Ovalchase Daredevil MTG Card


Ovalchase Daredevil excels in artifact-rich decks, offering repeatable card advantage and strategy depth. Though potent, it’s limited by specific mana demands and an initial high mana cost for its effects. Its unique recursion ability in MTG aligns with evolving metagames and artifact synergies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Pilot
Power 4
Toughness 2

Text of card

Whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Ovalchase Daredevil from your graveyard to your hand.

"Let me guess. You thought I was dead."


Cards like Ovalchase Daredevil

Ovalchase Daredevil is a unique card that finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering, especially in strategies revolving around artifacts. At a glance, it might be tempting to compare it to cards like Scrapheap Scrounger. Both are creatures that can make recurring appearances from the graveyard, keeping your board presence consistent. However, Ovalchase Daredevil brings an interesting twist; it relies on the presence of artifacts to return to your hand, encouraging a synergy with artifact-centric decks.

Salvage Scout is another card that dances in the same arena, enabling artifact synergy, albeit with a one-time use effect to retrieve an artifact from your graveyard to your hand, as opposed to the Daredevil’s continuous potential. On the other hand, Myr Retriever and Workshop Assistant offer similar recursion benefits and require specific conditions to trigger, mainly their own death, which can be a limitation or an integral part of a strategy, depending on how the deck is built.

To sum it up, Ovalchase Daredevil holds its own by offering consistent graveyard interaction in artifact-rich environments. Though not as straightforward as some of its counterparts, the card can become a staple in decks that can fully leverage the synergistic potential it offers.

Scrapheap Scrounger - MTG Card versions
Salvage Scout - MTG Card versions
Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Workshop Assistant - MTG Card versions
Scrapheap Scrounger - MTG Card versions
Salvage Scout - MTG Card versions
Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Workshop Assistant - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ovalchase Daredevil by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
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Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ovalchase Daredevil. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Asmo FoodAsmo Food ModernAsmo FoodModern Challenge 64 2024-04-14
Goryo's VengeanceGoryo's Vengeance ModernGoryo's VengeanceModern Challenge 64 2024-04-14
Assault LoamAssault Loam ModernAssault LoamModern Challenge 64 2024-04-21

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ovalchase Daredevil offers a recurring source of card advantage, particularly in strategies involving discard or sacrificing artifacts. Its ability to return to your hand from the graveyard when an artifact enters the battlefield under your control means you’re less likely to run out of resources over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with artifact-heavy decks, contributing to resource acceleration. While it doesn’t directly generate mana or tokens, it’s an excellent enabler for cards that capitalize on the presence or recycling of artifacts for such purposes.

Instant Speed Interaction: Although Ovalchase Daredevil doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it offers instant-speed interaction indirectly. Its returning ability can be triggered during any phase of the game whenever you have artifact entry, allowing for surprise chump blockers or the unexpected fulfillment of artifact synergies at crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ovalchase Daredevil necessitates a discard mechanic to fully utilize its abilities. For players without a reliable way to cycle or discard cards, this requirement can hinder their game strategy, potentially leading to a suboptimal hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a very particular mana investment, requiring both black mana and generic mana. Decks not focused on black or without adequate mana fixing may find it challenging to consistently cast Ovalchase Daredevil on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Ovalchase Daredevil can be costly compared to other creatures with similar abilities. Players often look for more impactful plays at this stage of the game, which makes it a less favorable choice during deck construction when considering mana efficiency and curve optimization.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ovalchase Daredevil holds a spot in decks that capitalize on artifact synergies, especially in those that recur or discard artifacts for value, broadening the ways in which it can be utilized within various strategies.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with strategies that involve sacrificing artifacts for benefits, as it returns to your hand when an artifact hits the graveyard, ready to be utilized again for continued advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact play is prominent or the graveyard is being leveraged as a resource, Ovalchase Daredevil provides consistent value, making it a card that can adapt to and potentially excel in the evolving meta.


How to beat

Ovalchase Daredevil, a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, brings a persistent challenge to the battlefield with its ability to recur from the graveyard. Players often pair it with artifact synergies, capitalizing on its return to hand whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under their control. This can create a loop that seems daunting to disrupt at first glance.

To effectively counter Ovalchase Daredevil, one must focus on graveyard control strategies. Employing exile effects, through cards like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace, can permanently remove the Daredevil from the game, breaking the recycling loop it enables. Utilizing spells that can lock out the graveyard such as Leyline of the Void also ensures that the Daredevil’s ability becomes irrelevant, stifling the opponent’s engine. Another angle is to attack the artifact synergy, removing key pieces with shatter effects or deploying Stony Silence to prevent activated abilities, thereby disrupting the loop. Learning to navigate against this kind of resilience is key in securing a victory against decks that run the tenacious Ovalchase Daredevil.

Ultimately, defeating this card requires a blend of timing and resource management. By strategically incorporating graveyard and artifact control within your deck, the challenge Ovalchase Daredevil presents can be transformed into a manageable threat.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ovalchase Daredevil MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Double Masters, 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 Ovalchase Daredevil and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ovalchase Daredevil Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 972015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1012015NormalBlackWinona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ovalchase Daredevil has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 Ovalchase Daredevil's ability triggers only if it's already in your graveyard as an artifact enters the battlefield under your control.