Demonic Attorney MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 102
1993-10-04 - Number 103
1993-12-01 - Number 103
1993-12-10 - Number 103
1993-12-10 - Number 103
1994-04-01 - Number 103
1994-04-01 - Number 103
1994-06-21 - Number 103
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
If opponent doesn't concede the game immediately, each player must ante an additional card from the top of his or her library. Remove this card from your deck before playing if you are not playing for ante.
Cards like Demonic Attorney
When delving into the intriguing category of forbidden MTG cards, Demonic Attorney presents a singular experience. Its parallel effects can be found in cards such as Contract from Below, which shares the ante-play mechanics, dramatically altering the game’s stakes. Unlike Contract from Below, which allows for a significant seven-card draw at nearly no cost, Demonic Attorney’s unique feature ceases further play upon resolution, showcasing a definitive, high-risk maneuver within the game.
Comparable in its notoriety and impact, Shahrazad stands out by introducing a subgame of MTG—a diversion that extends playtime and complexity. While not directly influencing card advantage or resources like Demonic Attorney does, Shahrazad parallels the Attorney’s power to disrupt normal gameplay significantly. Finally, Timetwister offers a form of card renewal reminiscent of Demonic Attorney’s potent disruption, resetting hands and graveyards into libraries, yet it sidesteps the binding ante clause that marks Demonic Attorney’s high gamble.
Assessing these analogs, Demonic Attorney’s irreversible commitment to the ante mechanic sets a high bar for game-altering power, defining it as a formidable, if dormant, force within MTG’s historical card roster.
Cards similar to Demonic Attorney by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Demonic Attorney offers a strategic boon, as it forces a game-altering agreement upon your opponent. By potentially compromising their planned plays, it disrupts the opposing strategy, giving you a psychological edge and an indirect form of card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: As a point of uniqueness rather than direct resource acceleration, Demonic Attorney’s effect can be akin to a resource swing. Resolving this card could lead to an advantageous board state where your opponent’s resources are depleted due to the contract’s conditions or the threat of its resolution.
Instant Speed: While Demonic Attorney doesn’t operate at instant speed, its sheer presence in a deck can create an immediate tension and necessitate an instant-speed response from opponents wary of its consequences, thereby indirectly influencing the tempo of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in the forbidden practices of Demonic Attorney requires sacrificing another card from your hand, which can be quite the hindrance when your hand is already dwindling. This cost becomes steep when you need every card to maintain a presence on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: The dark magic of Demonic Attorney isn’t accessible to all. With its requirement of both black mana and additional generic mana, it slots only into those decks that delve into the depths of black mana pools, thus limiting its cross-archetype versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Summing a Demonic Attorney to plead your case isn’t without its cost. Three mana, including two black, is a significant investment, especially when other cards could potentially offer more immediate impact or value to your strategy without delving into the darker arts.
Reasons to Include Demonic Attorney in Your Collection
Versatility: Although Demonic Attorney cannot be played in official tournaments, its unique effect allowing a player to force their opponent to concede a game under certain conditions can be a fascinating inclusion in casual play groups that appreciate quirky and old-school MTG cards.
Combo Potential: For those who enjoy crafting themed or storyline-based decks, Demonic Attorney can serve as a keystone in a deck centered around the law, contracts, and agreements, providing an intriguing narrative as well as interaction with cards that benefit from sacrificing permanents.
Meta-Relevance: In casual circles where unconventional cards can shine or in Chaos Draft formats, Demonic Attorney might find its place among players looking to explore every corner of MTG’s extensive history and card pool, much to the delight and surprise of friends accustomed to more predictable strategies.
How to beat
Overcoming Demonic Attorney in a match involves understanding its historical context within Magic: The Gathering. Originally part of the Alpha set, this card required players to consider legal agreements outside the gaming scope – an element that added a level of complexity rarely seen in card games. However, Demonic Attorney has been banned in all sanctioned tournament play formats since its conception due to this unconventional mechanic.
Despite its ban, discussing strategies against Demonic Attorney is an interesting thought experiment. To hypothetically counteract the card’s effect, which was to force both players to agree to its terms or lose the game, one would have had to focus on aggressive deck building that aimed to win quickly or employ disruption strategies to prevent the casting of the card altogether. Likewise, maintaining a diverse and resistant board presence could deter an opponent from playing the card, where its condition might backfire on them.
In essence, the key to defeating Demonic Attorney would have been early pressure and disruption, making its unique win condition too risky for your opponent to attempt. While it’s a card that’s more a piece of MTG history than a current gameplay element, its notoriety lives on in discussions among players of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Demonic Attorney MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Demonic Attorney and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Demonic Attorney Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 1994-06-21. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 102 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 103 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 103 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 103 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 103 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 103 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 103 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 103 | 1993 | Normal | White | Daniel Gelon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Demonic Attorney has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Banned |
| Commander | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Banned |
| Vintage | Banned |
| Duel | Banned |
| Predh | Banned |