells have their own advantages, the balance of damage and cycling this card brings to the table often proves invaluable during a match.

Hieroglyphic Illumination - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Deem Worthy by color, type and mana cost

Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deem Worthy MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Deem Worthy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deem Worthy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Lius Lasahido.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-04-28	Amonkhet	AKH	127	2015	Normal	Black	Lius Lasahido
2	2020-08-13	Amonkhet Remastered	AKR	150	2015	Normal	Black	Lius Lasahido
3	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	520	2015	Normal	Black	Lius Lasahido

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deem Worthy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2017-04-18	Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.
2017-04-18	Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren’t spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as that of Cancel) won’t affect them.
2017-04-18	You can cycle a card even if it has a triggered ability from cycling that won’t have a legal target. This is because the cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. This also means that if either ability doesn’t resolve (due to being countered with Disallow, for example, or if the triggered ability’s targets have become illegal), the other ability will still resolve.