Darkest Hour MTG Card

Urza's Saga (USG)
1998-10-12 - Number 128

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 128★

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 128

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment

Key Takeaways

Unleashes potential in mono-black decks through strategic color-shifting and combo execution.
Limited to black mana decks, hindering application in more diverse strategies.
Effective disruption through enchantment removal or colorless creatures is key.

Text of card

All creatures are black.

"Yawgmoth spent eons wrapping Phyrexians in human skin. They are the sleeper agents, and they are everywhere." —Xantcha, to Urza

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Darkest Hour has a unique ability that can provide a strategic advantage in decks built around synergies with a single color. By converting the color of all creatures to black, it facilitates various combos and interactions that can create overwhelming board states or lead to a swift victory.

Resource Acceleration: While Darkest Hour itself doesn’t directly provide mana, it can be a linchpin in accelerating your resources. In combination with creatures that benefit from or produce effects when black creatures die or enter the battlefield, Darkest Hour can turn each creature transaction into a resource-generating event.

Instant Speed: Although Darkest Hour is an enchantment, it interacts favorably with spells and abilities that operate at instant speed. This card allows you to pivot your strategy at crucial moments, catching opponents off guard by suddenly aligning all creatures to black, therefore triggering instant speed interactions or disrupting the opponent’s strategy at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its potential for tactical advantage, Darkest Hour requires you to have a black creature on the field, which can be a significant constraint if your board presence is diverse or lacking in that color.

Specific Mana Cost: The enchantment exclusively fits into black mana decks, limiting its versatility. Players running multicolored or non-black decks cannot capitalize on the strategic benefits Darkest Hour provides.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its single-color effect and a mana cost that could be allocated towards more impactful cards, Darkest Hour is sometimes seen as a costly investment for the effect it offers, particularly in fast-paced games where efficiency is crucial.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Darkest Hour is a unique enchantment capable of transforming your board state. It can be included in decks that require specific color manipulation for cards that trigger off of black creatures or for elegantly setting up board synergies.

Combo Potential: The card is notorious for its ability to create infinite combos with cards like Teysa, Orzhov Scion. This opens the door to various win conditions, appealing to players who enjoy crafting intricate and decisive plays.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature colors are manipulated for advantages or certain decks rely on color-specific responses, Darkest Hour can strategically disrupt opponents’ plans while bolstering your own gameplay approach.

How to beat Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour is a unique enchantment that can pivot the dynamic of gameplay considerably. Its ability to make all creatures black regardless of their original color can be leveraged for advantageous interactions or combo setups. While confronting this card might seem daunting, there are efficient strategies to disrupt the Dark Hour’s influence. One effective tactic is to focus on enchantment removal cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize, which swiftly neutralize threats like Darkest Hour.

Another approach is the use of colorless creatures. Since Darkest Hour only affects colored creatures, colorless ones remain unaffected and can provide a reliable line of offense or defense. This can be crucial in maintaining board presence and control. Board wipes that don’t rely on color coordination, like Supreme Verdict or Wrath of God, also prove invaluable as they bypass Darkest Hour’s restrictions, clearing the way for a comeback.

Understanding the synergies with Darkest Hour also aids in forming a counter-strategy. Therefore, watching out for and countering cards that capitalize on all creatures being black can ultimately dismantle the opponent’s game plan. Armed with these tactics, players can confidently navigate matchups featuring the Darkest Hour, turning it from impending doom to a manageable obstacle.

Cards like Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour is a unique enchantment in the world of MTG that alters the dynamics of creature cards considerably. When comparing it to other cards, what sets Darkest Hour apart is its ability to turn every creature on the battlefield black. This characteristic makes it synergistic with cards like Teysa, Orzhov Scion, which can create an infinite combo to exile all opponent’s creatures.

Shadow of Doubt is somewhat reminiscent with its ability to interrupt opponents’ plans, although it skews towards disrupting searches and cantrips. Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth is another notable card that shares a similarity in that it changes the properties of lands rather than creatures, making them all Swamps. This change can strategically benefit or hinder players depending on their deck composition, much as Darkest Hour can.

Considering the unique mechanic and the wide range of strategical play it offers, Darkest Hour holds a distinctive position in MTG. It serves as a powerful tool for particular decks focused on color-centric strategies or combo setups, making it an intriguing choice for players looking to exploit the color-changing mechanic to its fullest.

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Darkest Hour MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Seventh 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 Darkest Hour and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Darkest Hour Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1998-10-12	Urza's Saga	USG	128	1997	Normal	Black	Heather Hudson
2	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	128★	1997	Normal	Black	Ciruelo
3	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	128	1997	Normal	White	Ciruelo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Darkest Hour has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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