Demonic Bargain MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 368
2021-11-19 - Number 103
2022-01-28 - Number 370
2002-06-24 - Number 95347
2020-09-26 - Number VOW-103
2021-11-19 - Number 30
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Exile the top thirteen cards of your library, then search your library for a card. Put that card into your hand, then shuffle.
Cards like Demonic Bargain
Demonic Bargain is a unique offering in the lineup of MTG’s Library manipulation and card acceleration tools. It’s akin to cards like Pain’s Reward which allows players to bid life in exchange for cards. Unlike Pain’s Reward, Demonic Bargain asks for a steeper price – the exiling of fifteen cards from the top of one’s library. This mechanic presents a calculated risk, akin to playing Russian Roulette with your deck.
Another card worth mentioning is Infernal Contract. While it also costs life, rather than a chunk of your library, the cost is less unpredictable and can be managed within the scope of your life total, not your remaining draw options. Dark Confidant is a more gradual comparison, offering repetitive card advantage but at the potential cost of life each turn, played out over time rather than Demonic Bargain’s immediate and potentially game-ending price.
In evaluating such high-stakes cards, Demonic Bargain stands out for its potential to shift the game’s dynamics immediately. While its cousins dab in the exchange of life for cards, Demonic Bargain goes further, testing the limits of risk and reward in card acceleration.
Cards similar to Demonic Bargain by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Demonic Bargain. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Decklist | Free form | Holiday Night Magic | |
 | Four-color Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Esper Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Sultai Madness | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 06 2024 | |
 | Rogue Decklists | Legacy | 98 / The 98th Legacy at Home | |
 | Mardu Combo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 06 2024 | |
 | BG | Pioneer | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-02-07 | |
 | WUBG | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-02-03 | |
 | Dimir Oracle | Pioneer | Dimir Oracle | 21Champions Cup Final Season 2 Round 1 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Demonic Bargain provides an unparalleled level of card selection by allowing a player to exile the top thirteen cards of their library in the search for a single, pivotal card. This dramatic delve can pivot the game’s direction by securing a critical piece for a combo or a powerful response to the current board state.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not providing traditional mana acceleration, Demonic Bargain accelerates your resource allocation by bypassing turns worth of drawing to immediately obtain a key card. This can substantially increase the speed at which a player can execute their strategy and overwhelm opponents.
Instant Speed: The fact that Demonic Bargain can be played at instant speed provides significant strategic advantage. Players can wait for the most opportune moment during an opponent’s end phase, or in response to an action that would alter the game’s equilibrium, empowering them with the element of surprise and the ability to react swiftly to shifting game states.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Demonic Bargain demands a steep price from its casters. To bring this card into play, you must discard two cards from your hand. This can be particularly challenging when your hand size is dwindling and each card’s value has amplified. Losing key pieces can sometimes jeopardize your strategy and diminish your ability to react to your opponent’s moves.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes not just one, but two black mana symbols, Demonic Bargain requires a firm commitment to black mana sources within your land base. This requirement can be restrictive and makes the card less flexible in multicolor decks that may have difficulty consistently generating the necessary black mana early in the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at a total of three mana, with a stringent double black component, Demonic Bargain’s cost is considerable. When evaluating the card against others in its category, the mana investment is significant. There are alternative cards that offer similar or better effects without the stringent discard requirement, potentially making them more cost-effective choices for deck construction.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Demonic Bargain offers a unique option for decks that seek to manipulate their own library. Its capability to exile a significant portion to find key cards can be pivotal in finding the right solutions or combo pieces at crucial moments in a game.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to dramatically thin your deck elevates the consistency of drawing into combos or specific answers you need to outmaneuver your opponents. For combo-centric decks, this creates opportunities to assemble game-winning interactions with greater speed and efficiency.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed and efficiency are paramount, Demonic Bargain might become a game-changer. It can enable strategies that benefit from having fewer cards in the library, possibly synergizing with strategies aimed at leveraging substantial graveyard plays or harnessing the power of predictable draws.
How to beat
Demonic Bargain is a powerful card that can quickly tilt the game in favor of the player who casts it. By allowing the exchange of a large chunk of one’s library for a trio of cards, it presents a unique opportunity to grab precisely what’s needed in a crucial moment. However, its power is not without risk. The loss of a significant portion of the library could lead to decking oneself out if one is not careful. It’s critical to manage resources efficiently and recognize when to take that gamble on Demonic Bargain.
To counteract this card, it’s essential to have strategies that capitalize on the potential downsides of using it. Graveyard manipulation spells, like Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void, can be particularly effective at stripping the benefits of Demon Bargains by removing powerful cards from the equation. Additionally, pressure applied consistently through aggressive creatures or other swift threats can put the Demonic Bargain player in a tight spot, as their limited library size becomes a clear liability.
Studying when and how to disrupt the opponent’s strategy after they have executed a Demonic Bargain can be just as pivotal as knowing the right moment to deploy it, making matchups involving this card a tense and thrilling exchange.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Demonic Bargain MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and The List, 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 Bargain and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Bargain Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Sam Guay.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 95347 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Guay | ||
| 2 | The List | PLST | VOW-103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Guay | ||
| 3 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 368 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Guay | |
| 4 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 30 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Sam Guay | ||
| 5 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Guay | |
| 6 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 370 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Guay |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Demonic Bargain has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Demonic Bargain card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-19 | If there are any cards left in your library as you search, you must choose one of them. |
| 2021-11-19 | If there are thirteen or fewer cards remaining in your library as this spell begins to resolve, you will exile your entire library. You won't put any cards into your hand. |
| 2021-11-19 | The thirteen cards remain in exile. That's part of the bargain. |
| 2021-11-19 | You do not have to reveal the card you find. That's not part of the bargain. |