Dark Salvation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage by removing threats and creating zombies simultaneously.
  2. Can be cast at instant speed, offering strategic flexibility.
  3. Demands significant black mana investment for maximum effect.

Text of card

Target player creates X 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens, then up to one target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each Zombie that player controls.

Countless ghouls surged through Thraben's streets, and with them came the city's salvation.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dark Salvation shines in generating card advantage by not only removing an opponent’s threat but also leaving you with a number of Zombies equal to the mana invested. This two-for-one scenario can quickly tip the scales in your favor during a match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly producing mana or tokens, Dark Salvation can indirectly accelerate your resources. By creating multiple Zombie tokens, it effectively increases your board presence and potential mana sources if combined with other cards that tap creatures for mana.

Instant Speed: Dark Salvation’s utility is amplified by its ability to be cast at instant speed. This allows for strategic flexibility, enabling you to disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn or end-step, optimizing the timing of your zombie creation and removal effects to your advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Dark Salvation doesn’t demand a literal discard, it requires you to use your zombie creatures as a resource, which can be seen metaphorically as a discard. Dedicating your undead troops to power up this spell, especially in early game, may leave you vulnerable on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: The effectiveness of Dark Salvation is intimately tied to its black mana cost, meaning the more black mana you spend, the stronger the X-value effect. This can hinder flexibility, as you are constrained to heavy black mana decks to fully utilize its potential.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To deploy Dark Salvation effectively, especially in the mid to late game, may necessitate a significant mana investment for the dual benefit of zombie creation and targeted creature weakening. This cost could potentially limit you from playing other key cards in the same turn, making timing and resource management pivotal when considering this card for your deck.


Reasons to Include Dark Salvation in Your Collection

Versatility: Dark Salvation shines through its flexible role in both early and late game scenarios. Early on, it’s an efficient tool for creating Zombie tokens, while in the later stages, it can turn into a formidable removal spell that scales with your mana investment.

Combo Potential: This card pairs excellently with decks that capitalize on Zombie tribal themes, synergizing with other cards that boost undead tokens or benefit from creature deaths. Additionally, pumping a large amount of mana into Dark Salvation can lead to overwhelming board states in combination with other undead strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with creature-based strategies, Dark Salvation offers a dual solution—swarming the board with blockers and eliminating key threats. This nimble adaptability makes it a consistent and potent choice for many black-centric decks facing diverse opponents.


How to beat

Dark Salvation is a versatile zombie-themed spell that can both create zombie tokens and eliminate threats from the battlefield. Crafting a strategy to overpower Dark Salvation involves mindful deck building and in-game decisions. First, try to minimize the impact of the early zombie tokens it creates. Sweepers like Wrath of God or Bane of Progress can clear multiple zombies at once, mitigating the flood that Dark Salvation can produce. Avoid playing creatures that can be easily removed by it; instead, opt for creatures with hexproof or indestructible.

In addition, countering Dark Salvation with spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can stop the threat before it materializes. If the zombies are already on the field, cards that prevent token generation such as Illness in the Ranks or Tocatli Honor Guard will weaken the card’s effectiveness. For a proactive approach, include graveyard hate in your sideboard, such as Relic of Progenitus or Grafdigger’s Cage, to hinder strategies reliant on bringing zombies back from the graveyard. Lastly, remember that the card scales with the game, so maintaining a lead in life total and board state will help reduce the impact of a late-game Dark Salvation.


BurnMana Recommendations

Focusing on maximizing the effectiveness of Dark Salvation in your MTG deck can greatly enhance your gameplay, balancing both defense and offense. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of commanding an army of zombies while disrupting your opponent’s plans, this card offers a dynamic approach. Keep in mind the importance of tailoring your deck to support its mana demands and synergizing with other undead-themed cards for an unstoppable horde. Curious about how to best integrate Dark Salvation into your arsenal or seeking alternative strategies against it? Dive deeper into our expert insights and become a formidable force at your next MTG showdown.


Cards like Dark Salvation

The addition of Dark Salvation to the Magic: The Gathering lineup offers players a versatile spell capable of controlling the board by both removing opposing threats and providing a swarm of Zombies. Resembling Geth’s Verdict in its ability to force opponents to sacrifice creatures, Dark Salvation is distinctive in its scalability and doesn’t require the loss of your own life. Plus, unlike Geth’s Verdict, it can target multiple creatures based on the mana invested.

Zombie Apocalypse shares the Zombie theme but differs drastically by focusing on the return of Zombies from the graveyard to play, a stark contrast to the on-the-fly token creation that Dark Salvation enables. Additionally, Dark Salvation can be cast any time during the game with proportional effects, whereas Zombie Apocalypse comes with a heftier mana cost and a singular, one-time effect.

In evaluating these cards, Dark Salvation emerges as an adaptable spell within the Zombie archetype in Magic: The Gathering. Providing both an offensive and defensive edge, it delivers dual utility in a single card slot, standing out in strategic deck construction for both casual and competitive play.

Geth's Verdict - MTG Card versions
Zombie Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Geth's Verdict - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Zombie Apocalypse - Dark Ascension Promos (PDKA)

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

Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Mind Peel - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Chorus of Woe - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Skull Fracture - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Despise - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Raise Dead - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Mind Twist - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Contract from Below - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Spoils of War - Ice Age (ICE)
Tendrils of Despair - Weatherlight (WTH)
Mind Peel - Stronghold (STH)
Bloodcurdling Scream - Portal Second Age (P02)
Organ Harvest - Unglued (UGL)
Duress - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Unearth - Historic Anthology 7 (HA7)
Bubbling Muck - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Chorus of Woe - Starter 1999 (S99)
Reanimate - Jumpstart (JMP)
Soul Strings - Prophecy (PCY)
Skull Fracture - Odyssey (ODY)
Restless Dreams - Torment (TOR)
Cabal Therapy - Premium Deck Series: Graveborn (PD3)
Confront the Past - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Despise - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Stir the Grave - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dark Salvation MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon Promos and Eldritch Moon, 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 Salvation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dark Salvation Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Cynthia Sheppard.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 87s2015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
22016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 872015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3082015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
42021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 1102015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
52023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 1052015normalblackCynthia Sheppard

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dark Salvation has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-07-13 If the targeted creature becomes an illegal target, the targeted player will still get Zombie tokens.
2016-07-13 You choose up to one target creature total, not a separate target for each Zombie that player controls.
2016-07-13 You may cast Dark Salvation with X as 0 just to have a creature get -1/-1 for each Zombie a player controls, and you may cast it without targeting any creature just to have a player get Zombie tokens. If you really just want to cast a spell, you can even cast it with X as 0 without a target creature and have neither effect do anything.

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