Bad Deal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Bad Deal disrupts opponents and strengthens your hand, critical for maintaining control in the game.
  2. Its drawbacks include a specific mana cost and the potential setback of discarding your own cards.
  3. In certain decks, Bad Deal’s ability to force discards and draw cards can be a game-changer.

Text of card

You draw two cards and each opponent discards two cards. Each player loses 2 life.

There are still places where a smile and a handshake are all you need to seal a deal.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bad Deal allows you to force an opponent to discard two cards while you draw two cards, effectively disrupting their strategy while bolstering your own hand, proving to be a pivotal play in maintaining control of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Though Bad Deal doesn’t directly accelerate resources, depleting your opponent’s hand can indirectly accelerate your board state by limiting their potential responses and setting you up for future turns.

Instant Speed: While Bad Deal is cast at sorcery speed, this timing lets you strategically plan your turn to maximize the impact of the card advantage gained and the discard effect on your opponent, paving the way for your instant-speed interactions on a clearer battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Bad Deal requires parting with a card from your hand, which can often be a tough trade-off. In MTG, your hand represents valuable resources, and being compelled to discard can set you back, particularly if your reserves are running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: When casting Bad Deal, you’re locked into a rigid mana framework – this card demands both black and one additional mana. This necessity can pose a challenge for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency or when you lack access to the required colors at the critical moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Bad Deal sits on the pricier end of the spectrum. For such a steep investment, players often expect a significant impact on the game state. It is crucial to evaluate whether the outcomes of Bad Deal align with the mana spent when alternative options might yield greater value or more immediate board influence.


Reasons to Include Bad Deal in Your Collection

Versatility: Bad Deal can be integrated into various deck builds that require card draw and discard mechanics. This card serves well in strategies that thrive on filling up the graveyard or disrupting the opponent’s hand.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with others that capitalize on discard effects or benefit from the number of cards your opponents have discarded, empowering multifaceted combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where hand size is critical, Bad Deal can tilt the scales in your favor by replenishing your resources while depleting your opponents’, ensuring you hold the upper hand in resource-driven matchups.


How to beat

Bad Deal is an intriguing choice for players looking to disrupt their opponent’s hand while replenishing their own in MTG. Although this card allows you to draw two cards and forces your opponent to discard two, it comes with a significant mana cost, making timely execution crucial. Nevertheless, there are strategies to counteract the impact of Bad Deal. Prioritize maintaining a low hand count, thus reducing the efficacy of your opponent’s discard strategy. Additionally, utilize instant-speed draw spells to refill your hand on your own terms, or opt for cards with escape or flashback that capitalize on being in the graveyard.

In essence, consider incorporating counterspells in your deck to directly nullify Bad Deal when it’s cast, or play creatures with inherent resilience to card disadvantage, such as those that generate value when entering or leaving the battlefield. Thriving in an environment where Bad Deal could be present entails adapting your playstyle, maintaining resourcefulness, and having a deck composition that can mitigate or even benefit from your opponent’s attempts to deplete your resources.


Cards like Bad Deal

Bad Deal is an intriguing entry in the realm of card advantage in Magic: The Gathering, bearing similarities to several other cards but with distinct qualities of its own. It bears a resemblance to Sign in Blood, a staple in this genre, both offering an opportunity to draw cards. Yet, Bad Deal stretches beyond by requiring each player to discard cards, not just the caster, and also impacting life totals.

The dynamics shift when comparing with Mind Rot, traditionally known for its discard effect on the opponent. While Bad Deal shares this aspect, it further extends the advantage by replenishing the caster’s hand, though it comes with a higher mana cost. Conversely, Painful Lesson is closer in functionality to Bad Deal, with both cards inflicting life loss upon the caster and drawing cards, albeit Bad Deal affecting all players engaged.

Each card provides strategic benefits that cater to different playstyles and situations. Despite its greater mana investment, Bad Deal could be the right choice for players aiming for widespread disruption alongside card draw in MTG.

Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Painful Lesson - MTG Card versions
Sign in Blood - Magic 2010 (M10)
Mind Rot - Portal (POR)
Painful Lesson - Amonkhet (AKH)

Cards similar to Bad Deal by color, type and mana cost

Kiss of Death - MTG Card versions
Dark Offering - MTG Card versions
Rain of Daggers - MTG Card versions
Corrupt - MTG Card versions
Poison Arrow - MTG Card versions
Morbid Hunger - MTG Card versions
Haunting Voyage - MTG Card versions
Zombie Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Blood on the Snow - MTG Card versions
Choice of Damnations - MTG Card versions
Beseech the Queen - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Incursion - MTG Card versions
Stolen Grain - MTG Card versions
Blood Tribute - MTG Card versions
Essence Feed - MTG Card versions
Life's Finale - MTG Card versions
Hex - MTG Card versions
Grave Exchange - MTG Card versions
Twilight's Call - MTG Card versions
Assassin's Strike - MTG Card versions
Kiss of Death - Portal Second Age (P02)
Dark Offering - Starter 1999 (S99)
Rain of Daggers - The List (PLST)
Corrupt - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Poison Arrow - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Morbid Hunger - Odyssey (ODY)
Haunting Voyage - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Zombie Apocalypse - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Blood on the Snow - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Choice of Damnations - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Beseech the Queen - The List (PLST)
Nightmare Incursion - Eventide (EVE)
Stolen Grain - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Blood Tribute - Commander 2017 (C17)
Essence Feed - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Life's Finale - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Hex - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Grave Exchange - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Twilight's Call - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Assassin's Strike - Jumpstart (JMP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bad Deal MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Arena Beginner Set, 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 Bad Deal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bad Deal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 892015normalblackZoltan Boros
22020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 452015normalblackZoltan Boros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bad Deal has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 As Bad Deal resolves, first you draw two cards. Then the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's an opponent's turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses two cards in hand without revealing them, then each other opponent in turn order does the same. All the chosen cards are discarded at the same time. Then each player loses 2 life.
2020-06-23 Each player loses 2 life, including you, regardless of how many cards they draw or discard.
2020-06-23 If an opponent has just one card in hand, that player discards just one card. Other opponents still discard two if able.
2020-06-23 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Bad Deal causes each team to lose 4 life. Your teammate doesn't draw or discard any cards.
2020-06-23 You draw just two cards no matter how many opponents you have.

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