Dash Hopes

Dash Hopes is a blue instant spell originally released as part of the Planar Chaos set in 2007. The card represents a departure from the traditional color pie of Magic: The Gathering, as it features a 'counter target spell' effect in black, a color that typically interacts with the stack through discard or reactive destruction rather than direct negation. Its existence reflects the design philosophy of the Planar Chaos set, which explored alternate realities where the mechanical identities of the five colors were shifted or inverted.

The card was illustrated by Puddnhead, who utilized a dark, atmospheric style to capture the feeling of a thwarted effort. Within the context of the game, Dash Hopes provides a unique ultimatum: the opponent must pay five life to allow their spell to resolve, or see it countered. While it is a celebrated curiosity among fans of experimental design and the Planar Chaos color-shifted sub-theme, it has remained a niche inclusion in constructed play due to the opponent's ability to choose the outcome.