Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 104
2022-01-28 - Number 371
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Peasant |
| Abilities | Lifelink,Transform |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Transforms at instant speed, presenting unexpected plays and tactical advantages during the opponent’s turn.
- Demands precise mana and discard, posing challenges for multicolor decks and resource conservation.
- Versatile in black-based decks, strong with aristocrat strategies, and adapts to the changing MTG meta.
Text of card
Lifelink When another creature you control dies, transform Desperate Farmer.
A tragic moment pushed him to a blasphemous act.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The dual-faced nature of Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester provides a strategic advantage as you have the flexibility to play either side based on the situation. Upon transforming into Depraved Harvester, this card offers the potential to consistently draw an additional card each turn, bolstering your hand and options on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Depraved Harvester, once transformed, offers resource acceleration by potentially untapping a land each turn. This hidden gem of land untapping can springboard your strategy, allowing for more frequent casting of spells or activating abilities that may require mana, adding layers to your game plan.
Instant Speed: The transform trigger of Desperate Farmer, which involves a creature dying, can occur at instant speed. This mechanic allows for reactive play during your opponent’s turn, potentially upgrading Desperate Farmer to Depraved Harvester and setting the stage for unforeseen tactical plays that can catch opponents off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester comes with the additional cost of needing to discard a card to transform it. This requirement can put players at a disadvantage, especially when hand resources are already sparse or the cards in hand are too valuable to discard.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana combination to cast, which may not be easily attainable in all deck types. The requirement of both generic and black mana can create challenges for players running multi-color decks, limiting its utility and flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost required to deploy Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester on the field is relatively high, particularly when considering other cards in the same mana range. Players may find that other four-mana-cost creatures or effects could provide more immediate or impactful advantages on the game board.
Reasons to Include Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester in Your Collection
Versatility: Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester is a flexible card that can easily find its place in various black-based decks. In its initial state, it offers a solid blocking body, while its transform ability leads to a more aggressive creature with lifelink, perfect for shifting gears during the game.
Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with self-sacrifice or aristocrat strategies, where creatures dying is beneficial. Its transformation into Depraved Harvester can be triggered not only through its own demise but also through clever combo interactions, greatly impacting the board state.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the MTG meta, having a card that can act as both an early defensive option and a later game-threat ensures that this double-faced card remains relevant. It reacts well to removal-heavy environments and can become a recurring nuisance for opponents.
How to beat
The Desperate Farmer/Depraved Harvester card from Magic: The Gathering presents an interesting challenge on the field. This transforming creature can catch an opponent off guard by evolving from a mere resource enabler into a formidable attacker once a creature dies. To navigate against such a dual threat, it’s crucial to manage the battlefield wisely.
Preventing the transformation is key—avoid killing creatures while Desperate Farmer is on the board, especially in combat. Instead, opt for removal spells when Farmer is in human form, or prepare a strategic block once it’s already transformed into the Depraved Harvester. Also consider exile effects or direct damage spells that bypass Desperate Farmer’s death-triggered ability to transform, thereby maintaining control over the tempo of the game.
Moreover, employing graveyard manipulation cards that exile creatures from the graveyard can prove to be an effective way to stunt the Farmer’s growth and keep your adversary’s field under control. Through thoughtful play, maintaining pressure, and using targeted removal at the right moments, players can keep this card from tipping the scales in their opponent’s favor.
Cards like Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester
Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester finds its place in Magic: The Gathering as a transforming creature card that embodies flexibility. It kicks off the game as a Desperate Farmer, a card many see parallel to Doomed Traveler. Both cards provide value after they die, with Doomed Traveler producing a flying token, while Desperate Farmer transforms into Depraved Harvester, a more formidable creature that gains life upon dealing damage.
Another card that echoes this sentiment of transformation after death is Sengir Autocrat. Though it doesn’t transform, it creates multiple Serf tokens upon its departure, maintaining a similar approach to generating board presence post-mortem. For Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester, the transition from a mere farmer into a potent harvester elevates its status on the battlefield significantly.
Ultimately, Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester’s dues-paying nature and metamorphosis tap into a strategic vein of gameplay, especially in sacrifice-themed decks, where its real value can be harvested, quite literally. It showcases that the concept of rising after a fall is as prevalent in MTG’s creature cards as it is a powerful strategy.
Cards similar to Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Valera Lutfullina.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 104 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Valera Lutfullina | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 371 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Valera Lutfullina |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Desperate Farmer // Depraved Harvester has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
