This must be so beautiful in foil. The card is ran as an almost-guaranteed 4-of in every legacy or vintage deck even splashing black. Black is splashed *just for this card* sometimes.
The number of game winning strategies this card enables by itself via storm, reanimator, chaining them into fatties, dropping game-breaking artifacts or enchantments T1 or T2, etc.. is a testament to it's power. Card disadvantage being worth it at it's finest.
Brutal and common play? This into Duress into Hymn to Tourach, and blue players can rarely have an answer that's worthwhile. Many a black deck has been based around that possible hand.
NARFNra
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
How many arts does this card have now? Regardless, this card earns it. There are few cards I will truly rate five, but Dark Ritual is literally just a straight up staple.
ShatterPalm
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Not gonna lie, as awesome as it is to see it here its a little depressing at the same time. Not even in the best art, no less. (Best art is masques In my opinion.) seeing it here means that we won't be getting a reprint of this for modern purposes any time soon, and that saddens me. As a heavy black player, a reprint for standard/modern is ALL I want to see nowadays. But much like counterspell and nature's lore, that isn't likely to ever happen.
And @Blurrymadness, I've had that hand. It is a glorious feeling.
Whatever the crap you are doing, from splurging on Black for Phyrexian Obliterators, to going kind of Sneak-and-Show with Griselbrand, to playing a nearly Mono BLUE deck with a bunch of Artifacts, to a WHITE-RED-GREEN base deck that is just being a bit SILLY AND GREEDY,
Dark Ritual can result in T1 Necroptence.
T1 Necropotence can result in T1 Win.
The Channel-Fireball-Ancestral Recall-Mystical Tutor combo deck is not made any better or simpler by exchanging Blue cards for Black cards. BUT the point is that Black Cards CAN be used for Blue Cards if you so desire!
they celebrate magic 20 years by reprinting iconic cards.
this card is so iconic, playing magic in my school is prohibited back in the early 2000. it was a kind of a conservative school. when a person over hears you play cards like terror, dark ritual, organ grinder, they may get the wrong idea like:
Kid1: dark ritual... organ grinder... Kid2: ...blabla.. summon demon hordes Staff: what are these kids up to?
ParallaxtheRevan
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
There are many cards in this set that do not yet have a Modern-legal printing.
Dark Ritual, Jace, the Mind Sculptor (LOL!), Fyndhorn Elves, Thran Dynamo, Tangle Wire, Chainer's Edict, and Swords to Plowshares.
Of these, I am not sure if Jace, TMS will ever be unbanned in Modern, but I almost hope that happens.
Of the rest, I believe Dark Ritual is a Good Card to NOT change where it is legal. Swords to Plowshares would be perfectly fine for Modern without really harming anyone except Vorthos. With a 20-year History, and lots of concerns Balance-wise to consider first, it MAY* be very legitimate for Vorthos to have a hand in shaping the Color Wheel for Block Constructed, Standard, Limited, and Commander.
But when it comes to the question of what should be allowed into a non-rotating format, there are a great number of Legacy Staples that Modern deserves some equivalents of, and even some cards it just should get a straight reprint of.
Thran Dynamo, Tangle Wire, and Dark Ritual, though? No. ABSOLUTELY NOT xD
Part of the reason I and many others love these cards is that they are great for Archenemy and/or Legacy. Personally, I am inclined to slightly nod that WotC is a LITTLE bit right to avoid too many Archenemy-esque strategies in "Normal" Magic. Modern should be open and agreeable to the majority of random players. For cards that let you do kind of Asininely Obese, Obnoxiously Powerful Stupid Crap....there is the Archenemy Format where you can VOLUNTEER to subject yourself to some MTG masochism ala "why would you ever play the "Tomb of Horrors" module in AD&D? o.O "
Look, I disagree with WotC a lot on what they've done ala Land Destruction and Counterspells, but Fast Mana should totally be less powerful than this unless you want to admit you want Tomb of Horrors.format =)
SirLibraryEater
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So they printed this 17 TIMES at common and NOW they have the sensibility to print it at mythic and it's in a FROM THE VAULT? WHAT
gut.gemacht
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My favorite art is from Urza's Saga but I'm just happy it got included! What black deck doesn't run ritual if it can? I still giggle when I think that it was in the same series as lightning bolt, ancestral recall and healing salve. I mean salve, really?
Swag_Crow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hello ya'll
Lazrbeams
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card will never, EVER, be reprinted/modern legal. We're talking about a format where seething song, and dark ritual is a lot better than seething song, this thing would break storm in half.
5/5 every time.
Enelysios
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Dark ritual is kind of an overrated card. I mean in the right deck it is absolutely killer. It is iconic and has been in amazing plays since alpha. It enables potent vintage strategies with cards like Yawgmoth's Will or Tendrils of Agony. So I will first say that this card is amazing, overpowered and part of devastating reanimation, recursion and storm strategies. Many a tournament has been won on its back.
However, it is hardly an auto-include in all black decks. Most of what I see in gatherer comments are horrible strategies. The same is true for most times the card is linked from other gatherer pages. A lot of what I see are the kind of strategy that showed up pre-card advantage theory, or the kind of plays that are fun kitchen table stuff but not very good ideas. (Also, shame on you for playing 4 dark rituals in casual.)
Firstly, chaining two dark ritual into a Phyrexian Obliterator or similar is a horrible strategy. Every time we see a black bomb arrive, comments appear saying "Turn one, Dark ritual, dark ritual, CARDNAME." Firstly, you only have about a 6% chance of opening with two or more rituals, so consistency? Out the door. Secondly, laying all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous game. Dark ritual often makes up for its card disadvantage, but only when you play it smart. Strategies like storm can do this because they are inherently resistant to anything your opponent tries to do against them. But just like strategies using auras to Voltron a killer creature, you are playing dangerous odds here.
If I Dark ritual a Necropotence turn one (A solid use, but I cannot see necropotence getting you a turn one win given its drawback. Turn 2? sure.) and my opponent Pitches a Force of Will, we are left even on card advantage. If You Dark Ritual + Dark Ritual to a Phyrexian Obliterator, then I will swords to plowshares it and you will concede. Strategies in vintage require consistency and contingency. This kind of reckless use of the ritual has neither. Black Lotus -> Concordant Crossroads -> Channel -> Blightsteel Colossus is a perfectly legit mono-green first turn win, it is a cool and flashy combo, it is also a horrible idea, will rarely happen and is easy to disrupt.
If your strategy isn't consistent and resistant to whatever your opponent might want to do to it, it doesn't matter how fast it is. I know someone is going to say my arguments go for black lotus too, that is true, but there are a few differences. 1: Black lotus is way better. I mean, it costs ! The power level is deafening. 2: Black lotus is easier to recur as a artifact. 3: Your strategy still shouldn't rely on having black lotus out. It goes in every deck, but your deck needs to stand without it. Most strategies I see for Dark ritual do not stand without the ritual. Literally all they are is powering out a big card an hoping your opponent doesn't answer. That strategy is too small minded to fly.
EDIT: Dark ritual into duress/hymn is potent, versatile and hard to answer. A good example of a nice, non-risky, consistent use for the ritual.
CFLuke
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Another strong but not ridiculously overpowered card. It's very risky. Oh, you want to pay 17 life like many here are suggesting? Lightning bolt, and since you haven't drawn the cards yet, and are probably tapped out, you don't have an answer.
Don't forget that you don't get the cards right away - usually your opponent will have an entire turn to disrupt you. Even if you pace yourself and only draw a couple at a time, there's a decent chance you won't get the cards you need and then you have to be on the lookout for cards that can really screw you up like Runeflare Trap or Balance
...I still think Mind Twist is better (but then, Mind Twist is better than almost every card. Turn three and your opponent is topdecking for the rest of the game).
OlvynChuru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ah, Dark Ritual. This card has gotten away with so much murder in the past.
"Hypnotic Specter is overpowered since you can play it turn 1 with Dark Ritual."
"Phyrexian Negator is overpowered since you can play it turn 1 with Dark Ritual."
"Yawgmoth's Will is overpowered because you can use it with Dark Ritual to get ridiculous mana and storm count."
I'm surprised that people have taken so long to realize that Dark Ritual is the real thing that's overpowered here.
SuicideBlackGuy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I am one of the many that believes this card is overpowered and should not be brought back, I love it and it pains me to say it but in the right hands this card breaks magic the gathering. Yes it can represent card disadvantage, a turn 1 hippie can be bolted and you can lose 2 cards vs your opponents 1. However what this gives you access to early on will always outweigh the risk. Even in standard a turn two Erebos or Desecration Demon with thoughtseize in your deck to help protect the investment would be broken. Top it off with a turn one Underworld Connections or turn two Cryptghast and your ability to outdraw/ramp your opponent; it should be easy for you to see how this can lead to a very advantageous position for black.
Comments (15)
The number of game winning strategies this card enables by itself via storm, reanimator, chaining them into fatties, dropping game-breaking artifacts or enchantments T1 or T2, etc.. is a testament to it's power. Card disadvantage being worth it at it's finest.
Brutal and common play? This into Duress into Hymn to Tourach, and blue players can rarely have an answer that's worthwhile. Many a black deck has been based around that possible hand.
And @Blurrymadness, I've had that hand. It is a glorious feeling.
By the way, it comboes with Dark Ritual...
Necropotence.
Whatever the crap you are doing, from splurging on Black for Phyrexian Obliterators, to going kind of Sneak-and-Show with Griselbrand, to playing a nearly Mono BLUE deck with a bunch of Artifacts, to a WHITE-RED-GREEN base deck that is just being a bit SILLY AND GREEDY,
Dark Ritual can result in T1 Necroptence.
T1 Necropotence can result in T1 Win.
The Channel-Fireball-Ancestral Recall-Mystical Tutor combo deck is not made any better or simpler by exchanging Blue cards for Black cards. BUT the point is that Black Cards CAN be used for Blue Cards if you so desire!
Dark Ritual, Necropotence, Demonic Tutor. Respect Them or Die
this card is so iconic, playing magic in my school is prohibited back in the early 2000. it was a kind of a conservative school. when a person over hears you play cards like terror, dark ritual, organ grinder, they may get the wrong idea like:
Kid1: dark ritual... organ grinder...
Kid2: ...blabla.. summon demon hordes
Staff: what are these kids up to?
Dark Ritual, Jace, the Mind Sculptor (LOL!), Fyndhorn Elves, Thran Dynamo, Tangle Wire, Chainer's Edict, and Swords to Plowshares.
Of these, I am not sure if Jace, TMS will ever be unbanned in Modern, but I almost hope that happens.
Of the rest, I believe Dark Ritual is a Good Card to NOT change where it is legal. Swords to Plowshares would be perfectly fine for Modern without really harming anyone except Vorthos. With a 20-year History, and lots of concerns Balance-wise to consider first, it MAY* be very legitimate for Vorthos to have a hand in shaping the Color Wheel for Block Constructed, Standard, Limited, and Commander.
But when it comes to the question of what should be allowed into a non-rotating format, there are a great number of Legacy Staples that Modern deserves some equivalents of, and even some cards it just should get a straight reprint of.
Thran Dynamo, Tangle Wire, and Dark Ritual, though? No. ABSOLUTELY NOT xD
Part of the reason I and many others love these cards is that they are great for Archenemy and/or Legacy. Personally, I am inclined to slightly nod that WotC is a LITTLE bit right to avoid too many Archenemy-esque strategies in "Normal" Magic. Modern should be open and agreeable to the majority of random players. For cards that let you do kind of Asininely Obese, Obnoxiously Powerful Stupid Crap....there is the Archenemy Format where you can VOLUNTEER to subject yourself to some MTG masochism ala "why would you ever play the "Tomb of Horrors" module in AD&D? o.O "
Look, I disagree with WotC a lot on what they've done ala Land Destruction and Counterspells, but Fast Mana should totally be less powerful than this unless you want to admit you want Tomb of Horrors.format =)
WHAT
5/5 every time.
However, it is hardly an auto-include in all black decks. Most of what I see in gatherer comments are horrible strategies. The same is true for most times the card is linked from other gatherer pages. A lot of what I see are the kind of strategy that showed up pre-card advantage theory, or the kind of plays that are fun kitchen table stuff but not very good ideas. (Also, shame on you for playing 4 dark rituals in casual.)
Firstly, chaining two dark ritual into a Phyrexian Obliterator or similar is a horrible strategy. Every time we see a black bomb arrive, comments appear saying "Turn one, Dark ritual, dark ritual, CARDNAME." Firstly, you only have about a 6% chance of opening with two or more rituals, so consistency? Out the door. Secondly, laying all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous game. Dark ritual often makes up for its card disadvantage, but only when you play it smart. Strategies like storm can do this because they are inherently resistant to anything your opponent tries to do against them. But just like strategies using auras to Voltron a killer creature, you are playing dangerous odds here.
If I Dark ritual a Necropotence turn one (A solid use, but I cannot see necropotence getting you a turn one win given its drawback. Turn 2? sure.) and my opponent Pitches a Force of Will, we are left even on card advantage. If You Dark Ritual + Dark Ritual to a Phyrexian Obliterator, then I will swords to plowshares it and you will concede. Strategies in vintage require consistency and contingency. This kind of reckless use of the ritual has neither. Black Lotus -> Concordant Crossroads -> Channel -> Blightsteel Colossus is a perfectly legit mono-green first turn win, it is a cool and flashy combo, it is also a horrible idea, will rarely happen and is easy to disrupt.
If your strategy isn't consistent and resistant to whatever your opponent might want to do to it, it doesn't matter how fast it is. I know someone is going to say my arguments go for black lotus too, that is true, but there are a few differences. 1: Black lotus is way better. I mean, it costs
EDIT: Dark ritual into duress/hymn is potent, versatile and hard to answer. A good example of a nice, non-risky, consistent use for the ritual.
Don't forget that you don't get the cards right away - usually your opponent will have an entire turn to disrupt you. Even if you pace yourself and only draw a couple at a time, there's a decent chance you won't get the cards you need and then you have to be on the lookout for cards that can really screw you up like Runeflare Trap or Balance
...I still think Mind Twist is better (but then, Mind Twist is better than almost every card. Turn three and your opponent is topdecking for the rest of the game).
"Hypnotic Specter is overpowered since you can play it turn 1 with Dark Ritual."
"Phyrexian Negator is overpowered since you can play it turn 1 with Dark Ritual."
"Yawgmoth's Will is overpowered because you can use it with Dark Ritual to get ridiculous mana and storm count."
I'm surprised that people have taken so long to realize that Dark Ritual is the real thing that's overpowered here.