Hag of Dark Duress MTG Card


The card provides substantial card advantage disrupting opponents while informing your strategic decisions. Instant speed allows flexibility, surprising opponents and maximizing the card’s impact on the game. Though requiring a discard, it offers unique resource acceleration through graveyard synergies.
Hag of Dark Duress - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hag Warlock
Released2022-07-07
Set symbol
Set nameAlchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate
Set codeHBG
Power 2
Toughness 2
NumberH18
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKonstantin Porubov

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent discards a card.


Cards like Hag of Dark Duress

The Hag of Dark Duress is a unique addition to the roster of hand disruption cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives include Thoughtseize and Duress, both of which are staples in formats where they’re legal. Thoughtseize allows a player to choose and discard any nonland card from an opponent’s hand at the cost of 2 life, presenting a wider range than the Hag’s restriction to targeting multicolored cards. However, it lacks the Hag’s ability to impact the board by being a creature.

Duress, another well-known spell, targets noncreature, nonland cards and does so at the efficient cost of one mana without any life loss, making it a preferred choice in certain decks. But again, it doesn’t provide a presence on the battlefield. Comparatively, the Hag of Dark Duress offers a balance between disrupting an opponent’s hand and contributing to your board state, which can be crucial in creature-based strategies where every creature counts.

Given the nuances of different gameplay situations and deck builds, the Hag of Dark Duress carves its niche in MTG, especially in environments where multicolored spells are prevalent. It’s not just about hand disruption; it’s also about maintaining board pressure and versatility.

Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Thoughtseize - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions

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Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - 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
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hag of Dark Duress offers a unique ability to disrupt your opponent’s hand while simultaneously allowing you to choose a nonland card, which leads to indirect card advantage. By causing your opponent to lose resources and giving you information about their game plan, you set yourself up for a more informed and powerful position.

Resource Acceleration: The inherent power of discarding can sometimes enable strategies that benefit from having cards in the graveyard. Although the Hag itself may not accelerate resources directly like other mana dorks or artifact-based ramp, it potentially synergizes with reanimation or delve mechanics, thereby offering a different axis of resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Hag of Dark Duress can be cast at instant speed, which means you can strategically wait to disrupt your opponent at the most opportune moment. This flexibility lets you hold up mana for reactions during your opponent’s turn and only play the Hag when it is most impactful, surprising your opponent and throwing a wrench in their plans at a critical juncture.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Hag of Dark Duress necessitates that players discard a card in order to activate certain abilities. This might deplete your hand quickly, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage if your deck isn’t equipped to handle the loss.

Specific Mana Cost: With a particular mana cost that includes black mana, it’s not as flexible in multicolor decks, often requiring a strong base of black mana producers to utilize effectively and consistently within a game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card comes at a higher mana cost than other options in its class, leaving players often facing the decision of whether its effect justifies the large investment of resources when compared to other cards with similar functionality but a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Hag of Dark Duress in Your Collection

Versatility: This card offers flexibility across various deck types with its ability to disrupt opponent strategies. Whether you’re controlling the board or seeking to gain an upper hand in a game, Hag of Dark Duress can serve an array of purposes in your lineup.

Combo Potential: For players who thrive on constructing intricate combos, this card can be a cornerstone. It can be paired with numerous cards to dismantle your opponent’s hand, paving the way for game-winning sequences.

Meta-Relevance: In an ever-evolving game environment, staying a step ahead is crucial. Hag of Dark Duress can be incredibly effective if the current meta favors decks that rely heavily on specific cards or combos, giving you a definitive edge during gameplay.


How to beat

The Hag of Dark Duress is a card that demands careful attention when you’re up against it. This meddlesome creature not only poses a threat by itself but also disrupts your hand, compelling you to discard critical cards you’d otherwise rely on. To outplay the Hag of Dark Duress, you’ll need to employ strong hand management strategies.

One effective trick is to make the most of instant-speed spells. By keeping mana open, you can respond to the Hag’s ability and utilize cards that would be otherwise discarded. Alternatively, leaning on graveyard synergies can turn the Hag’s intimidation into an advantage for you. Cards that gain value from being in the graveyard or that can be played from it, like Flashback or Eternalize mechanics, can reduce the Hag’s impact.

Lastly, prioritizing creature removal or using protection spells can keep her off the board and your strategy intact. Summing up, while the Hag of Dark Duress can be daunting, a well-curated deck and strategic gameplay can ensure that her attempts to unsettle are in vain. Stay ahead of the game, and you’ll neutralize the Hag’s influence on the duel’s outcome.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hag of Dark Duress MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, 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 Hag of Dark Duress and other MTG cards:

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