Darksteel Pendant MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Indestructible,Scry
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Number	113
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

Scry ability of Darksteel Pendant ensures more efficient draws, subtly increasing a player’s chance of success.
The pendant’s instant-speed scry provides flexibility, allowing players to make informed decisions in changing game states.
While advantageous, the pendant’s upkeep cost and the need for specific mana can be restrictive in some decks.

Text of card

Darksteel Pendant is indestructible. ("Destroy" effects and lethal damage don't destroy it.) , : Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Darksteel Pendant grants the player a degree of foresight with its scry ability, letting players filter through their deck and improve the quality of their draws. This manipulation of the deck can indirectly translate to card advantage as it increases the likelihood of drawing into the most impactful cards for a given situation.

Resource Acceleration: While the Pendant itself does not directly accelerate resources like mana, it does enable smoother draws which can lead to quicker access to necessary lands or spells. This effect somewhat accelerates your overall game plan by ensuring more consistent access to your resources turn after turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to scry with the Darksteel Pendant can be activated at instant speed, allowing players to utilize their mana efficiently. Keeping mana open for reactive plays while still having the assurance to improve one’s next draw is a tangible benefit, especially in game states where every decision can be crucial. Additionally, this flexibility allows players to respond to an opponent’s actions before committing to their own scry, potentially altering their decision based on the evolving game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Darksteel Pendant itself doesn’t necessitate discarding, its role in improving draw quality could lead to difficult decisions about what to keep in hand. This is particularly relevant when the wielder needs to ensure optimal draws but could potentially be discarding cards that might be useful later on.

Specific Mana Cost: Darksteel Pendant demands one colorless mana to cast, which is manageable. However, the activation cost is demanding for a deck that does not reliably produce the required mana every turn, potentially making it a less appealing option compared to other utility artifacts in a deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the investment required for the Pendant’s ability—both the initial mana to cast it and the continued mana to use its effect—it’s notable that the mana could potentially be allocated towards more impactful plays. In light of this, Darksteel Pendant might be passed over for artifacts that either cost less or have a greater effect on the game state.

Reasons to Include Darksteel Pendant in Your Collection

Versatility: Darksteel Pendant offers a unique utility in a variety of deck builds with its indestructible nature and the ability to manipulate upcoming draws.

Combo Potential: This artifact shines in synergizing with decks that play off the top of the library or require scry to assemble combo pieces effectively.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where ensuring the right cards at the right time is crucial, Darksteel Pendant provides consistent deck filtration to maintain a competitive edge.

How to beat

The Darksteel Pendant from Magic: The Gathering is a subtle but potentially powerful artefact that grants its owner the ability to manipulate their draw. This innocuous-looking trinket lets players look at the top card of their library and decide to put it on the bottom, ensuring they draw into more potent cards. While it might not seem threatening on its own, in combination with certain decks, it can tip the scales considerably in a player’s favor.

To counteract Darksteel Pendant’s influence, disrupting the owner’s library becomes a key tactic. Employing shuffle effects, which are present in cards like Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter, can negate the pendant’s ability by shuffling the library after the owner has arranged their top card. Similarly, introducing cards that force the opponent to draw, like Howling Mine or Dictate of Kruphix, decreases the pendant’s effectiveness as controlling the next draw becomes less relevant with an increased number of cards coming into the player’s hand.

Effectively, while Darksteel Pendant offers a tactical advantage in deck maneuvering, it remains susceptible to strategies that either shuffle the library or alter drawing mechanics. Predicating a strategy on this pendant requires caution, as savvy opponents will have means to lessen its impact on the game.

Cards like Darksteel Pendant

Darksteel Pendant holds a unique spot in the pantheon of utility artifacts in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often weighed against other scrying tools, like Crystal Ball. Unlike Darksteel Pendant, Crystal Ball requires three mana to cast but offers a more powerful scrying ability, with the option to peer two cards deep each time. Yet, the Pendant’s indestructibility is a singular trait that sets it apart, providing consistency even amidst a board wipe.

Another artifact worth mentioning is Seer’s Lantern, which lets players scry in addition to providing mana acceleration. Although Seer’s Lantern offers broader utility, its higher mana cost and susceptibility to removal can’t match the unyielding resilience of Darksteel Pendant.

Ultimately, each of these artifacts offers distinct advantages in Magic: The Gathering, but the enduring presence of Darksteel Pendant on the battlefield offers a subtle yet steadfast advantage for those who prioritize permanence and planning over more powerful, yet fleeting, scrying opportunities.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Darksteel Pendant MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Darksteel Pendant and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Darksteel Pendant has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal