Desperate Ravings MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Flashback

Key Takeaways

  1. Desperate Ravings can replenish hands quickly, offering strategic flexibility at instant speed.
  2. The random discard may unexpectedly synergize with graveyard-based strategies.
  3. It offers potential high rewards but with the risk of losing key cards.

Text of card

Draw two cards, then discard a card at random. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Her mind was quite gone, yet she spoke nothing but truth.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Desperate Ravings gives your deck an edge by enabling you to draw two cards. This aspect can help replenish your hand, providing you with more options and responses to your opponent’s moves.

Resource Acceleration: While Desperate Ravings doesn’t produce mana or tokens, the random discard could synergize with graveyard strategies, effectively turning a potential setback into an unexpected boon.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Desperate Ravings at instant speed offers you flexibility, allowing you to make strategic decisions on the fly and respond to the ever-changing battlefield conditions without losing a beat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks of Desperate Ravings is that it forces the player to discard a card at random. This element of chance can sometimes result in the loss of crucial elements in your strategy, especially if important combo pieces or answers are discarded unintendedly.

Specific Mana Cost: Desperate Ravings has a casting cost that specifically requires red mana. This can be restrictive since decks not running red or those that have a mana base heavily skewed towards other colors might find it hard to accommodate or cast it on time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of two, including one red, for its initial casting and three including one red for its flashback cost, Desperate Ravings can be quite costly for the uncertainty it brings. There are alternatives in the pool of MTG cards that may provide more consistent card advantage or effects without the accompanying risk of an important discard.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Desperate Ravings is a resilient addition to any deck that values card draw. Its flash-back feature offers a unique opportunity to utilize it from the graveyard, ensuring your hand stays replenished in different phases of the game.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies revolving around discarding and drawing. It can set up graveyard plays or trigger draw-dependent effects, making it an excellent choice for decks looking to harness such dynamics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where information and options can make the difference, Desperate Ravings holds its ground. Particularly effective against control decks, it helps dig deeper into your deck to find answers or threats while keeping up the pressure on your opponent.


How to beat Desperate Ravings

Desperate Ravings is a unique spell in Magic: The Gathering, more unpredictable than many card draw spells due to its random discard. Unlike more controlled draw mechanisms, Desperate Ravings introduces an element of chance that can either benefit or disrupt your strategy. Players often compare it to Think Twice, which provides a safer way to draw cards without the risk of discarding a valuable card. However, Desperate Ravings offers the potential for a greater reward with its flashback ability, allowing you to cast it again from the graveyard.

Counterspells are the most direct method to prevent the spell from resolving altogether—Nullify and Mana Leak are classics in this regard. When playing against Desperate Ravings, it’s also wise to save your discard effects for when your opponent triggers its flashback, timing your cards like Duress to disrupt their carefully laid plans. Surgical Extraction can also be used post-flashback to remove all copies from the game entirely.

While Desperate Ravings presents an exciting dynamic to the game, by understanding the card and preparing your deck with strategic counters, you can effectively negate its advantages and maintain control of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the strategic depth of Magic the Gathering can be as exhilarating as it is challenging, and cards like Desperate Ravings embody the essence of this complexity. With its dual nature of offering card acceleration at the risk of unpredictable discards, it’s crucial for enthusiasts to consider the role this card plays in their overall strategy. If your deck thrives on graveyard interactions or if you enjoy the thrill of chance, Desperate Ravings may be a card to consider. Visit BurnMana for a deeper dive into how this card can potentially fit in your arsenal and elevate your gameplay in the vast MTG realm.


Cards like Desperate Ravings

The dynamics of card drawing and hand management in Magic: The Gathering are exemplified by Desperate Ravings. This card invites a direct parallel to Faithless Looting, a popular choice that allows for the drawing and subsequent discarding of cards. Both play the odds yet Faithless Looting offers more control over what gets discarded, whereas Desperate Ravings incorporates an element of risk with its random discard.

Another relative in this family is Think Twice. It shares the instant speed and draw capability but lacks the double draw and discard mechanisms, providing a safer, albeit less potentially rewarding option. Cathartic Reunion demands an upfront sacrifice of two cards, but in return, bestows a generous draw of three cards, positioning it as a key player for decks that capitalize on card advantage and graveyard strategies.

Each of these cards caters to different strategic needs and playstyles, making Desperate Ravings a card of choice for players who favor the thrill of unpredictability. Its ability to draw cards at instant speed can turn the tides during crucial moments, drawing parallels and yet standing unique amongst its MTG peers.

Faithless Looting - MTG Card versions
Think Twice - MTG Card versions
Cathartic Reunion - MTG Card versions
Faithless Looting - IDW Comics Inserts (PIDW)
Think Twice - Time Spiral (TSP)
Cathartic Reunion - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Desperate Ravings by color, type and mana cost

Jilt - MTG Card versions
Galvanic Iteration - MTG Card versions
Izzet Charm - MTG Card versions
Leap of Flame - MTG Card versions
Inside Out - MTG Card versions
Swerve - MTG Card versions
Chemister's Trick - MTG Card versions
Mindswipe - MTG Card versions
Teach by Example - MTG Card versions
Arcane Infusion - MTG Card versions
Fires of Victory - MTG Card versions
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - MTG Card versions
Run for Your Life - MTG Card versions
Jilt - Apocalypse (APC)
Galvanic Iteration - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Izzet Charm - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Leap of Flame - Guildpact (GPT)
Inside Out - Eventide (EVE)
Swerve - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Chemister's Trick - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Mindswipe - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Teach by Example - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Arcane Infusion - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Fires of Victory - Dominaria United (DMU)
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine (YWOE)
Run for Your Life - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Desperate Ravings MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Commander 2015, 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 Desperate Ravings and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Desperate Ravings Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by John Stanko.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1392003normalblackJohn Stanko
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1492015normalblackJohn Stanko
32016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1252015normalblackJohn Stanko
42019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1372015normalblackJohn Stanko
52019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9032015normalblackJohn Stanko
62020-09-26The ListPLST C15-1492015normalblackJohn Stanko

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Desperate Ravings has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-06-08 You draw two cards and discard one randomly all while Desperate Ravings is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions.

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