Dark Remedy MTG Card

Provides board stability by potentially saving a creature, negating an opponent’s move at a low cost. Demands card discard, limiting hand size, and specifically requires a particular mana combination. Enhances creatures in diverse deck types, especially against aggressive red or black decks for tactical gains.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Number	321
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Svetlin Velinov

Text of card

Target creature gets +1/+3 until end of turn.

"Writhing tendrils of darkness stitched him back together. Though his will and body both were broken, the necromancer's magic would not let him rest." —Krinnea, *Siege of the Bone Spire*

Cards like Dark Remedy

Dark Remedy carves its niche in Magic: The Gathering as an intriguing combat trick meant to bolster your creatures’ resilience. Among other options, it draws comparison to Sheltering Word, which performs the two-fold function of providing a creature with hexproof as well as life gain. While Sheltering Word offers broader protection from targeted spells, Dark Remedy focuses solely on the life gain aspect but with increased specificity against black and red spells that threaten to wreak havoc on the battlefield.

Moving to a slightly different approach, we discover Pharika’s Cure, which not only gives life but also deals damage to a creature, making it a more flexible choice during combat. Although Pharika’s Cure shines with its dual capability, its life gain is generally less robust than what you can achieve with Dark Remedy’s potential against select colors. Another akin spell is Tendrils of Corruption, which hinges on the number of Swamps controlled, possibly offering substantial life gains in the right deck.

Assessing Dark Remedy within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, its specific color defense coupled with its life addition aspect pitches it as a solid choice for players facing an array of red or black threats, making it a strategic pick in certain matchups.

Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dark Remedy can provide a significant edge by enabling you to potentially save a creature from destruction, essentially negating your opponent’s spell or combat tricks and helping you maintain presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly adding to your mana pool, Dark Remedy’s low casting cost aids in maintaining a fluid mana curve, ensuring resources can be allocated efficiently towards other game-changing spells in your arsenal.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Dark Remedy offers the flexibility to respond during your opponent’s turn, catch them off-guard and turn the tides of combat in your favor, disrupting their strategy at a crucial moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dark Remedy forces players to discard a card, diminishing your hand and potentially losing a valuable resource, which can disrupt your game strategy especially when you’re already behind.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands a strict combination of mana types, which might be challenging to achieve consistently outside of dedicated black decks or those with reliable mana-fixing solutions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that might be considered steep for its effect, players might opt for alternatives that are less taxing on their mana pool, thus allowing for a more versatile response to an opponent’s threats within a turn.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dark Remedy is a flexible card that can be seamlessly integrated into various deck archetypes. Its instant speed allows for strategic plays, bolstering creatures at pivotal moments during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments that reap benefits from life-gain or have synergies with instant spells. It can also be a key piece in intricate combos, potentially turning the tide in combo-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by aggressive strategies, Dark Remedy offers a practical defense mechanism. Not only does it thwart damage from incoming attacks by strengthening creatures, but the life swing it provides can be critical for stabilizing the board and maintaining a lead.

How to beat

Dark Remedy presents a challenge not uncommon in Magic: The Gathering – a spell capable of turning the tides in combat phases. As a card that grants a creature a sudden toughness boost, it demands a strategic response. To outmaneuver your opponent when they cast Dark Remedy, consider spells that counteract combat tricks. Instant removal spells like Murder or Path to Exile are reliable methods, allowing you to remove the buffed creature before the boost can impact the battlefield.

Alternatively, employing your own counter spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prove effective. These spells can neutralize Dark Remedy before it even takes effect, keeping the creature within manageable limits. If the creature has already been buffed, board wipes or global damage spells, such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act, can reset the field. This approach is less about targeting the card itself and more about managing the overall state of the board.

Being prepared for combat tricks like Dark Remedy often means having a mix of instant-speed interaction and a willingness to adapt your game plan on the fly. With these strategies, the element of surprise Dark Remedy could bring loses its edge, allowing you to maintain control of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dark Remedy MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Remedy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dark Remedy has restrictions

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