Dark Hatchling MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Horror
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Dark Hatchling combines creature removal with a strong flying presence, an impactful dual-role on the board.
  2. While mana-intense, it disrupts opponents and strengthens black-centric deck strategies.
  3. In the current meta, it serves as a significant counter to creature-reliant decks.

Text of card

Flying When Dark Hatchling comes into play, destroy target nonblack creature. That creature cannot be regenerated this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dark Hatchling offers a double benefit upon entering the battlefield. Not only do you get a sizable creature, but its ability to destroy a target nonblack creature ensures that you’re effectively dealing with an opponent’s threat, which can shift the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Dark Hatchling itself doesn’t directly generate additional mana, its presence can lead to indirect resource acceleration. By removing a key creature blocking your attack path, you can more freely attack and potentially trigger abilities or effects that can ramp up your resources.

Instant Speed: Although Dark Hatchling is not an instant itself, the impact it has when it lands can be quite disruptive at instant speed. If combined with cards that allow you to flash it in outside your main phases, its removal ability can be a surprise tactic against an opponent’s key creature, potentially on their turn when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Dark Hatchling requires careful planning as it does not have a discard effect, but it does demand specific tools in your deck to handle its single-use nature upon entering the battlefield, potentially leading to card disadvantage if you cannot leverage its death trigger.

Specific Mana Cost: Dark Hatchling’s mana cost is heavily weighted towards black mana, which makes it less flexible in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently provide the necessary black mana sources when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, this card competes with other high-impact creatures and spells. Its mana efficiency is a concern, especially when compared to newer creatures that offer similar or better effects at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Dark Hatchling in Your Collection

Versatility: Dark Hatchling offers a unique flexibility by serving both as creature removal and a flying threat on the battlefield. Its ability to destroy a nonblack creature upon entering the battlefield makes it a valuable addition to decks that require both defense and offense.

Combo Potential: The card pairs well with reanimation strategies and graveyard shenanigans. Repeatedly bringing back Dark Hatchling can continuously clear opponents’ threats, proving invaluable in persistent control or combo-focused decks.

Meta-Relevance: It operates effectively against decks that rely on key creatures for their game plan. Given that creature-based decks are often in the meta, this card can become quite an asset in disrupting your opponents’ strategies and maintaining board control.


How to beat

Dark Hatchling presents a unique challenge as a menace on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering, with its ability to destroy target nonblack creature when it comes into play. To effectively counter this flying nightmare, strategic deployment of removal spells can be key. Consider utilizing instant-speed spells like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can swiftly deal with Dark Hatchling before its destructive effect takes place. Additionally, spells that counter creature spells, such as Counterspell or Mana Leak, are highly effective means of neutralizing it before it can assert its presence.

Adeptly anticipating your opponent’s moves can also tilt the scales in your favor. Timing is crucial, knowing when to hold back creatures that could be potential targets or when to apply pressure that forces the opponent to deploy Dark Hatchling defensively. In terms of board presence, creatures with protection from black or indestructible attributes, such as Adanto Vanguard in its indestructible state, are immune to Dark Hatchling’s ability and can serve as potent buffers against it.

Facing off against Dark Hatchling requires careful consideration and precise execution of tactics, but with the right preparation and response, its looming threat can be mitigated, leaving you in control of the game’s outcome.


Cards like Dark Hatchling

Delving into the world of Magic: The Gathering, it’s intriguing to compare creatures that can shift the board’s dynamic, such as Dark Hatchling. This card offers both a creature and a removal perk, similar to the functionality of Nekrataal. While both cards destroy another creature upon entering the battlefield, Dark Hatchling’s ability to target nonblack creatures without the classic “cannot be regenerated” clause gives it a slightly broader range of targets than Nekrataal’s more restrictive targeting limitations.

Another close relative in the realm of ETB (enter the battlefield) effects is Shriekmaw. Both cards provide creature removal upon hitting the battlefield, with Shriekmaw being a more cost-effective option but limiting its removal power to nonartifact, nonblack creatures. Furthermore, with its evoke mechanic, Shriekmaw can be used as a quick removal spell, while Dark Hatchling serves as a more substantial presence on the board. Finally, Ravenous Chupacabra stands out as a straightforward and definitive creature removal tool, offering no targeting restrictions and boasting the same utility as Dark Hatchling, however, sans flying.

Evaluating the effectiveness of Dark Hatchling in comparison with its counterparts in MTG, it’s clear that it holds a particular niche combining flying mobility and spot removal—valuable assets for players crafting control strategies or seeking versatile tools in their black-driven decks.

Nekrataal - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - Visions (VIS)
Shriekmaw - Lorwyn (LRW)
Ravenous Chupacabra - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Cards similar to Dark Hatchling by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Demonic Hordes - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Lancer - MTG Card versions
Face of Fear - MTG Card versions
Wire Surgeons - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions
Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions
Anurid Murkdiver - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Nefashu - MTG Card versions
Twisted Abomination - MTG Card versions
Iname, Death Aspect - MTG Card versions
Deathcurse Ogre - MTG Card versions
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth Demon - MTG Card versions
Ascendant Evincar - MTG Card versions
Bog Hoodlums - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Demonic Hordes - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Necrosavant - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Dakmor Lancer - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Face of Fear - Odyssey (ODY)
Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Grave Titan - Fallout (PIP)
Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)
Anurid Murkdiver - Onslaught (ONS)
Gempalm Polluter - Legions (LGN)
Nefashu - Scourge (SCG)
Twisted Abomination - Scourge (SCG)
Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Deathcurse Ogre - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Yawgmoth Demon - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ascendant Evincar - Tenth Edition (10E)
Bog Hoodlums - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dark Hatchling MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Commander 2011, 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 Dark Hatchling and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dark Hatchling Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1261997normalblackMark A. Nelson
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 762003normalblackMark A. Nelson
32012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 322003normalblackBrad Rigney
42014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1122015normalblackBrad Rigney
52016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 322015normalblackBrad Rigney
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 612015normalblackMark A. Nelson
72022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7472015normalblackBrad Rigney

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dark Hatchling has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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