Jump to section ▾
Innistrad gets darker
What this set is
Dark Ascension is the second set of the Innistrad block, and the story has the plane's protector missing and the monsters gaining ground. It keeps the first set's double-faced cards and flashback and adds two mechanics.
Undying returns a creature to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter when it dies, as long as it had no +1/+1 counter on it. Fateful hour gives a bonus while you have 5 or less life, the humans' last stand.
The set gave Constructed Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Faithless Looting, and Commander Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Gravecrawler and Vault of the Archangel.
Themes
Every mechanic in Dark Ascension
Undying
When the creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter. Removing the counter, or sacrificing it again quickly, lets it come back repeatedly.
Fateful hour
An ability word: a bonus that applies while you have 5 or less life. It turns a losing position into a reason to keep a card in hand.
Flashback
Cast from your graveyard for the flashback cost, then exile. Carried over from Innistrad.
Transform
More double-faced cards, including werewolves and the Elbrus, the Binding Blade Equipment that becomes a Demon.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Dark Ascension shipped under a single code. It predates Pioneer, so the set is legal in Modern and the eternal formats.
Not Standard-legal. Standard only ever holds the last few years of sets, so everything this old has long since left it. These cards are still playable in Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Limited
The draft format
Drafted as Dark Ascension, Innistrad, Innistrad. The first set's tribal pairs stayed, with undying adding resilience to the sacrifice and counters decks.
Innistrad tribes, continued
Tribal pairs
Spirits, Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves and Humans keep their color pairs from Innistrad, and Dark Ascension's smaller pack adds depth to each.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Dark Ascension
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Dark Ascension are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
What does undying do?
When a creature with undying dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter. It debuted in Dark Ascension.
What is fateful hour?
An ability word for effects that apply only while you have 5 or less life. It debuted in Dark Ascension.
Is Thalia, Guardian of Thraben from Dark Ascension?
Yes. Thalia was first printed in Dark Ascension: a two-mana first striker that makes noncreature spells cost one more.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Dark Ascension released on Feb 3, 2012; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Dark Ascension in Commander?
TurnZero HQ keeps deck records, MMR, and moments for every Commander night, so you can see which new cards are actually earning their slot.
Create Free Account