Dusk Imp MTG Card
2001-10-01 - Number 131
2003-07-28 - Number 130
2003-07-28 - Number 130★
2007-07-13 - Number 140
2007-07-13 - Number 140★
2009-04-10 - Number 34
2010-06-04 - Number 23
2014-12-05 - Number 34
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Imp |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying
It despises humans and squirrels and beasts and dwarves and cephalids . . . well, it despises just about everything.
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.
Cards similar to Dusk Imp by color, type and mana cost
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.
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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- 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 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.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 131 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 130 | 2003 | Normal | White | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 130★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 140 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 5 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 140★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 6 | 2009-04-10 | Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic | DDC | 34 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 7 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 23 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 8 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic | DVD | 34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dusk Imp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |