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Indestructible metal
What this set is
Darksteel continues the Mirrodin block with a small, artifact-heavy set. Its signature material is darksteel itself: eight cards have indestructible, which means destroy effects and lethal damage don't put them in the graveyard. Darksteel is where that keyword began.
Modular is its other new mechanic, on 11 artifact creatures that enter with +1/+1 counters and pass them to another artifact creature when they die. Darksteel Citadel, an indestructible artifact land, fed the same affinity decks Mirrodin started.
Skullclamp, which draws two cards whenever the equipped creature dies, is the card people remember; Modern and Legacy both ban it. Sword of Fire and Ice and Sword of Light and Shadow began the cycle of two-color Swords, and Whispersilk Cloak and Darksteel Forge are Commander regulars.
Themes
Every mechanic in Darksteel
Indestructible
An indestructible permanent can't be destroyed by effects that say destroy or by lethal damage. It can still be exiled, sacrificed or given -X/-X.
Modular
The artifact creature enters with that many +1/+1 counters. When it dies, you may move its counters onto another artifact creature.
Affinity for artifacts
Back from Mirrodin: spells that cost {1} less for each artifact you control.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Darksteel is a single code. It is Modern-legal, with two Modern bans.
Not Standard-legal, and never Pioneer-legal: Pioneer starts at Return to Ravnica (October 2012). Everything here is legal in Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander unless a ban list says otherwise. Modern bans Skullclamp and Mycosynth Lattice, and Legacy bans Skullclamp. Commander bans Sundering Titan, and Vintage restricts Trinisphere. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Darksteel
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Darksteel are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Darksteel cards?
In Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Darksteel left Standard long ago and was never in Pioneer, which starts in 2012. Modern bans Skullclamp and Mycosynth Lattice, and Commander bans Sundering Titan.
Did indestructible start in Darksteel?
Yes. Darksteel introduced the keyword on eight cards.
Is Skullclamp legal in Commander?
Yes. It is banned in Modern and Legacy but legal in Commander and Vintage.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Darksteel released on Feb 6, 2004; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
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