Impending Disaster MTG Card


Impending Disaster disrupts game pace, offering indirect card advantage by threatening land destruction. Strategically played, it can reset the board to favor decks built for rapid recovery post-destruction. While not instant speed, its conditional pressure forces opponents to play around its destructive trigger.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

During your upkeep, if there are seven or more lands in play, sacrifice Impending Disaster and destroy all lands.

"The goblins are in charge of maintenance? Why not just set it on fire now and call it a day?" —Whip Tongue, viashino technician


Understanding Impending Disaster

Impending Disaster is a unique disruption card in Magic: The Gathering that stands out in strategies aiming to control the game tempo. Once it comes into play, it puts opponents on a critical timer, forcing them to find an answer or risk having their lands destroyed once your upkeep hits with two or more lands in play.

Cards like Impending Disaster

Impending Disaster operates within a niche group of red sorcery cards that leverage the threat of mass destruction. It bears a resemblance in function to cards like Obliterate and Jokulhaups, both of which are infamous for their ability to wipe out lands. The difference is stark in terms of mana cost and effect timing. While the likes of Obliterate and Jokulhaups pose an immediate and unstoppable threat, Impending Disaster is more subtle, providing opponents a window to respond before its devastating effect triggers.

Another parallel can be drawn with Wildfire, which also has the potential to disrupt land bases significantly. Wildfire offers direct damage to creatures and sacrifices of lands immediately, contrasting with the impending doom set by Impending Disaster that can be seen as both a drawback and a strategic advantage depending on the board state.

Choosing between these destructive spells depends on your deck’s pacing and your opponents’ capabilities. Impending Disaster is for those valuing the psychological play over immediate impact, making it a fascinating option in red land destruction themes.

Obliterate - MTG Card versions
Jokulhaups - MTG Card versions
Wildfire - MTG Card versions
Obliterate - MTG Card versions
Jokulhaups - MTG Card versions
Wildfire - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Impending Disaster by color, type and mana cost

Power Surge - MTG Card versions
Raging River - MTG Card versions
Smoke - MTG Card versions
Goblin Kites - MTG Card versions
The Brute - MTG Card versions
Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Lightning Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Consuming Ferocity - MTG Card versions
Agility - MTG Card versions
Errantry - MTG Card versions
Heat of Battle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Festival - MTG Card versions
Scald - MTG Card versions
Cave Sense - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Surge - MTG Card versions
Maniacal Rage - MTG Card versions
Battle Strain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Underworld Breach - MTG Card versions
Lightning Rift - MTG Card versions
Power Surge - MTG Card versions
Raging River - MTG Card versions
Smoke - MTG Card versions
Goblin Kites - MTG Card versions
The Brute - MTG Card versions
Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Lightning Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Consuming Ferocity - MTG Card versions
Agility - MTG Card versions
Errantry - MTG Card versions
Heat of Battle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Festival - MTG Card versions
Scald - MTG Card versions
Cave Sense - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Surge - MTG Card versions
Maniacal Rage - MTG Card versions
Battle Strain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Underworld Breach - MTG Card versions
Lightning Rift - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Impending Disaster can be pivotal in securing a strategic position on the board. By threatening to wipe all lands, it forces opponents to play more cautiously, potentially slowing down their own plays and giving you an advantage in pacing. This disruption of play can translate to a form of indirect card advantage, as it could limit the options your opponents have and make your cards more effective.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, the aftermath of its effect can. If you’ve built your deck to recover more quickly from land destruction, Impending Disaster could serve as a potent reset button, accelerating your own game state post-destruction while impeding others, setting you up to take command.

Instant Speed: It’s essential to note that Impending Disaster is a sorcery and not an instant. However, its looming threat acts in a similar vein to instant speed spells by putting immediate pressure on your opponents. The requirement to play it in advance encourages strategic foresight, allowing you to potentially manipulate opponent actions as they attempt to navigate around its catastrophic effect.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For players considering Impending Disaster in their strategies, it’s important to note that this card does not directly require discarding as an additional cost, but the threat of potentially losing your hand post-destruction can feel like a steep, indirect price to pay. This may disrupt your hand management and long-term plans.

Specific Mana Cost: Impending Disaster requires a precise mana investment of two red mana. This specificity demands a commitment to red mana sources within a deck, making it less versatile and potentially unusable for decks not heavily invested in red.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its effect of destroying all lands can be game-changing, the cost of holding two mana for a delayed effect that can be easily disrupted is potentially inefficient. Other cards at this cost can offer immediate and more predictable outcomes, something savvy players often prioritize.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Impending Disaster offers a unique approach to controlling the board. It fits well into aggressive strategies that aim to conclude games quickly before opponents can stabilize. It’s also useful in decks that can manipulate the “at the beginning of your upkeep” trigger to their advantage.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in a deck designed to break symmetrical effects. By safely setting up your own board or hand to mitigate the destruction effect, you can capitalize on the disruption this card causes for opponent strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players favor building extensive board states with numerous permanents, Impending Disaster can act as a powerful countermeasure. It forces opponents to play around an unusual condition or face the consequences of a reset board, often tipping the scales in your favor.


How to beat Impending Disaster

Impending Disaster is a red enchantment card that can alter the course of the game in Magic: The Gathering, forcing a tense clock on players when its condition is met. Understanding the gravity of the disaster this card can bring forth, it’s crucial to have a strategy to counteract its effects. One effective tactic is to focus on removal spells that can target enchantments, such as Disenchant or Naturalize. As these spells are generally low-cost, they can efficiently dismantle the threat before it fulfills its destructive potential.

Alternatively, cards like Counterspell that preemptively stop Impending Disaster from hitting the board are invaluable. Timing is everything; keeping mana open and being ready to react when an opponent attempts to cast it can save your board state. It’s also beneficial to maintain a versatile and responsive hand, allowing for nimble plays and adaptations based on your opponent’s strategy. Lastly, be mindful of the board and your resources, planning ahead to ensure that even if Impending Disaster does resolve, you are positioned to recover and regain control of the game.

Awareness and preparedness are key when facing down the threat of such a game-changing card. By prioritizing the removal of disruptive enchantments and keeping a watchful eye for the right moment to act, you can prevent the disaster from striking and keep your strategy on track.


BurnMana Recommendations

Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of Impending Disaster can reshape your approach to MTG. Whether you’re intrigued by its board-controlling prowess or wary of its red mana specificity, incorporating it requires smart play and foresight. If you appreciate the psychological edge and meta-relevance it offers, it could be vital for your red-centric decks. Those looking for alternative disruption can review similar cards, each with its strategic merits. To ensure you’re fully prepared for this game-altering card, join us to delve deeper into advanced strategies, discover how to counter its effects, and decide if it deserves a spot in your collection. Let’s navigate the board together and secure your next victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Impending Disaster MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and Mystery Booster, 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 Impending Disaster and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Impending Disaster Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 821997NormalBlackPete Venters
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9791997NormalBlackPete Venters
32020-09-26The ListPLST ULG-821997NormalBlackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Impending Disaster has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 The ability is not optional.
2004-10-04 This ability does not trigger at all if there are not seven lands on the battlefield at the beginning of upkeep. It checks this number again when it is going to resolve and does not do anything if the land count is below 7.
2010-06-15 If this card is not on the battlefield at the times its ability resolves, then you can’t sacrifice it. However, you still destroy all lands.