Emissary of Despair MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2004-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Darksteel |
| Set code | DST |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 42 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | rk post |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage and forces opponents into unfavorable decisions with each attack.
- Enables resource acceleration, disrupting opponents’ mana and gaining tempo.
- Its instant speed interactions afford flexibility and strategic advantage during play.
Text of card
Flying Whenever Emissary of Despair deals combat damage to a player, that player loses 1 life for each artifact he or she controls.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Emissary of Despair provides a dynamic way to deplete your opponent’s hand while bolstering your own. Each successful attack prompts a critical decision for the opponent, often leading to a net gain in card advantage for the player.
Resource Acceleration: The inclusion of this card in your deck opens up avenues for accelerating resources. Its ability to potentially disrupt an opponent’s mana base can lead to a significant tempo swing in your favor, especially in the early to mid-game stages.
Instant Speed: Emissary of Despair’s instant speed interactions allow for unpredictable and strategic plays. This flexibility ensures that you remain responsive to threats whilst executing your own game plan, maintaining pressure on your opponents at crucial points throughout the duel.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Emissary of Despair forces you to part with precious cards from your hand, which can leave you at a resource disadvantage in critical moments of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific mana combination to be cast which can constrain its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce both black and colorless mana, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be deemed steep by certain players, Emissary of Despair competes with a range of other options that could provide similar or greater value for less investment, making it a less appealing choice in some situations.
Reasons to Include Emissary of Despair in Your Collection
Versatility: Emissary of Despair is an adaptable card capable of slotting into a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to apply pressure in various gameplay scenarios makes it a valuable addition for both aggressive and controlling strategies.
Combo Potential: As a card with potent interactions, Emissary of Despair excels. It can be used in conjunction with other cards to create detrimental effects for your opponents while advancing your board state, making it a centerpiece in combo-centric decks.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the current competitive scene, Emissary of Despair holds a place of importance. Its impact against certain prevalent deck types can shift the tide of the game, making it a relevant choice for players looking to contend with the evolving meta.
How to beat
Emissary of Despair may be a tough nut to crack in the MTG arena, but it’s not invincible. As a creature card that siphons life from your opponents whenever an artifact you control hits the graveyard, it can quickly escalate into a significant threat. To dismantle this strategy, focus on removal spells that can take the Emissary out of the equation before it begins its life-draining antics. Running spot-removal cards, like Fatal Push, can be effective especially when you manage to maintain a low-threshold for mana.
Artifact management is equally crucial. By limiting the number of artifacts you sacrifice or that leave the battlefield, you can reduce the life loss inflicted by Emissary of Despair. If artifacts are essential to your deck’s strategy, including cards that offer instant-speed removal can help you disrupt your opponent’s plan on your own terms. Incorporating graveyard shuffling cards into your deck can also serve to dilute the efficiency of your opponent’s card.
Encompassing these techniques could give you the upper hand in matchups where Emissary of Despair is a key player, ensuring that you maintain a strong life total and preserve your board position throughout the game.
Cards like Emissary of Despair
Emissary of Despair is a unique piece in the intricate puzzle of creature cards within Magic the Gathering. When looking at its ability to deal damage to an opponent whenever an artifact they control becomes tapped, comparisons naturally arise with cards like Harsh Mentor. Though Harsh Mentor targets a broader range of abilities beyond just artifacts, Emissary of Despair’s focus is narrower, honing in on artifacts specifically, which can be a strategic advantage in artifact-heavy metagames.
Another card to consider is Disciple of the Vault, which also thrives in artifact centric decks. Disciple of the Vault provides consistent damage with the loss of each artifact, offering a different damage-accumulation strategy than Emissary of Despair’s method of targeting the tapping of artifacts. Additionally, Ferrovore is worth noting as it too links its power to artifacts, but unlike Emissary of Despair, it demands the sacrifice of an artifact for benefit, rather than exploiting opponents’ artifacts.
Evaluating these comparisons, Emissary of Despair offers a unique angle for players to exploit artifact plays, setting it apart in decks that are designed to manipulate and gain from opponents’ resources and strategies.
Cards similar to Emissary of Despair by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Emissary of Despair MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Emissary of Despair 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Emissary of Despair has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |