Dark Bargain

Dark Bargain was released as part of the Foundations Jumpstart set, a product line designed to serve as an accessible entry point for new Magic: The Gathering players. The card functions as an instant that allows players to look at the top two cards of their library, put one into their hand and the other into the graveyard, while also granting a creature +1/+1 until end of turn. This iteration continues the long-standing tradition of black-aligned resource exchange cards, which balance tactical card advantage against the thematic cost of graveyard utilization.

The artwork was created by illustrator Kai Carpenter, whose painterly style often emphasizes atmospheric lighting and dramatic character expressions. For this piece, Carpenter leans into the darker, gothic aesthetic typical of the black mana color identity, focusing on the visual weight of a Faustian pact. The design was received as a functional, well-integrated common that fits seamlessly into limited play environments, providing players with a straightforward yet versatile tool for deck smoothing.