Dagger of the Worthy MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Equipping Dagger of the Worthy to a creature boosts your battlefield presence without the need to commit additional cards from your hand, effectively maintaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: By increasing a creature’s power, the Dagger of the Worthy can help you deal damage more quickly, potentially accelerating the pace at which you deplete your opponent’s resources.

Instant Speed: While the Dagger itself isn’t an instant, equipping it can be done at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt to the game’s current state and surprise your opponent during combat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While equipping Dagger of the Worthy doesn’t require a discard, it doesn’t bypass the inherent risk of equipping any artifact in your deck. Losing the creature it’s attached to a removal spell can set you back, essentially leading to a loss of the mana and tempo you invested in casting and equipping it.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Dagger of the Worthy demands both colorless and black mana. This specific requirement can be restrictive as it fits prominently into decks that either run black or have access to mana fixing to accommodate the color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The total cost of three mana (two colorless, one black) to get Dagger of the Worthy on the battlefield and its additional equip cost may be deemed high for the benefit it provides. This is especially true when considering that many aggressive or equipment-centric strategies prefer lower-costing alternatives that allow for a quicker pace and less interruption to their tempo.

Reasons to Include Dagger of the Worthy in Your Collection

Versatility: Dagger of the Worthy is a card that can be seamlessly slotted into various deck builds, particularly those looking for an affordable equipment with an aggressive edge. Its ability to give a creature +2/+0 and afflict 2 allows it to add pressure in creature-centric strategies, making it a flexible addition to your arsenal.

Combo Potential: For enthusiasts of synergy and intricate plays, this equipment shines when paired with creatures that capitalize on being unblocked or those that benefit from artifacts. Its afflict mechanic can discourage chump blocks, leading to potentially unanticipated game-ending combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated with creatures battling for board control, the afflict mechanic serves as a powerful deterrent against blocking. This makes Dagger of the Worthy a relevant choice for dealing consistent damage and maintaining a lead in creature-heavy matchups.

How to beat

The Dagger of the Worthy is a unique artifact – Equipment card that can swing games in Magic: The Gathering by granting an equipped creature +2/+0 and afflict 1. In essence, this means that when the equipped creature gets blocked, the defending player loses 1 life. To effectively counter this threat, strategic removal of equipped creatures is key. Employ creature removal spells that are readily available in most sets, or utilize enchantment-based removal to get around the Dagger’s ability. It’s also worth noting that the Dagger’s equip cost requires a dedicated strategy, making it susceptible to disruption. Cards that stall equipment like the classic Disenchant or more recent flexible options like Return to Nature allow you to dismantle the Dagger’s influence on the gameboard.

Moreover, preserve your life total while facing the Dagger of the Worthy. Smart blocking choices or avoiding unnecessary blocks altogether may be beneficial, especially if the equipped creature poses a recurring threat. In competitive gameplay, understanding when to take the hit and when to force a block is paramount in mitigating the Dagger’s impact. By carefully selecting your interaction moments and removal spells, you can render the Dagger of the Worthy far less formidable.