Just Desserts MTG Card


Just Desserts - Unstable
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set nameUnstable
Set codeUST
Number90
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderSilver
Illustred byZoltan Boros
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient for precise targeting, ideal for controlling creatures or unexpected damage to players.
  2. Low mana cost contributes to strategic resource allocation, enabling a more flexible playstyle.
  3. Instant speed allows real-time responses to opponent’s actions, providing an advantage during gameplay.

Text of card

Just Desserts deals π damage to target creature. (π is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. (It's a smidgen more than 3.))

"It's time to put the 'die' in 'diameter!'" —Flaky the Irrational


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you’re battling it out on the field, Just Desserts gifts you with precision damage control, targeting creatures or players. By handling threats on the spot, you keep your hand equipped for the gameplay that lies ahead.

Resource Acceleration: Although Just Desserts doesn’t directly ramp up your resources, its low mana cost works to your advantage. This allows you to allocate resources efficiently, saving crucial mana for casting other spells or summoning creatures to dominate the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The power to cast Just Desserts at instant speed gives you the upper hand, letting you react to your opponent’s moves with deft precision. Whether it’s interrupting their combos or removing a creature before it can deal damage, this instant spell ensures you have control at the crucial moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Just Desserts is that it doesn’t have a discard requirement, but it can still be less advantageous in decks that rely on card advantage. Not having to discard a card to use it can be less synergistic for strategies that benefit from having fewer cards in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a specific mana requirement which can restrict it from being a versatile pick. It needs two red mana to cast, so it’s not always the right fit for multicolored decks that may have a tough time producing the needed mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two red mana, Just Desserts may be seen as a less preferable option when compared to other damage-dealing cards. Its cost-to-damage ratio could be considered inefficient, particularly when the battlefield demands a more impactful immediate effect for that level of investment.


Reasons to Include Just Desserts in Your Collection

Versatility: Just Desserts is a flexible card that can be slotted into multiple deck archetypes. Its low mana cost and the ability to deal out precise damage make it a handy tool for a wide range of strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines when it’s paired with effects that increase spell damage or when used to target creatures that gain bonuses when dealt damage. The range of combos it enables adds significant play value.

Meta-Relevance: As creatures and player life totals are always central to the game, Just Desserts holds relevance in various metas. It serves as an efficient response to popular creatures and can be a surprising finisher in tight matches.


How to Beat Just Desserts

Just Desserts holds its own in the arena of red damage spells within Magic: The Gathering. This instant spell delivers five damage to a targeted creature for a mere two mana cost. Its precision in targeting and cost-effectiveness can disrupt opponent’s strategies that rely on key creatures.

When facing Just Desserts, consider using creatures with hexproof to shield them from being targeted. An alternative strategy is to deploy creatures with toughness higher than five to withstand the hit. Additionally, employing counter spells can negate Just Desserts before its effects take place, preserving your vital creatures and maintaining board control.

To navigate around Just Desserts, adapt your tactics by prioritizing creatures that can evade or survive the spell, or by keeping mana open for counter magic when needed. Adaptability is key in Magic: The Gathering, and staying one step ahead of your opponent’s removal options can often be the difference between victory and defeat.


Cards like Just Desserts

Just Desserts is an intriguing spell in Magic: The Gathering, finding its niche among direct damage cards. It’s akin to Lightning Bolt, an iconic spell that deals three damage to any target. While Lightning Bolt offers this effect at a lower cost of a single red mana, Just Desserts stands out with its five damage for two mana, but limited to creatures only. It’s a trade that can be vital against larger threats.

Chandra’s Pyrohelix also shares similarities, with the ability to split its two damage among one or two targets. This flexibility can be crucial in taking out multiple smaller creatures. However, Just Desserts serves a different purpose, focusing on removing a single, more formidable creature from the board. In the arena of creature elimination, Flame Slash is another competitor to consider; costing one red mana to deal four damage to a creature, it’s efficient for its rate, but still doesn’t match the raw power of Just Desserts’ five damage.

Pondering over different damage spells, Just Desserts can be appreciated for its potential in specific scenarios. Its capacity to eliminate a diverse range of creatures surpasses that of many comparable spells, situating it as a formidable spell in creature-centric matches.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Pyrohelix - MTG Card versions
Flame Slash - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Pyrohelix - MTG Card versions
Flame Slash - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Just Desserts by color, type and mana cost

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Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Gorilla War Cry - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Flame Burst - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Glacial Ray - MTG Card versions
Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Searing Spear - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Just Desserts MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Just Desserts and other MTG cards:

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Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-01-19 If the damage from Just Desserts gets redirected to a player, use 3.14.
2018-01-19 One Just Desserts will destroy a creature with toughness 3 or less. Two will destroy a creature with toughness 6 or less. You can take out a creature with 25 toughness with eight of them.