Dihada's Ploy MTG Card


Dihada’s Ploy facilitates deck filtering and can turn the tide in closely contested games. Mana requirements and a discard cost restrict its use but encourage strategic play. Its unique draw mechanism sets it apart from other card manipulation spells.
Dihada's Ploy - Modern Horizons 2
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Jump-start
Released2021-06-18
Set symbol
Set nameModern Horizons 2
Set codeMH2
Number193
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJason A. Engle

Text of card

Draw two cards, then discard a card. You gain life equal to the number of cards you've discarded this turn. Jump-start (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a card in addition to paying its other costs. Then exile this card.)

The last piece was finally in place.


Cards like Dihada's Ploy

Dihada’s Ploy stands as an intriguing spell within Magic: The Gathering’s wide array of card manipulation techniques. It bears resemblance to cards like Painful Truths, which also offers the opportunity to draw cards, albeit at the cost of life points rather than the temporary set back of a card in hand. Dihada’s Ploy, however, lets players gain card advantage without the direct life trade-off but with the condition to return a card from their hand to their library.

In comparison, Concentrate and Harmonize present themselves as alternatives for drawing cards. Both provide a more straightforward approach, offering three cards for four mana with no additional steps. While they don’t come with the need to place a card back on top of the library, their uncomplicated effect comes at the expense of higher mana costs. Dihada’s Ploy, occupying a niche of its own, strikes a delicate balance between mana efficiency and card advantage while also offering versatility through its modal nature.

Assessing the landscape of draw spells in Magic: The Gathering, Dihada’s Ploy provides a unique blend of versatility and card flow control. Its utility in carefully sculpting the perfect hand cannot be understated for players valuing strategic depth and tactical adjustments mid-game.

Painful Truths - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Harmonize - MTG Card versions
Painful Truths - MTG Card versions
Concentrate - MTG Card versions
Harmonize - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Dihada's Ploy. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Cycle StormCycle Storm PauperCycle StormPauper Challenge 64 2024-04-07
Dimir ControlDimir Control PauperDimir ControlPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-13
Dimir FaeriesDimir Faeries PauperDimir FaeriesPauper League 2024-04-19

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dihada’s Ploy offers players a strategic upper hand by allowing them to sift through their deck more efficiently. Engaging this card means actively selecting the most beneficial cards for any given situation, thereby outmaneuvering opponents with a robust hand.

Resource Acceleration: This card isn’t just about the draw. It also provides the added benefit of ramping up your resources. By generating mana through its effects, players can expedite their play, casting more impactful spells sooner than the opponent might expect.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed cannot be overstated. With Dihada’s Ploy, you have the agility to adapt to the evolving battlefield, making critical plays at the most opportune moments. This adaptability can be the turning point in a tight match, allowing you to respond on the fly and catch your adversary off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dihada’s Ploy comes with a cost that might not always align with your hand. You may have to part with a valuable card, weakening your position significantly, especially if your options are already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost is restrictive, requiring both black and green mana which could make it less flexible in multi-colored decks that don’t prioritize these colors. This can hamper its integration into a wide array of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its current mana value, Dihada’s Ploy is at a competitive disadvantage when compared to other cards in the same mana range. There are alternatives that may offer similar benefits without necessitating the additional cost of card discarding.


Reasons to Include Dihada’s Ploy in Your Collection

Versatility: Dihada’s Ploy offers flexibility due to its role as both a draw engine and a tool for graveyard manipulation. This makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of decks, particularly ones that value card selection and graveyard synergy.

Combo Potential: This card can be an integral part of combo setups, as it helps sift through your deck to find key pieces while simultaneously stocking your graveyard for potential recursion or delve mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Dihada’s Ploy holds relevance in metas where games are decided by incremental advantages. Its ability to consistently provide card advantage can tip the scales in matchups that go the distance.


How to beat

Dihada’s Ploy is an intriguing card, offering a blend of defensive disruption and potential card advantage that can change the dynamics of a Magic: The Gathering match. With its ability to counter spells unless their caster pays additional mana, it can certainly pose a challenge. However, strategies exist to outmaneuver its effect.

Efficient mana management is key when facing Dihada’s Ploy. Ensuring that you have sufficient mana resources to pay the extra cost, or playing spells when the opponent might not have enough mana to cast Dihada’s Ploy, can be effective tactics. Another approach is to use spells with uncounterable attributes, bypassing Dihada’s Ploy’s effect altogether. Moreover, baiting out the card early and then playing more critical spells once the path is clear can be a viable strategy. Lastly, employing cheap countermeasures or removal spells that can target Dihada’s Ploy before it can affect the game significantly is a sound approach.

Overcoming Dihada’s Ploy demands a balance of foresight and resourcefulness, yet with careful planning, it’s possible to diminish its influence on the game and maintain the upper hand in a match of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gaining an edge with Dihada’s Ploy can be all about timing and strategic deck synergy. For players who thrive on adaptability and calculated risks, this card can be a game-changer. Your collection can truly benefit from its intrinsic potential for card advantage and resource acceleration. Recognize the right moment to employ its instant speed and your opponents might struggle to keep pace. Be mindful of the pitfalls, and if it suits your playstyle, incorporate it into your deck to harness its full potential. Eager to optimize your strategies with Dihada’s Ploy? Dive deeper with us and unlock new levels of MTG expertise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dihada's Ploy MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Dihada's Ploy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dihada's Ploy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dihada's Ploy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-06-18 A spell cast using jump-start will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, it's countered, or it leaves the stack in some other way.
2021-06-18 Dihada's Ploy counts the total number of cards discarded, including the card you discard as part of its effect and any cards you discarded prior to its resolution this turn. If you cast it with jump-start, this includes the card you discarded to cast it.
2021-06-18 If a card with jump-start is put into your graveyard during your turn, you'll be able to cast it right away if it's legal to do so, before an opponent can take any actions.
2021-06-18 If an effect allows you to pay an alternative cost rather than a spell's mana cost, you may pay that alternative cost when you jump-start a spell. You'll still discard a card as an additional cost to cast it.
2021-06-18 If the card draws are replaced by another effect, you will still discard a card and gain life. If you don't have any cards to discard, it will still count any cards previously discarded this turn.