The 2012 Magic: The Gathering Avacyn Restored foil mythic rare card, Descent into Madness (#97), is a powerful black enchantment that exiles permanents and cards as despair counters accumulate.
Descent into Madness
2012 • Magic: The Gathering • Avacyn Restored
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Price History
$1.57
Description
Designed by Anthony Francisco, this card exemplifies the dark, gothic aesthetic of the Avacyn Restored expansion while delivering a mechanically potent effect for black mana players. As a mythic rare, it sits at the top of the rarity hierarchy, making it a highly sought-after piece for enthusiasts of the game’s strategic depth and visual design. Descent into Madness operates as a progressive threat on the battlefield. At the beginning of the controller’s upkeep, a despair counter is added to the enchantment, increasing its power each turn. Once activated, the card forces each player to exile a number of permanents they control and cards from their hand equal to the total despair counters present. This scaling effect creates a dynamic gameplay experience where patience and timing are crucial, rewarding players who can navigate the escalating pressure it applies to the board state. For collectors, the foil finish of this Avacyn Restored card adds a layer of visual appeal, with the shimmering surface highlighting the intricate details of the card’s layout. The black color identity and enchantment type make it a staple for decks focused on board control and attrition. Whether you are building a thematic collection of Magic: The Gathering staples or seeking out high-rarity cards for your library, Descent into Madness offers both aesthetic and mechanical value. Its enduring popularity in the collector market underscores its status as a memorable card from the 2012 era, appealing to both seasoned players and new enthusiasts alike.
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Card Details
The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
Catalog Profile
The core identity of the card within the set.
Featured Subject
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Featured
Descent into Madness
Game
Magic: The Gathering
TCG Attributes
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Mythic Rare
Anthony Francisco
Card Stock
English
Foil
{3}{B}{B}
Enchantment
B
Card Text
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At the beginning of your upkeep, put a despair counter on this enchantment, then each player exiles X permanents they control and/or cards from their hand, where X is the number of despair counters on this enchantment.
The stairs lead down in both directions.






