DarbaHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding the Upkeep Cost

Darba features a triggered ability that occurs at the start of your upkeep phase. This is a mandatory trigger that goes on the stack before you draw your card for the turn. You are presented with a choice: pay two green mana or sacrifice the creature. This is not an optional trigger you can ignore; you must resolve the ability by either paying the full cost or losing the permanent.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, the upkeep step begins and Darba's ability triggers and is placed on the stack. Second, players may respond to this trigger with instants or activated abilities. Third, as the ability resolves, you decide whether to pay the {G}{G}. If you have the mana and choose to pay, Darba remains on the battlefield. If you cannot or choose not to pay, Darba is moved from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that this happens before you draw. If you were hoping to draw a forest to pay for the upkeep, it will be too late, as the mana must be paid during the upkeep step. Additionally, you cannot pay partial mana; you must pay exactly two green mana or the sacrifice occurs. If Darba leaves the battlefield in response to the trigger, you can still choose to pay the mana, though it serves no functional purpose.

Strategy: When to Sacrifice

Knowing when to let Darba go is just as important as keeping it alive. If you need your mana to deploy more utility creatures or recover resources, it is often better to let the sacrifice trigger resolve. Since it is a 'dies' trigger when sacrificed, you can use this to your advantage with cards that trigger upon a creature's death.

Interaction examples

Managing Resources

Solemn Simulacrum

If you play Solemn Simulacrum the turn before Darba's upkeep, you can search for a basic Forest and put it onto the battlefield tapped. This ensures you have the extra green mana source ready to pay the {G}{G} cost during your next upkeep, keeping your Bird Beast active.

Recurring Your Threats

Eternal Witness

If you choose not to pay the {G}{G} upkeep cost, Darba is sacrificed and put into the graveyard. You can then cast Eternal Witness to return Darba from your graveyard to your hand, allowing you to replay the creature later when you have more stable mana production.

The Upkeep Sequence

With only Darba on the field, the turn begins. During your upkeep, the ability triggers. If you have two untapped Forests, you can tap them to add {G}{G} to your mana pool and spend it to satisfy the requirement. If you only have one Forest, the cost cannot be met, and Darba must be sacrificed.