Desperate Measures
Tarkir: Dragonstorm 78 • uncommon
- Set
- Tarkir: Dragonstorm
- Collector number
- 78
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Mana cost
- black mana
- Type
- Instant
- Colors
- Black
- Artist
- Gaboleps
- Market price
- $0.29
What it does
Target creature gets +1/-1 until end of turn. When it dies under your control this turn, draw two cards.
"Sing for us when we depart for battle, and sing for us if we fail to return."— Mardu parting
Where you can play it
- StandardLegal
- PioneerLegal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlLegal
- HistoricLegal
- TimelessLegal
- Penny DreadfulNot legal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Desperate Measures was released as part of the Magic: The Gathering expansion set Dragons of Tarkir in 2015. The set represents an alternate timeline in the game's lore where the dragon clans of Tarkir have ascended to dominance, shifting the plane's history away from the clan-based conflict of the preceding set. As an uncommon instant, the card is designed to reflect the chaotic, high-stakes magical warfare characteristic of this draconic regime, providing players with a versatile tool during the rapid pacing of the set's combat-focused meta.
The card features artwork by Gaboleps, a digital illustrator whose work often leans into the sharp, aggressive aesthetics associated with the Tarkir plane. The visual design emphasizes the volatile nature of the spell, utilizing intense light effects and dynamic framing to evoke the feeling of a sudden, forced advantage in battle. Upon release, the card was received as a functional, flavor-consistent addition to the set’s limited environment, noted by players for its thematic alignment with the unpredictable nature of the Dragon-ruled timeline.
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About Desperate Measures
Desperate Measures is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Tarkir: Dragonstorm 78 • uncommon. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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