Darling of the Masses MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elf Citizen |
| Released | 2022-04-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Streets of New Capenna |
| Set code | SNC |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 181 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mila Pesic |
Key Takeaways
- Generates a consistent stream of tokens for card advantage, impacting gameplay and future plays.
- Instant-speed tokens offer tactical depth, affecting battlefield dynamics on-the-fly.
- Demands a discard to activate, weighing on card advantage in key situations.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Darling of the Masses MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Darling of the Masses and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Text of card
Other Citizens you control get +1/+0. Whenever Darling of the Masses attacks, create a 1/1 green and white Citizen creature token.
The people flocked to the glittering parade, turning their backs on the threats in the shadows.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Darling of the Masses shines in generating card advantage. By continuously creating token creatures, you maintain a steady flow of units that can be leveraged for various game mechanics or sacrificed for additional benefits, ensuring you never fall behind.
Resource Acceleration: This card potentially expedites resource acceleration by giving you a multitude of creatures. These can be converted into additional resources through various in-game interactions, enhancing your ability to deploy more significant threats or answers rapidly.
Instant Speed: Its ability to influence the battlefield at instant speed grants you the flexibility to respond adeptly to the shifting dynamics of a match. Summon tokens in response to an opponent’s actions or end-of-turn to surprise and outmaneuver them, adding a layer of tactical depth to your play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Darling of the Masses demands a discard from your hand to activate its key ability. For players trying to maintain card advantage, this can be a considerable setback, especially in tight game scenarios where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost includes white mana, which might restrict its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce that color. Players running multicolor decks without a strong white mana base may find it challenging to play Darling of the Masses when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end for its effects, Darling of the Masses might be seen as a suboptimal choice. In the current metagame, there may be alternatives that offer similar benefits without such a steep mana investment, thus permitting greater flexibility and efficiency in deck construction.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Darling of the Masses is a card that seamlessly integrates into various deck archetypes. Its ability to buff creatures makes it an excellent addition to token strategies or decks that capitalize on creature synergies.
Combo Potential: This card’s knack for multiplying creature tokens can be leveraged to devise powerful combinations, especially in decks that thrive on such mechanics for their win conditions. It can prime the board for devastating finishes.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right meta, where creature-based decks are prevalent, Darling of the Masses has the potential to tilt the scales in your favor, providing you with a valuable edge in both offensive and defensive maneuvers.
How to Beat
Darling of the Masses is a card that can quickly become a pillar in creature-based strategies in MTG, snowballing into overwhelming advantages if left unchecked. To counter this, focus on removal. Efficient kill spells, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can remove it before the opponent can utilize its full potential. Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God are effective at resetting the playing field. Timing is crucial; acting before your opponent gets to declare attackers is key.
Counterspell strategies can also stifle this card before it becomes problematic. A well-timed Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto can prevent Darling of the Masses from ever hitting the board. Hand disruption tools, like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, should not be overlooked either, as they can pluck the card from your opponent’s grip before it’s cast, dismantling their plans from within.
Ultimately, staying proactive and disrupting your opponent’s rhythm can ensure Darling of the Masses doesn’t command the game. Quick answers and preemptive tactics will often earn you the upper hand against this potential threat.
Cards like Darling of the Masses
Darling of the Masses offers a unique blend of group buffing and token generation in Magic: The Gathering. Its parallels to cards such as Benalish Marshal are apparent, as both carry the capacity to power-up fellow creatures. While Benalish Marshal solely boosts other creatures, Darling of the Masses puts a spin on the archetype by additionally creating a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with lifelink whenever you cast a spell during your turn.
Glorious Anthem is another card that buffing enthusiasts might draw up. Although it doesn’t produce tokens, it does grant a persistent power and toughness lift to your creatures. However, unlike our Darling, it lacks the dynamic nature of responding to spell casting with immediate board presence. Intangible Virtue is a fellow token enhancer, vying for a similar spot in token-based decks, boosting their power and toughness and giving them vigilance. But again, it doesn’t contribute with tokens of its own.
If we measure the effectiveness of these cards in a vacuum, Darling of the Masses seems to cater to a proactive strategy, coupling the anthem effect with incremental token creation that can tilt games in your favor by turning each cast into a potential army expansion.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Darling of the Masses has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |