Dark Impostor MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire Assassin
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Dark Impostor allows MTG players to craft a singular powerhouse through the strategic exile of creatures.
  2. The card offers a form of resource acceleration and instant speed activation for adaptive play.
  3. High mana costs and color specificity pose as potential drawbacks in fast-paced matches.

Text of card

: Exile target creature and put a +1/+1 counter on Dark Impostor. Dark Impostor has all activated abilities of all creature cards exiled with it.

"Ah, this is a nice life. I can see why you were so desperate to keep it."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dark Impostor presents a unique mechanism to eliminate potential threats while simultaneously setting up for future advantages. Once its ability is activated, not only does it remove a creature from the game, it also acquires the abilities of that creature, which can lead to accumulating numerous abilities that could decisively turn the tide of the match in your favor. This snowballing effect can result in a singular powerhouse on the battlefield, mimicking the best traits of your opponent’s creatures.

Resource Acceleration: Although Dark Impostor requires an investment to activate its ability, this card can be a strategic form of resource acceleration. As you exile more creatures and gain their abilities, you may gain access to abilities that produce mana or reduce costs, which can effectively make your future plays more efficient. Over the course of a game, this can allow for a formidable board presence that’s achieved much quicker than normal.

Instant Speed: Dark Impostor’s ability can be activated at instant speed, making it a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal. This capability enables a player to wait until the most opportune moment to remove a key creature from an opponent’s side, whether it is to disrupt a combo or to simply eliminate a blocker from combat. The flexibility of deciding when to use its ability grants the player holding Dark Impostor a significant strategic advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Dark Impostor does not directly require you to discard a card, its ability necessitates a strategic hand management to afford its activation without depleting crucial resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The inclusion of double black mana in its casting cost means you must be heavily invested in black mana sources, potentially limiting deck diversity and requiring a more focused mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial investment of three mana and additional six mana to activate its exile ability, Dark Impostor may be slower compared to other creatures or removal options that require less mana input for immediate impact on the game. This can be a substantial disadvantage in faster, more tempo-oriented matches.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dark Impostor offers a unique adaptability for decks. As a creature that can exile opposing problematic creatures and absorb their abilities, it fits into control and midrange strategies that capitalize on an evolving board presence.

Combo Potential: Its ability to take on the abilities of exiled creatures means there’s potential for numerous combos, playing off the synergies of others’ creatures. This can lead to unexpected interactions and game-ending plays in both casual and competitive settings.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where certain creatures become pivotal for successful deck builds, Dark Impostor ensures relevance by being able to remove and adopt those key abilities. In a creature-heavy meta, its value skyrockets, making it a worthwhile addition to your arsenal.


How to Beat

Dark Impostor can be a formidable foe on the battlefield in MTG. As a creature that thrives from exiling opponents’ creatures and gaining their abilities, it has the potential to disrupt many strategies. However, one can employ several tactics to take the upper hand against this devious adversary.

First, control decks that have access to instant-speed removal spells, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, can handle Dark Impostor before it can become a larger threat. Additionally, countering the Impostor upon casting with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent it from entering the battlefield in the first place.

Furthermore, aggressive decks might outpace Dark Impostor by continually applying pressure, making it difficult for the opponent to spare the mana needed to leverage its ability. Deploying exile and/or graveyard hate cards such as Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace can also be effective, as they limit the Impostor’s capacity to exploit the exiled creatures’ abilities. It’s clear that while Dark Impostor can be a daunting card to contend with, it is by no means unbeatable. Proper deck construction and strategy can neutralize its impact during a match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Master your MTG matches with the cunning Dark Impostor. Our in-depth analysis unpacks its strengths, like card advantage through ability acquisition and strategic instant-speed plays. Yet, be mindful of its higher mana costs and the intense focus on black mana. Blend it with your control or midrange decks and watch as it metamorphoses into a major threat on the board. Harness the combo potentials and stay ahead in a creature-centric meta. Interested in pushing your games to the next level? Dive deeper with us and discover how Dark Impostor can reshape your winning strategies in MTG.


Cards like Dark Impostor

Dark Impostor is a unique vampire assassin in MTG, known for its ability to exile creatures and acquire their abilities. It’s often compared to cards like Thief of Blood, which also removes abilities from others, although Thief of Blood does this by stealing counters rather than exiling creatures outright. Where Dark Impostor excels is in its potential for permanent ability acquisition, setting it apart from others.

Similarly, Duplicant also exiles creatures and mimics their power and toughness, yet it doesn’t gain their abilities. The versatility of Dark Impostor allows for a wider array of strategic plays, especially in long games where accumulating various abilities can turn the tide. Moreover, Faceless Butcher targets creatures as well but only temporarily removes them from play. It’s effective for short-term disruption, in contrast with the lasting impact of Dark Impostor’s exiling ability.

To sum up, Dark Impostor offers a remarkable blend of removal and power absorption in game play. Its uniqueness lies in the direct and enduring theft of abilities, making it a formidable and unpredictable asset in player’s decks.

Thief of Blood - MTG Card versions
Duplicant - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Thief of Blood - Commander 2015 (C15)
Duplicant - Mirrodin (MRD)
Faceless Butcher - Torment (TOR)

Cards similar to Dark Impostor by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dark Impostor MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Commander 2017, 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 Dark Impostor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dark Impostor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2021-11-19. Illustrated by Johannes Voss.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 922003normalblackJohannes Voss
22017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1092015normalblackJohannes Voss
32021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 1272015normalblackJohannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dark Impostor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2012-05-01 Dark Impostor can target and exile a permanent that's only a creature temporarily, like an animated land. However, because that card isn't a creature card, Dark Impostor won't have any of that card's activated abilities.
2012-05-01 Dark Impostor gains only activated abilities. It doesn't gain triggered abilities or static abilities. Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written “
-ost:
-ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities; they have colons in their reminder text.
2012-05-01 If an activated ability of a card in exile references the card it's printed on by name, treat Dark Impostor's version of that ability as though it referenced Dark Impostor by name instead. For example, if Marrow Bats (which says “Pay 4 life: Regenerate Marrow Bats”) is exiled with Dark Impostor, Dark Impostor has the ability “Pay 4 life: Regenerate Dark Impostor.”
2012-05-01 If you control more than one Dark Impostor, each will have only the activated abilities of creature cards exiled with that specific Dark Impostor.
2012-05-01 Once Dark Impostor leaves the battlefield, it will no longer have the activated abilities of the creature cards exiled with it. If it returns to the battlefield, it will be a new Dark Impostor with no connection to those exiled cards.
2021-09-24 If Dark Imposter exiles a double-faced card, it will only have activated abilities of the front face of that exiled card, no matter which face was up on the battlefield.

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