Inner Demon MTG Card
2018-06-08 - Number 48
2022-12-02 - Number 428
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Key Takeaways
- Inner Demon offers card draw and creature empowerment, skewing the battlefield to your favor.
- Its ability to cast at instant speed provides substantial tactical surprise and versatility.
- The requirement to discard can be costly, and the specific mana cost may limit deck flexibility.
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2, has flying, and is a Demon in addition to its other types. When Inner Demon enters the battlefield, all non-Demon creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Inner Demon provides a significant edge by letting you draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature’s power. This potential boost in card quantity is vital to outmaneuver your opponent and keep the pressure on.
Resource Acceleration: By upgrading one of your creatures into a formidable Demon with flying, Inner Demon effectively accelerates your board presence, transforming your resources into immediate threats.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Inner Demon at instant speed offers exceptional flexibility. You can surprise your adversary by upgrading a creature right before combat or after they’ve declared attackers, potentially disrupting their strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When casting Inner Demon, players must discard a card as an extra cost. This can be particularly punishing if your hand is already depleted or if you’re relying on maintaining certain cards to remain competitive in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Inner Demon demands both black and generic mana, which necessitates a dedicated mana base. This can be challenging to accommodate in multi-colored decks that might not consistently have the right mana available at the crucial moment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of four mana, two of which must be black, the cost of Inner Demon is considerable. For decks that aim for efficiency and speed, there are alternative cards that can provide equally impactful effects for a lower investment, allowing players to utilize their mana curve more effectively.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Inner Demon offers a unique flexibility by being able to turn any creature into a significant threat. This makes it a valuable addition to decks that aim to control the board and require additional ways to close out games.
Combo Potential: The aura’s ability to bestow a substantial power boost and flying can work wonders in combination with cards that benefit from dealing combat damage or those that trigger upon attacking. This could lead to powerful synergies within the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Inner Demon can serve as a game-changer, either by turning your creature into a formidable force or by disrupting your opponent’s board through its enter-the-battlefield effect that requires all non-Demon creatures to tap, thus paving the way for a decisive strike.
How to beat
Inner Demon can be a substantial obstacle on the battlefield in MTG. Its ability to upgrade a creature not only with a boost to power and toughness but also with flying and menace, makes it a formidable card to face. This enchantment turns any creature into a serious threat, making it crucial to have a strategy to counter it.
Dealing with Inner Demon begins with a sound removal strategy. Direct destruction spells like Murder can effectively eliminate the enchanted creature, rendering Inner Demon useless. Alternatively, bounce spells such as Unsummon can return the enhanced creature to its owner’s hand, thereby removing the enchantment and resetting the game state. Another effective method is enchantment removal; cards like Disenchant can target Inner Demon directly and remove it from play.
Maintaining control on the board and keeping versatile removal options in hand are key against Inner Demon. By interrupting your opponent’s plans and disarming their augmented threats, you can navigate around the hurdles this enchantment presents and secure your path to victory.
Cards like Inner Demon
Inner Demon carves out its niche in the pantheon of powerful aura spells in MTG. This card aligns with fear-inducing auras like the well-known Demonic Vigor. Both enchant creatures and have an impact on the board state, but Inner Demon stands out by providing not just a stat boost but also flying and a board-wiping effect upon entering the battlefield.
In comparing it to other creature enhancement spells, we observe Mark of the Vampire, which bestows a vampire-esque lifelink effect in addition to a power and toughness increase. However, Inner Demon’s unique entrance effect that forces each other creature to flip a coin, potentially destroying half the creatures on the battlefield, sets it apart in terms of crowd control. Lastly, we have Abduction, another control-focused aura, but Inner Demon offers a more immediate and potentially overarching influence on the game.
While every enchantment offers distinct benefits and strategies, Inner Demon’s blend of creature boost and potential for massive board disruption positions it as a formidable card, especially for players that enjoy dictating the pace and presence of threats on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Inner Demon by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Inner Demon MTG card by a specific set like Battlebond and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Inner Demon and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Inner Demon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-06-08 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Mark Behm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Behm | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 428 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Behm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Inner Demon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Inner Demon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-06-08 | Inner Demon’s triggered ability affects only non-Demon creatures on the battlefield at the time it resolves. Creatures that enter the battlefield later in the turn won’t get -2/-2. Unless Inner Demon leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the enchanted creature won’t get -2/-2. |
