Dark Confidant — Magic: The Gathering card

Dark Confidant

{1}{B}
Creature — Human Wizard

At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to its mana value.

*"Fare you well, Bringer of Light."*

Power/Toughness: 2/1

Set Final Fantasy
Rarity Mythic Rare
Mana Value 2
Artist Immanuela Crovius
Collector # 94
Scryfall

Why Play Dark Confidant

Aggressive decks prize Dark Confidant for its raw card advantage at minimal mana investment, turning every turn into additional resources while pressuring opponents with a 2/1 body. The life loss becomes negligible when you're winning quickly, and the extra cards help maintain pressure after early threats are answered. Low-curve strategies like Death & Taxes or aggressive midrange builds maximize value by keeping the life loss manageable while ensuring consistent access to cheap, impactful spells.

Format Notes

Legacy and Modern see the most Dark Confidant play, where efficient spells and lower average mana values make the life loss acceptable for consistent card draw. The card has never faced bans but has fluctuated in popularity as formats have sped up or shifted toward higher-curve strategies. Commander players occasionally include it in aggressive or combo-focused builds, though the multiplayer format's longer games make the cumulative life loss more dangerous.

Combos & Synergies

Sensei's Divining Top creates a powerful lock by letting you control what Dark Confidant reveals, drawing the same cheap spell repeatedly while minimizing life loss. Fetchlands and other shuffle effects help manipulate what you'll reveal next turn after seeing unwanted expensive cards on top. Lightning Bolt and other one-mana removal spells synergize perfectly by keeping your curve low while providing immediate answers to threats.

Learn More

Creature Standard Modern Pioneer