Demonic Hordes MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Demon
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. This card excels in disrupting opponents’ mana, crucial for turning the tide in matches.
  2. Its triple black mana cost and upkeep can hinder flexibility and strain resources.
  3. Demonic Hordes’ land destruction niche makes it a potent addition to control decks.

Text of card

Tap to destroy 1 land. Pay o Bo Bo B during upkeep or the Hordes become tapped and you lose a land of opponent's choice.

Created to destroy Dominia, Demons can sometimes be bent to a more focused purpose.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Demonic Hordes stands out as a compelling card draw engine, enabling sectional control over the game’s momentum. It can effectively disrupt your opponent’s land base, forcing them to answer or face potential mana shortages.

Resource Acceleration: In decks that utilize heavy ramp or mana generation, Demonic Hordes can be deployed much earlier than expected. Its natural synergy with cards that untap lands can lead to a significant acceleration of resources, establishing a formidable board presence.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Demonic Hordes can benefit greatly from instant speed interactions. Cards that untap creatures or lands at instant speed can drastically increase the utility of Demonic Hordes, catching opponents off-guard and disrupting their strategies during crucial moments in the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Demonic Hordes demands the sacrifice of a land during your upkeep, which can steadily deplete your available resources, potentially crippling your mana base essential for executing your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: The card requires a substantial commitment to black mana with a triple black casting cost. This makes it less versatile and can strain your mana base, especially in multicolored decks where balancing colors is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of six mana to get onto the battlefield, Demonic Hordes is a relatively hefty investment. In competitive play, where speed and efficiency are paramount, opting for lower-cost creatures or spells can sometimes lead to a more streamlined and effective strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Demonic Hordes offers a unique capability to control the battlefield by allowing you to tap it to destroy an opponent’s land. This can be exceptionally powerful in decks that aim to hinder an opponent’s mana base, fitting into control strategies that require a careful manipulation of resources.

Combo Potential: This card has interesting interactions with various untap mechanics, giving you the opportunity to use its land destruction ability multiple times in a single turn. When paired with cards that untap your creatures, Demonic Hordes can become a repeating source of disruption, creating opportunities to dismantle your adversary’s land strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where land plays are crucial, having a card that directly targets an opponent’s mana sources can be a significant advantage. During matches where the meta favors resource-heavy decks, introducing Demonic Hordes can shift the balance in your favor, making it a strategic addition to your collection.


How to beat

Demonic Hordes stands as a formidable force in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This mighty black creature card can threaten your land base, leaving you scrambling for answers. One effective strategy against it is to use instant-speed removal spells like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy, which can deal with the Hordes before they wreak havoc. Keeping mana open to respond to its activation is crucial.

Another approach involves taking advantage of its cumulative upkeep cost. Cards like Pacifism or Imprison in the Moon can neutralize Demonic Hordes without forcing you to destroy it, thus bypassing any potential death triggers or recursion your opponent may have in store. Alternatively, turning the tables with land restoration effects or cards like Splendid Reclamation can help recover from the Hordes’ devastating land destruction once you’ve dealt with the creature itself.

Connecting with this overwhelming adversary requires careful navigation. Yet, with the right cards and strategy in play, overcoming Demonic Hordes’ challenge can lead you to a path of victory. Adaptability and preparation are your best allies in ensuring this demonic threat doesn’t end your game prematurely.


Cards like Demonic Hordes

Demonic Hordes holds a unique place in the array of formidable creatures in Magic the Gathering. Like Demonic Hordes, the card Lord of the Pit is another high-cost creature with an upkeep that can impact the board significantly. Both cards demand sacrifices, with Demonic Hordes requiring land instead of the creatures needed by Lord of the Pit. Additionally, while Lord of the Pit boasts a considerable damage capability, Demonic Hordes offers a tactical advantage by allowing players to control the battlefield via land destruction.

Card similarities extend to Keldon Firebombers, a creature that meshes with Demonic Hordes in the aspect of land control. Keldon Firebombers, however, impacts all players equally upon entry, potentially disrupting strategies including your own, unlike the strategic selectivity afforded by Demonic Hordes. On a smaller scale, Icefall mimics Demonic Horde’s land destruction but lacks the repeated use and powerful presence of a 5/5 creature.

In analyzing the strengths and utility within the game’s landscape, Demonic Hordes stands out with its recurring land removal capability, offering a unique avenue for players to corner opponents and manipulate the flow of the game.

Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Keldon Firebombers - MTG Card versions
Icefall - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Pit - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Keldon Firebombers - Prophecy (PCY)
Icefall - Coldsnap (CSP)

Cards similar to Demonic Hordes by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Cateran Slaver - 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
Visara the Dreadful - 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
Nightmare - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Necrosavant - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Cateran Slaver - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
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)
Visara the Dreadful - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
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)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Demonic Hordes MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Demonic Hordes and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Demonic Hordes Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Jesper Myrfors.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1031993normalblackJesper Myrfors
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1041993normalblackJesper Myrfors
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1041993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1041993normalblackJesper Myrfors
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1041993normalblackJesper Myrfors
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1041993normalblackJesper Myrfors
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1041993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1041993normalwhiteJesper Myrfors
92011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 761997normalblackJesper Myrfors
102022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1002015normalblackJesper Myrfors
112022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3971997normalblackJesper Myrfors

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Demonic Hordes has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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