Dusk Imp MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Imp
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Dusk Imp’s synergy in decks can subtly yield card advantage through creature-based interactions.
  2. Its low mana cost allows flexibility for spell casting, enhancing instant speed play.
  3. Though mana-specific and a potential hand depleter, its flying trait adds strategic value.

Text of card

Flying

It despises humans and squirrels and beasts and dwarves and cephalids . . . well, it despises just about everything.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dusk Imp may appear to be a simple flyer, but its significance is in the possible synergies in a deck focused on creature abilities. Integrating this card in a strategy that leverages creatures dying or entering the battlefield can lead to subtle but substantial card advantage over time as your Imp continues to apply pressure from above.

Resource Acceleration: While Dusk Imp itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, it fits comfortably in low-curve strategies, allowing you to develop your board while keeping mana open for other crucial spells in the early to mid-game stages.

Instant Speed: This particular card, although not an instant itself, can be part of decks that take advantage of instant speed interactions. By having a low-cost creature like Dusk Imp in play, you keep more mana available to react to your opponent’s moves with instant speed spells, thereby optimizing your strategic plays as the game progresses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dusk Imp compels you to discard another card to utilize its abilities. This can put players at a disadvantage, especially when their hand is already running low on cards. It can deplete your options and make it challenging to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a specific combination of mana, one black, and two colorless, which can be restrictive. Decks that don’t focus heavily on black mana might find it difficult to accommodate the Imp effectively, potentially disrupting the deck’s mana curve and flow.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Dusk Imp is somewhat expensive for a creature with only 2/1 stats. In the realm of MTG, there are multiple alternatives that might provide either sturdier creatures or additional abilities at a similar, or even lesser, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Dusk Imp in Your Collection

Versatility: Dusk Imp offers a flying trait at a low mana cost, making it a solid inclusion in decks that need an evasive creature to chip away at an opponent’s life total without committing too much mana investment.

Combo Potential: Its early presence on the board and creature type can synergize with multiple strategies, particularly those that revolve around buffing flying or black creatures, making it an unassuming but effective piece in certain combo builds.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting game environments, a card like Dusk Imp, being a low-cost flyer, can find its niche in metas where larger, more costly creatures dominate, providing you with an agile response when the battlefield is congested with heavy threats.


How to beat

Dusk Imp presents an intricate challenge in the world of MTG, offering both flying and an affordable mana cost. Similar to other creatures with the flying trait, Dusk Imp soars over ground-based defenses, making it tricky to block without airborne or reach-capable creatures. However, this bat from the Magic multiverse isn’t invulnerable. A straightforward strategy to counter it involves having creatures with reach or other flying creatures ready to intercept it.

Removal spells are another efficient method to handle Dusk Imp. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can easily eliminate this flying menace from the battlefield, as they aren’t restricted by the creature’s flying capability. Enchantment-based removal or sweepers like Wrath of God can also clear Dusk Imp alongside any potential accompanying threats. In control decks, countering Dusk Imp when cast, via spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, ensures it never gets a chance to influence the board.

Ultimately, while Dusk Imp can be an early game nuisance for opponents, its low toughness makes it susceptible to a variety of commonly played interactions. By incorporating accessible removal or flying blockers into your deck, countering Dusk Imp becomes a manageable task during gameplay.


Cards like Dusk Imp

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Dusk Imp offers players a flying creature option, echoing the abilities of other nocturnal flyers like Vampire Bats. While both have the gift of flight, Dusk Imp comes with a slightly sturdier body at the cost of one additional black mana to play. On the other hand, Vampire Bats is more flexible, allowing any unused black mana to enhance its damage output for a turn.

Comparing Dusk Imp with another peer, like Mindstab Thrull, reveals differences in strategic value. While Dusk Imp flies above ground-based defenses, Mindstab Thrull can potentially disrupt your opponent’s hand, but lacks the immediate board presence of the aforementioned creature. Even though it can’t soar through the skies, Drudge Skeletons offers resiliency with its regeneration capability, a tool that Dusk Imp does not possess. However, the evasion provided by flight typically offers more consistent board impact.

Overall, Dusk Imp can be a suitable choice for decks seeking aerial threats without breaking the mana bank. Its balance between cost and functionality makes it a card worth considering against its counterparts, especially in formats where flying is a much-valued asset.

Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - Legends (LEG)
Mindstab Thrull - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Drudge Skeletons - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Dusk Imp by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Severed Legion - MTG Card versions
Foul Familiar - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Severed Legion - Tenth Edition (10E)
Foul Familiar - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dusk Imp MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Eighth Edition, 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 Dusk Imp and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dusk Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-10-01OdysseyODY 1311997normalblackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
22003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1302003normalwhiteEdward P. Beard, Jr.
32003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 130★2003normalblackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1402003normalblackPete Venters
52007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 140★2003normalblackPete Venters
62009-04-10Duel Decks: Divine vs. DemonicDDC 342003normalblackPete Venters
72010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 232003normalblackPete Venters
82014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. DemonicDVD 342015normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dusk Imp has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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