Dinrova Horror MTG Card
2013-02-01 - Number 155
2017-03-17 - Number 160
2018-06-08 - Number 220
2018-11-02 - Number 14
2020-07-17 - Number 450
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Horror |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
When Dinrova Horror enters the battlefield, return target permanent to its owner's hand, then that player discards a card.
"Welcome to the Dimir Public Offices. Not responsible for death or loss of property. Basement off-limits." —Sign outside Dinrova Building
Cards like Dinrova Horror
Dinrova Horror wields a unique combination of abilities that positions it intriguingly among creature cards. When looking at its effect of bouncing a permanent to its owner’s hand and then compelling discard, it draws a parallel to cards like Chittering Rats. Whereas the rats disrupt by forcing a card to be put on top of an opponent’s library, Dinrova Horror gives the extra flexibility of targeting any permanent and indirectly causing card disadvantage through discard.
Another card of note is Venser, Shaper Savant. He shares the ability to return spells or permanents to hand but differentiates himself by being able to target spells as well. Still, Venser doesn’t facilitate the discard that follows the Horror’s effect. Man-o’-War also enters the discussion with its simpler effect of returning creatures to hand without the discard, but at a lower mana cost and a smaller body.
Considering these similar cards, Dinrova Horror adds significant strategic depth to a deck as a multitool. Capable of altering the board and hand simultaneously, it overshadows simpler bounce creatures and bests them with its sheer utility. This makes Dinrova Horror a multifaceted choice for players who appreciate control and tempo strategies.
Cards similar to Dinrova Horror by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Dinrova Horror. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ephemerate Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | Pauper Challenge 64 2023-12-17 |
| Flicker Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | Tappa n. 6 - Lega Pauper Ravenna - Road to Paupergeddon Winter Edition 2024 |
| Five-color Tron | Pauper | Ephemerate Tron | C'mon! Pozna |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dinrova Horror delivers a two-for-one benefit by forcing the opponent to return a permanent to their hand and then discard a card. This contributes to the depletion of your opponent’s resources while maintaining or enhancing your own card count.
Resource Acceleration: Although Dinrova Horror does not directly accelerate resources, resolving its powerful enter-the-battlefield ability can set your opponent back on their board state, thereby indirectly accelerating your relative position in the game.
Instant Speed Interaction: While Dinrova Horror itself is not an instant, it is often played in decks that support instant speed interaction. When combined with cards like ‘Ghostly Flicker’ or ‘Displace’ at instant speed, Dinrova Horror’s ability can be used multiple times, disrupting the opponent during their turn and generating significant advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing the Dinrova Horror requires you to return a permanent to its owner’s hand which means the opponent will have to discard a card. This can backfire if your opponent has beneficial cards with enter the battlefield effects or no cards in hand, nullifying the discard advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes both blue and black, the Dinrova Horror necessitates a multicolored deck which may restrict its compatibility with monochrome or other types of deck structures.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at six mana, the casting cost of Dinrova Horror can be rather steep. Considering other creatures and spells that are less mana-intensive, Dinrova Horror can be a late-game play, potentially slowing down the tempo of your game plan.
Reasons to Include Dinrova Horror in Your Collection
Versatility: Dinrova Horror is a chameleon on the battlefield, adapting to a wide range of situations. Whether it’s in control decks that aim to dominate the game or in midrange strategies favoring flexible responses, this card can unsettle your opponent by bouncing their key permanents and inflicting discard penalties.
Combo Potential: This flicker-friendly creature pairs well with cards that manipulate enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. When combined with repeatable flicker effects, Dinrova Horror can turn into a relentless machine, removing opponents’ threats and chipping away at their hand size.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where permanents with strong passive abilities or indestructible characteristics are prevalent, Dinrova Horror provides a unique solution. It bypasses typical removal restrictions, making it an asset for combatting the stubborn threats that define some formats.
How to beat
Dinrova Horror presents an interesting challenge upon its arrival to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature not only brings a solid presence with its 4/4 body but also offers a unique control element by forcing an opponent to return a permanent to their hand and then discard a card. However, like any formidable card, it can be countered.
To successfully navigate against Dinrova Horror, effective removal spells are key. Since Dinrova Horror resides in the blue and black color pie, it is susceptible to widely-used removal cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, which can remove it before its enter-the-battlefield effect triggers. Additionally, countering it on the stack with spells like Counterspell prevents it from entering the field entirely.
In games where it does land on the board, employing instant-speed removal in response to its ability could minimize its impact, eliminating it and ensuring the card you return to your hand isn’t lost to the discard clause. Emphasizing a strategy that includes versatile removal or counter spells in your deck construction can prepare you for facing down Dinrova Horror and other similar threats in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dinrova Horror MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Dinrova Horror 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
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Printings
The Dinrova Horror Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013-02-01 | Gatecrash | GTC | 155 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 2 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 160 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 3 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 220 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 4 | 2018-11-02 | GRN Guild Kit | GK1 | 14 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 5 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 450 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dinrova Horror 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 |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dinrova Horror card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-03-14 | A token permanent returned to a player’s hand isn’t a card and can’t be discarded. It will cease to exist when state-based actions are performed after the ability finishes resolving. |
| 2017-03-14 | If a player has no cards in their hand and Dinrova Horror returns a card to that player’s hand, the player must discard that card. They won’t have the opportunity to cast that card (or do anything else with it) before discarding it. |
| 2017-03-14 | If the target permanent is an illegal target when Dinrova Horror’s ability tries to resolve, the ability won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No player will discard a card. |