Underhanded Designs MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage through artifacts entering the battlefield fortifies your resource pool.
  2. Instant speed ability use disrupts opponents tactically at critical moments.
  3. The card’s mana specificity and cost may limit flexibility in diverse decks.

Text of card

Whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay . If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. , Sacrifice Underhanded Designs: Destroy target creature. Activate this ability only if you control two or more artifacts.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Underhanded Designs provides you with an opportunity to draw cards through its triggered ability whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control. This can facilitate a steady flow of resources to outpace your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Tapping into the an essential element of strategy, this card gives you an upper hand by using life loss as a resource. While it doesn’t directly accelerate mana, the ability to pay mana to cause loss of life provides indirect resource acceleration by disrupting your opponent’s board state and conserving your own in-game resources.

Instant Speed: The power to activate Underhanded Designs’ second ability at instant speed provides you with the tactical advantage of waiting for the opportune moment, whether that’s disrupting a critical play by your opponent or ending the game by depleting their life total when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside to Underhanded Designs is the necessity to discard a card for its activated ability. This can be a tough call for players when hand size is already dwindling, potentially leaving them at a disadvantage in terms of available options.

Specific Mana Cost: The specificity of mana needed to activate Underhanded Designs can be restrictive. It requires both black mana and generic mana, which might not always align with a player’s mana base at a crucial moment, especially in multicolor decks that have a tighter mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Underhanded Designs provides both a passive effect and an activated ability, its setup cost weighs in at two mana – one black, one generic. For a card that demands an ongoing investment to truly shine, some players might opt for alternatives that offer more immediate impact or a lower threshold for activation.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Underhanded Designs exhibits remarkable flexibility by functioning both as a deterrent against opponents’ creatures and an enabler for your own artifact strategies.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to sacrifice itself for removal synergizes with artifact-centric combos, while also contributing to the artifact count needed for its triggered life loss effect.

Meta-Relevance: This card offers an edge in environments where artifact decks are prevalent or when incremental life-loss can disrupt the balance in a tight game state.


How to beat

Underhanded Designs, a unique enchantment from the Kaladesh set, adds a strategic layer to gameplay in MTG. Its ability to drain life from opponents whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control can be formidable. Additionally, with enough artifacts, it can destroy a target creature, tipping the balance in your favor.

To counteract Underhanded Designs, consider disrupting the artifact synergy it thrives on. Artifact removal spells become key, as taking out key pieces can reduce the effectiveness of the enchantment. Also, prioritize enchantment removal to deal with Underhanded Designs directly. Focus on maintaining a responsive hand that can adapt to your opponent’s moves and deactivate their strategy before it fully unfolds.

Overall, although Underhanded Designs has the potential to be a powerful component in an artifact-heavy deck, there are several ways to mitigate its impact on the game. Effective removal and an adaptable strategy are crucial to overcoming the challenges posed by this cunning enchantment.


BurnMana Recommendations

Perfecting your deck in MTG is a delicate dance of strategy, utilizing cards that harmonize with your winning vision. Underhanded Designs is a card that offers intriguing possibilities for those who revel in artifact play. It’s a nuanced piece for your puzzle, bringing card advantage and instant speed tricks that can catch an opponent off-guard. However, its specific requirements and activation costs demand a well-thought-out approach. Dive deeper with us into the art of the bluff and subtle power plays that can elevate your game. Enhance your collection and stratagem by exploring the full potential of Underhanded Designs.


Cards like Underhanded Designs

Exploring the strategic avenues of artifact synergy in Magic: The Gathering leads us to the intriguing card Underhanded Designs. This card echoes similarities with the likes of Syndicate Trafficker, which offers the ability to sacrifice an artifact to provide a survivability boost to a creature. However, Underhanded Designs presents a broader utility, allowing you not only to weaken opponents’ creatures but also to provide a potential source of life drain against the adversary.

Another card that flirts with similar mechanics is Marionette Master, which can create a significant impact by dealing damage whenever an artifact is chucked away. Whereas Marionette Master leans towards heavier damage output and synergizes well with token generation, Underhanded Designs is noteworthy for its versatility, offering removal and life-gain. Tezzeret’s Touch is also worthy of mention, as it turns any artifact into a considerable threat, albeit without the incremental life-gain that makes Underhanded Designs stand out.

All things considered, Underhanded Designs’ unique blend of removal, life manipulation, and its conditional trigger for destruction makes it an alluring choice for players enchanted by the dark arts of artifact manipulation in Magic: The Gathering.

Syndicate Trafficker - MTG Card versions
Marionette Master - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret's Touch - MTG Card versions
Syndicate Trafficker - Kaladesh (KLD)
Marionette Master - Kaladesh (KLD)
Tezzeret's Touch - Aether Revolt (AER)

Cards similar to Underhanded Designs by color, type and mana cost

Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth's Edict - MTG Card versions
Insubordination - MTG Card versions
Mourning - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Aphemia, the Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Fear - Tenth Edition (10E)
Warp Artifact - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Deathgrip - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blight - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Animate Dead - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Seizures - Ice Age (ICE)
Leshrac's Sigil - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Lim-Dûl's Hex - Ice Age (ICE)
Dance of the Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Enfeeblement - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Oath of Ghouls - Exodus (EXO)
Despondency - Urza's Saga (USG)
Yawgmoth's Edict - Urza's Saga (USG)
Insubordination - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Mourning - Invasion (INV)
Chains of Mephistopheles - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Brain Maggot - Historic Anthology 2 (HA2)
Aphemia, the Cacophony - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Underhanded Designs MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Underhanded Designs and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Underhanded Designs Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Anastasia Ovchinnikova.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1042015normalblackAnastasia Ovchinnikova
22020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 1082015normalblackAnastasia Ovchinnikova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Underhanded Designs has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-09-20 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Underhanded Designs's first ability causes the opposing team to lose a total of 2 life. You still gain only 1 life.
2016-09-20 The number of artifacts you control is checked only as you activate Underhanded Designs's last ability. It's not checked again as it resolves.
2016-09-20 You can pay only once each time Underhanded Designs's triggered ability resolves. You can't pay more to cause your opponents to lose more life.

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