Dark-Dweller Oracle MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Exiling the top library card can add surprise elements to your game by converting creatures into potential plays.
  2. Sacrificing creatures at instant speed offers dynamic play options and can pivot the tide of a match.
  3. Though potent, the card demands specific sacrifices and red mana, which may limit its versatility in some decks.

Text of card

, Sacrifice a creature: Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. (You still pay its costs. You can play a land this way only if you have an available land play remaining.)

Eyes are unnecessary for seeing the future.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Dark-Dweller Oracle provides a strategic advantage by enabling you to exile the top card of your library. If it’s a land you can put it in your hand, but if you exile a nonland card, with sufficient mana, you can play that card this turn, potentially adding a powerful card to your side of the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By sacrificing a creature, Dark-Dweller Oracle essentially converts existing board assets into new card resources. For decks that have creatures to spare or tokens amassing with nowhere to go, this can significantly accelerate your game plan and resource allocation, giving you more power and flexibility.

Instant Speed: The oracle’s ability to utilize its power at instant speed is a significant pro. You can wait until the most opportune moment during anyone’s turn to sacrifice a creature and potentially draw a game-changing card, making it a dynamic and unpredictable tool in tight matches.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Dark-Dweller Oracle necessitates a creature sacrifice for activation. This is a steep price in games where maintaining a creature presence is crucial, and it can set you back if your board state isn’t established with expendable creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Dark-Dweller Oracle demands red mana for its casting and ability utilization. Players running multicolor decks might find this color-specificity restricting when attempting to keep a diverse mana base or wanting to activate abilities across a spectrum of color-inclusive cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a two mana value and additional costs for its ability use, some players might deem Dark-Dweller Oracle’s mana efficiency as less appealing, especially when the meta offers lower cost cards with easier or more impactful creature sacrifice outlets.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dark-Dweller Oracle offers a flexible role in a variety of decks, exhibiting an excellent utility in red-based aggressive or midrange strategies. Its ability to exile the top card of your library and play it enables a dynamic gameplay, maintaining card advantage and pressure on the opponent.

Combo Potential: This goblin oracle synergizes well with strategies centered around sacrificing creatures, potentially unlocking powerful combinations with cards that benefit from creatures leaving the battlefield or generating additional value from the sacrificed creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In contexts where the metagame shifts towards creature-heavy decks or those reliant on specific toolboxes, Dark-Dweller Oracle’s selective sacrifice outlet can be a game-changer, allowing players to adapt to an array of situations and maintain a competitive edge.


How to beat

Dark-Dweller Oracle offers a unique play experience in Magic: The Gathering by allowing players to sacrifice a creature to essentially scry for a card that can be played immediately. This dynamic creature turns each sacrifice into a potential card advantage, making it essential to disrupt this synergy. The key to countering Dark-Dweller Oracle lies in removing the creature from the battlefield or reducing the number of available creatures to sacrifice.

Removal spells, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are highly effective against Dark-Dweller Oracle. Not only do they eliminate the threat, but they also prevent the card advantage engine from starting. Additionally, countering the Oracle before it even hits the battlefield disrupts your opponent’s strategy, so cards like Counterspell play a critical role. Suppose the Oracle is already in play, and sacrificing creatures is a problem. In that case, using board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God can reset the field and diminish the Oracle’s utility.

Ultimately, successful strategies against Dark-Dweller Oracle involve staying ahead of your opponent’s creature curve, maintaining control of the board, and thoughtfully timing removals. This way, the value generated by the Oracle is minimized, and the scales can tip in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players who appreciate tactical flexibility will find Dark-Dweller Oracle a potent addition to their arsenal. As we’ve seen, its value lies in transforming idle creatures into new card resources, providing card advantage while maintaining an aggressive stance. When considering this goblin’s place in your collection, weigh its unique ability to turn the tide of a match with its instant-speed interactions. Embrace the Oracle for what it is: a powerful tool designed for those moments when just one more card can spell victory. Dive deeper into MTG strategies with us and discover how to maximize your wins with Dark-Dweller Oracle.


Cards like Dark-Dweller Oracle

Dark-Dweller Oracle offers a unique take on card advantage and selection in Magic: The Gathering. This goblin shares similarities with cards like Goblin Cratermaker, which also provides utility in handling various threats on the board. Yet, Dark-Dweller Oracle stands out with its ability to sacrifice a creature to potentially draw into more action, giving players a chance to manipulate their deck and improve their game state.

Peering into the card pool, we find Skirk Prospector, which allows for the conversion of goblins into red mana. While this doesn’t draw you a card, it does provide immediate mana acceleration that can be critical at certain points in the game. The Oracle, in contrast, offers a broader use case with its focus on sifting through the deck. Then there is Siege-Gang Commander, which, although at a higher mana cost, serves the dual purpose of creating creatures and offering a similar sacrifice outlet. Despite these alternatives, Dark-Dweller Oracle maintains a spot for those who value flexibility and the potential for a deeper card advantage.

In essence, Dark-Dweller Oracle commands a unique position within MTG – it bridges the gap between resource acceleration and strategic deck manipulation, marking it as an engaging option for enthusiasts who favor red’s aggressive and versatile playstyle.

Goblin Cratermaker - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Siege-Gang Commander - MTG Card versions
Goblin Cratermaker - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Siege-Gang Commander - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dark-Dweller Oracle by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dark-Dweller Oracle MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 Promos and Core Set 2019, 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 Dark-Dweller Oracle and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Dark-Dweller Oracle Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 134s2015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
22018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1342015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
32021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1192015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1062015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dark-Dweller Oracle has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-07-13 Casting an exiled card causes it to leave exile. You can't cast it multiple times.
2018-07-13 Dark-Dweller Oracle doesn't change when you can cast the exiled card. For example, if you exile a sorcery card, you can cast it only during your main phase when the stack is empty. If you exile a land card, you can play it only during your main phase and only if you have an available land play remaining.
2018-07-13 If you don't cast the exiled card, it remains in exile.
2018-07-13 You can sacrifice Dark-Dweller Oracle to pay the cost for its own ability.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
See more decks