Dread Presence MTG Card


Dread Presence generates card draw or life gain when playing a swamp, enhancing game longevity and strategy. Life gain from Dread Presence provides a resource cushion, enabling players to withstand opponent assaults longer. Its ability to trigger from swamp land drops at any turn phase adds tactical depth and board impact.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Nightmare
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever a Swamp enters the battlefield under your control, choose one — • You draw a card and you lose 1 life. • Dread Presence deals 2 damage to any target and you gain 2 life.

It beckons silently, waiting in the darkness.


Cards like Dread Presence

Dread Presence is an intriguing creature card that stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to capitalize on land drops. It bears similarity to cards like Tireless Tracker, which also leverages land plays but through Clue token generation. Unlike Tireless Tracker, Dread Presence offers direct life gain or damage paired with card draw, triggering off each Swamp you play.

Another analogous card in this realm is Ayara, First of Locthwain. Both cards thrive in a black mana environment. Ayara, however, requires other black creatures to exploit her ability of draining life and card advantage. Dread Presence’s reliance on Swamps makes it utterly unique and potentially more consistent in mono-black decks.

Comparing Dread Presence to Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted showcases the raw advantage of Dread Presence in a land-focused deck. Ob Nixilis allows for card draw at the cost of creature sacrifice or opponent’s life-point loss when an opponent draws a card. Dread Presence’s flexibility and independence from opponent actions make it a powerful option in black decks that focus on land manipulation and incremental advantages.

Tireless Tracker - MTG Card versions
Ayara, First of Locthwain - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - MTG Card versions
Tireless Tracker - MTG Card versions
Ayara, First of Locthwain - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Dread Presence. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black ControlMono-Black Control GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Mono-Black MidrangeMono-Black Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dread Presence offers a steady stream of card draw each time you play a swamp, keeping your hand replenished and giving you more options as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, the life gain from Dread Presence can effectively give you more resources to work with by extending your survivability, ensuring you can play your powerful spells without the pressure of a low life total.

Instant Speed: While Dread Presence itself isn’t instant speed, it can trigger at any point you land a swamp onto the battlefield. This includes playing lands on your opponent’s turn through effects like “Bring to Life,” allowing for surprise shifts in board state and resource availability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dread Presence lacks a direct discard requirement which sometimes might be leveraged to trigger certain graveyard synergies or benefits from discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: Dread Presence’s mana cost demands two black mana, making it less flexible for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Dread Presence could be considered slow to come online, potentially lagging behind other cards with immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Dread Presence in Your Collection

Versatility: Dread Presence is a dynamic card capable of adapting to various strategies within your deck. Its ability to draw a card or deal damage based on land drops makes it a valuable asset in both aggressive and control-oriented builds.

Combo Potential: When combined with cards that allow you to play multiple Swamps, or change your lands to Swamps, Dread Presence can become a powerful draw engine or a source of repeated damage. Its synergy with land-centric cards increases the potential for game-winning combinations.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame fluctuates, Dread Presence remains pertinent. Its utility in dealing with creatures or providing extra draw can be key in outmaneuvering opponents, especially in a meta rich with targets for its land-triggered abilities.


How to beat

Dread Presence is a versatile card that proves to be a remarkable presence in MTG, especially in decks centered around Swamp lands. Its ability to either draw a card and gain life or to deal damage and provide unparalleled control makes it a valuable asset on the battlefield. To overcome this threatening card, it is essential to employ effective strategies.

Removal spells are the most straightforward method to counter Dread Presence. Instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can efficiently dispatch the creature before its land-triggered abilities can be utilized. Another tactic is to limit the number of Swamps on the board, hindering the card’s effectiveness. Cards such as Blood Moon transform all non-basic lands into Mountains, negating the synergy that Dread Presence needs to excel.

Ultimately, the key to outplaying Dread Presence lies in swift action and disruption. By either removing it swiftly or manipulating the landscape of the game, its powerful abilities can be sufficiently contained, allowing you to maintain the upper hand. Manage the field consistently, and Dread Presence can be transformed from a formidable foe to a minor setback.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the intricacies of Dread Presence can unlock new dimensions in your MTG gameplay. With its ability to draw cards, gain life, or deal damage, it’s a game-changer for swamp-centric strategies. Its unique flexibility warrants a closer look for anyone looking to boost their black deck’s performance. As you evolve your tactics and adapt to the shifting sands of MTG metagames, remember that cards like Dread Presence can be the ace up your sleeve. Eager to discover more ways Dread Presence can revolutionize your play? Dive into our comprehensive insights to dominate the battlefield with this power-packed card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dread Presence MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Dread Presence and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dread Presence Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 962015NormalBlackAnthony Palumbo
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4032015NormalBlackAnthony Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dread Presence has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dread Presence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-07-12 A Swamp is a land with the subtype Swamp, not any land with a mana ability that produces black mana.
2019-07-12 If you choose the second mode and the chosen target is an illegal target by the time Dread Presence’s triggered ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain 2 life, and the ability won’t change to the first mode.