Yarok, the Desecrated MTG Card


Yarok the Desecrated excels in generating significant card advantage with its trigger-doubling ability. Enabling resource acceleration, Yarok enhances plays by doubling land placement and token generation. Yarok’s synergies with instant-speed cards can lead to unexpected and powerful game maneuvers.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Elemental Horror
Abilities Deathtouch,Lifelink
Power 3
Toughness 5

Text of card

Deathtouch, lifelink If a permanent entering the battlefield causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.

"Yarok grieves within the waste Of Bala Ged's corrupted land." —*Lament for Bala Ged*, stanza 1


Cards like Yarok, the Desecrated

Yarok the Desecrated stands as a unique powerhouse in MTG’s world of creatures that benefit from entering the battlefield. While there are other cards like Panharmonicon, which doubles your enter the battlefield (ETB) triggers, Yarok sets itself apart with its creature type and being a direct threat on the board. Yarok combines these triggers with a solid 3/5 body and lifelink, making it both an offensive and defensive asset.

Roon of the Hidden Realm offers a different but related angle to the ETB strategy. Roon focuses on reusing individual ETB effects by exiling creatures until end of turn and returning them to the battlefield. It allows for repetitive use of single powerful effects. However, the scope of Roon’s ability is limited when compared to Yarok’s broad doubling effect.

Lastly, there’s Brago, King Eternal. Brago can also manipulate ETB effects by flickering multiple creatures upon dealing combat damage. Unlike Yarok, Brago can potentially reset an entire board of permanents, but this requires a successful attack, making it more conditionally dependent. Meanwhile, Yarok applies its effect universally and immediately upon appearance, proving a consistent threat that doesn’t rely on combat.

Panharmonicon - MTG Card versions
Roon of the Hidden Realm - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Panharmonicon - MTG Card versions
Roon of the Hidden Realm - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Yarok the Desecrated stands out in its ability to generate substantial card advantage. This is because whenever a permanent entering the battlefield causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time. Therefore, if you’re playing creatures with enter the battlefield effects, you get to experience those benefits twice, essentially drawing you into more options and overwhelming your opponents with value.

Resource Acceleration: This commander enables enhanced resource acceleration by doubling the effects of permanents that would put additional lands into play or create tokens that can be used as mana sources. With Yarok’s presence, these actions happen twice, effectively fast-tracking your mana development and allowing for more significant plays much earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: While Yarok itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with cards that operate at instant speed. Since Yarok doubles your enter the battlefield triggers, this incentivizes you to include instant-speed effects that bounce creatures back to your hand or flash creatures in on opponents’ turns for a surprise double trigger. This tactic keeps opponents guessing and can lead to powerful moves that turn the tide of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Yarok the Desecrated does not have a discard requirement itself, it’s important to note that building a deck around it could pressure your hand. As Yarok capitalizes on trigger effects, you may find yourself looking for ways to recover from sacrificing other resources to maintain a board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Yarok’s casting cost is specific and somewhat restrictive, needing one green, one blue, and one black mana plus two others. This tri-color demand makes it less flexible and can complicate your mana base, especially early in the game when you’re trying to establish all three colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five mana total cost, Yarok may come into play later than you’d like. There are lower-cost creatures that might offer more immediate board impact or have easier casting conditions, which can make Yarok a bit cumbersome in fast-paced matches where early-game tempo is vital.


Reasons to Include Yarok the Desecrated in Your Collection

Versatility: Yarok the Desecrated shines as a multi-purpose powerhouse, seamlessly integrating into decks that exploit enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. With its ability to double triggers, it elevates strategies across various formats from Commander to Standard, making it a card with broad utility.

Combo Potential: This five-mana legendary creature is a linchpin for combo decks, enabling explosive plays that can turn the tide of the game. It’s not just about value; it’s about the potential to orchestrate game-winning interactions, exponentially increasing the impact of other ETB effects in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a constantly evolving environment, Yarok remains relevant due to its inherent flexibility and the evergreen nature of ETB strategies. It aligns well with decks that need that extra push to dominate over opponents, particularly in multiplayer formats where it can multiply your advantage with each play.


How to Beat Yarok the Desecrated

Yarok the Desecrated is a powerful force in MTG, known for doubling the triggered abilities of permanents you control. Tackling such a potent card requires a strategic approach. Addressing Yarok’s threat involves disrupting the synergy it creates on the battlefield. Removal spells are key; a swift Murder or Path to Exile can take Yarok out before those abilities start stacking up. Graveyard hate cards, like Scavenging Ooze, prevent it from making a comeback once it hits the graveyard.

Additionally, countering Yarok upon casting can stifle your opponent’s strategy, making a timely Cancel or Mystic Confluence crucial in a tight match. When these methods are not viable, focusing on a strategy that limits the impact of entering the battlefield triggers can reduce Yarok’s value. This could mean employing Torpor Orb or utilizing Hushbringer effectively to neutralize its advantage. In essence, rapid elimination, strategic countering, or employing specific static abilities that inhibit Yarok’s effect are the cornerstones for reigning in the desecrated being’s game-changing potential on the board.


BurnMana Recommendations

For any MTG enthusiast looking to harness the raw power of Yarok the Desecrated, understanding its strengths and potential pitfalls is key. Doubling up on enter the battlefield effects can shift the game in your favor, offering card advantage and resource acceleration that’s hard to match. Yet, strategizing around its tri-color mana requirement and higher casting cost is essential. Whether you’re adding Yarok to your collection for its combo potential or its meta relevance in multiplayer formats, the journey doesn’t stop here. Dive deeper into strategy and optimization tips with us – it’s more than just gameplay, it’s a quest to sharpen your skills and overcome any challenge the game throws your way.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Yarok, the Desecrated MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Multiverse Legends, 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 Yarok, the Desecrated and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Yarok, the Desecrated Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 2202015NormalBlackDaarken
22023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1932015NormalBlackJessica Rossier
32023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1282015NormalBlackDaarken
42023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 193z2015NormalBlackJessica Rossier
52023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 632015NormalBlackJessica Rossier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Yarok, the Desecrated has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 Abilities that apply “as
-his creature] enters the battlefield,” such as choosing a color with Diamond Knight, are also unaffected.
2019-07-12 If a permanent entering the battlefield at the same time as Yarok (including Yarok itself) causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.
2019-07-12 If a triggered ability is linked to a second ability, additional instances of that triggered ability are also linked to that second ability. If the second ability refers to “the exiled card,” it refers to all cards exiled by instances of the triggered ability.
2019-07-12 If you somehow control two Yaroks, a permanent entering the battlefield causes abilities to trigger three times, not four. A third Yarok causes abilities to trigger four times, a fourth causes abilities to trigger five times, and so on.
2019-07-12 In some cases involving linked abilities, an ability requires information about “the exiled card.” When this happens, the ability gets multiple answers. If these answers are being used to determine the value of a variable, the sum is used. For example, if Elite Arcanist's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers twice, two cards are exiled. The value of X in the activation cost of Elite Arcanist's other ability is the sum of the two cards' mana values. As the ability resolves, you create copies of both cards and can cast none, one, or both of the copies in any order.
2019-07-12 Replacement effects are unaffected by Yarok's ability. For example, a creature that enters the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter on it won't receive an additional +1/+1 counter.
2019-07-12 Yarok affects a permanent's own enters-the-battlefield triggered abilities as well as other triggered abilities that trigger when that permanent enters the battlefield. Such triggered abilities start with “when” or “whenever.”
2019-07-12 Yarok's effect doesn't copy the triggered ability; it just causes the ability to trigger twice. Any choices made as you put the ability onto the stack, such as modes and targets, are made separately for each instance of the ability. Any choices made on resolution, such as whether to put counters on a permanent, are also made individually.
2019-07-12 You don't need to control the permanent entering the battlefield, only the permanent that has the triggered ability.