Treacherous Urge MTG Card


Grants control of opponent’s creatures, disrupting their game plan and adding to your board presence. Instant speed allows for surprising plays, maximizing the shock value and tactical advantage. Demands specific mana and discard, which could be costly, but offers high reward strategies.
Treacherous Urge - Planar Chaos
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set namePlanar Chaos
Set codePLC
Number82
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySteven Belledin

Text of card

Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You may put a creature card from it into play under your control. That creature has haste. Sacrifice it at end of turn.


Cards like Treacherous Urge

Treacherous Urge is a unique card within the Magic: The Gathering universe, inviting comparison with other cards that manipulate opponents’ assets. Comparable to Praetor’s Grasp, Treacherous Urge lets you delve into an opponent’s deck; however, it specifically pulls creatures and puts them directly into play under your control, showcasing its potential for sudden board impact. Whereas Praetor’s Grasp allows you to choose from any nonland card and keep it for your own use later on.

Another card worth mentioning in the same conversation is Mindclaw Shaman. Like Treacherous Urge, Mindclaw Shaman can disrupt an opponent’s hand by revealing it and allowing you to cast an instant or sorcery card from among them without paying its mana cost. Although Treacherous Urge is more limited in that it requires the target creature to be in the opponent’s hand, it bypasses the cost and permanence of casting an expensive creature spell.

Summarizing these comparisons, we see that Treacherous Urge stands out for its ability to surprise opponents and gain immediate advantage with the right creature. These attributes make Treacherous Urge a card to consider in decks that are keen on turning the tide by using opponents’ resources against them.

Praetor's Grasp - MTG Card versions
Mindclaw Shaman - MTG Card versions
Praetor's Grasp - MTG Card versions
Mindclaw Shaman - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Treacherous Urge allows you to peek into an opponent’s hand and potentially play one of their creature cards, effectively adding to your side of the board while depleting theirs.

Resource Acceleration: Playing an opponent’s creature can accelerate your game as you don’t use your own resources from hand, saving them for future turns.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Treacherous Urge lies in its ability to be played at instant speed, offering a surprise element and the chance to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Involving a steep price, Treacherous Urge demands you to discard your own card to utilize its effect. This transaction can set you back, especially if your hand is already running thin on valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a mana cost that includes both black and generic mana, Treacherous Urge necessitates a particular mana base. This can potentially restrict the card to decks that are capable of producing the required black mana efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that may be considered on the higher side, Treacherous Urge may compete for space in your deck against other options that require less mana investment. Such alternatives might offer similar or even more powerful effects, which could outweigh the benefits of Treacherous Urge in faster-paced games.


Reasons to Include Treacherous Urge in Your Collection

Versatility: Treacherous Urge has the unique advantage of fitting into a variety of decks that focus on disruption and control strategies. Its ability to pluck and play a creature from an opponent’s hand allows for instantaneous impact on the game.

Combo Potential: This card excels in setups that make use of opponents’ creatures, either for sacrifice fodder or to capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects. You can orchestrate powerful plays with the right synergies in place.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creatures play a key role, Treacherous Urge can turn the tides by not only removing a key piece from your opponent’s hand but also potentially giving you an additional threat on the board.


How to Beat Treacherous Urge

Treacherous Urge is a unique spell in MTG that introduces an intricate level of control over your opponent’s resources. What makes Treacherous Urge stand out is its ability to put a creature from your opponent’s hand into play under your control—but only for a turn. While it might seem daunting to face an opponent who’s just hijacked one of your potential game-changers, there are a few strategies to keep in mind.

Firstly, one must consider the timing of this card. Being an instant, Treacherous Urge can be a surprise element in your opponent’s turn. Therefore, playing conservatively when your opponent has the requisite mana and cards in hand is wise. Save your best creatures for when the threat of the Urge has passed and consider baiting it out with less crucial creatures.

Direct disruption is also a valid tactic. Holding onto instant-speed removal can allow you to destroy the stolen creature during your opponent’s turn before they can fully capitalize on the theft. Alternatively, hand disruption spells force your opponent to either discard Treacherous Urge or render it useless by emptying their hand of creatures. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress can be critical in these scenarios, stripping away their capacity for treacherous moves before they happen.

Lastly, understanding your opponent’s deck archetype can also give you a clue when it’s safe to deploy your creatures. If their mana is tied up, or they’re at a point in their game plan where holding up four mana is detrimental, it can be your opportunity to safely build your board. Be vigilant, anticipate the Urge, and with a smart approach, you can nullify the threat it poses.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Treacherous Urge MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Treacherous Urge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Treacherous Urge has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2007-02-01 If you cast Treacherous Urge during the End step, you won’t sacrifice the creature until the end of the following turn.
2007-02-01 If you don’t control the creature when the ability resolves, the creature won’t be sacrificed. It will have haste permanently.