Abandon Hope MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Number	107
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Key Takeaways

Abandon Hope offers tailored hand disruption, potentially swinging the game in your favor at critical moments.
The card’s flexible mana cost allows resource-intensive plays, making it a game-changer in later turns.
It can be a pivotal sideboard card against control decks, disrupting opponent strategies effectively.

Text of card

Choose and discard X cards: Look at target opponent's hand and choose X of those cards. That player discards the chosen cards.

As Gerrard's form vanished into the maw of trees, Hanna mouthed a silent plea, mourning a crushed dream.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the realm of MTG, Abandon Hope shines as a unique sorcery that tailors card advantage to the specific needs of a game situation. By discarding any number of cards, this spell forces an equivalent number of cards to be discarded from an opponent’s hand. This selective pressure can disrupt an adversary’s strategic plans, turning the tide towards your favor.

Resource Acceleration: The strategic depth offered by Abandon Hope extends beyond mere discard effects. Its variable casting cost allows players to sink unused mana into a potentially devastating play. In later stages of a match, where resources are more abundant, this flexibility can translate into a significant acceleration of in-game advantage, shifting resource balance dramatically.

Instant Speed: Although Abandon Hope operates at sorcery speed, the instantaneous impact of its effect is undeniably potent. By stripping critical cards from an opponent’s grasp right before their turn, it leaves them with fewer options and diminishes their capacity to react. This preemptive strike aspect of the card, akin to the functionality of an instant, ensures you capitalize on the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Abandon Hope necessitates that you discard not just one but potentially multiple cards, enforcing a steep price for its effect. This can be especially detrimental during the late game when your hand resources may already be depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost demands two black mana, which can be restrictive. This necessitates a commitment to black mana sources in your deck, potentially limiting the versatility of your deck’s color scheme and strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Abandon Hope’s mana cost scales with the number of cards you wish to target, which can quickly become costly. Other spells in the game might present a more economical trade-off between mana spent and the desired board impact, offering better value and utility without the demanding scaling cost.

Reasons to Include Abandon Hope in Your Collection

Versatility: Abandon Hope offers strategic flexibility as it enables the discarding of unwanted cards from your hand which can be beneficial in reanimation or madness decks.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that thrive on graveyard interactions or require specific card types to be discarded for an ultimate payoff.

Meta-Relevance: In gameplay environments where control decks are prevalent, Abandon Hope can be a crucial sideboard card, allowing you to target and disrupt key hand components of your opponent’s strategy.

How to beat

Abandon Hope is a unique spell that delves into the strategic nuances of hand disruption in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Unlike many other discard spells, Abandon Hope allows the caster to target multiple cards in an opponent’s hand, although at a potentially high mana cost. This trade-off can be a double-edged sword because the spell’s flexibility comes at the expense of card advantage.

To overcome Abandon Hope, you should focus on maintaining a diverse and resilient hand. Playing cards with flash can help keep your options open while avoiding overreliance on single cards that could become targets. Strategies that can replenish your hand quickly are also effective against Abandon Hope. Cards like Accumulated Knowledge or Tolarian Winds support a speedy recovery from hand disruption by refilling your hand efficiently. Finally, incorporating cards with cycling or cards that provide benefits when discarded might negate some of the adverse effects and help you maintain a presence on the battlefield.

All things considered, while Abandon Hope introduces a certain level of unpredictability, it can be mitigated through smart deck building and strategic play. By diversifying your threats and incorporating mechanisms for card recovery, you’ll be well-prepared to counter the disruption this spell aims to bring to the game.

Cards like Abandon Hope

Abandon Hope offers a unique twist on the discard mechanic in Magic: The Gathering, bearing some resemblance to cards like Mind Rot, which forces an opponent to discard two cards. However, Abandon Hope brings flexibility to the table by allowing the caster to determine the exact number of cards discarded, with an added mana cost per card targeted. Unlike Mind Rot’s static effect, Abandon Hope scales with your mana availability, making it a potentially more powerful late-game play.

Delirium Skeins is another comparable card, causing both players to discard three cards, which can be critical in matches where hand control is paramount. With no scalable option, Delirium Skeins lacks the precision of Abandon Hope but compensates with its broader impact. Conversely, Syphon Mind stands out by offering the caster card advantage through forcing opponents to discard while also drawing cards for every opponent affected, highlighting a balance between disruption and card advantage that Abandon Hope doesn’t directly provide.

Each of these spells maintains its own strategic niche within the wide spectrum of discard effects in Magic: The Gathering, with Abandon Hope’s customizable approach providing a valuable tool for players who wish to tailor their disruption tactics to the situation at hand.

Cards similar to Abandon Hope by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Abandon Hope MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Abandon Hope and other MTG cards: