Extract from Darkness is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Each player mills two cards. Then you put a creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.
Complete guide
Extract from Darkness is a versatile Dimir sorcery that combines resource depletion with powerful reanimation. It allows you to dig into every player's library before snatching the best creature available in any graveyard.
What It Does
When you cast Extract from Darkness, it forces every player to mill two cards from the top of their library. Immediately after the milling occurs, you choose any one creature card currently in any graveyard and put it onto the battlefield under your control.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, the spell begins resolving and all players move the top two cards of their libraries to their graveyards simultaneously. Second, you look at all graveyards to select a creature card. Note that this spell does not target; you make your choice during resolution, meaning opponents cannot exile a specific card in response to your choice. Finally, the chosen creature enters the battlefield under your control and the sorcery is placed in your graveyard.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming you must choose a target when casting the spell. Because it doesn't use the word 'target,' you can decide which creature to take even if the graveyards change while the spell is on the stack. Additionally, you are fully allowed to choose a creature card that was just milled by the first part of the spell's effect.
When to Play It
This card is most effective when your opponents have high-value creatures in their decks or when you have already filled graveyards with powerful threats. It serves as both a source of card advantage and a way to bypass high mana costs for late-game creatures.
Interaction examples
DamnationSuppose your opponent has a massive creature and you cast Damnation to destroy it. On your next turn, you cast Extract from Darkness. Each player mills two cards, then you can choose that massive creature that was destroyed by Damnation—or any creature just milled—and bring it back to the battlefield under your control.
Living DeathIf a player casts Living Death earlier in the game, the graveyards might be empty of creatures. However, if you cast Extract from Darkness later, the initial mill effect of the spell might put a creature card into a graveyard. Even if the graveyards were empty when you started casting the spell, you can pick a creature card that was just milled during the resolution of Extract from Darkness.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Extract from Darkness
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Extract from Darkness doesn't target a creature card. You choose which card you're putting onto the battlefield as it resolves. You can choose any creature card in a graveyard at that time, including one just put into a graveyard by Extract from Darkness. If there are no creature cards in graveyards at that time, Extract from Darkness simply finishes resolving.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ashnod's Altar + Dualcaster Mage + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Dualcaster Mage by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Dualcaster Mage enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Dualcaster Mage.
- 5Resolve the Dualcaster Mage trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Dualcaster Mage from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Phyrexian Altar + Naru Meha, Master Wizard + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Naru Meha by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Naru Meha enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Naru Meha.
- 5Resolve the Naru Meha trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Naru Meha from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Altar of Dementia + Naru Meha, Master Wizard + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Naru Meha by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Naru Meha enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Naru Meha.
- 5Resolve the Naru Meha trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Naru Meha from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Phyrexian Altar + Dualcaster Mage + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Dualcaster Mage by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Dualcaster Mage enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Dualcaster Mage.
- 5Resolve the Dualcaster Mage trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Dualcaster Mage from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Goblin Bombardment + Dualcaster Mage + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Dualcaster Mage by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Dualcaster Mage enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Dualcaster Mage.
- 5Resolve the Dualcaster Mage trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Dualcaster Mage from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Ashnod's Altar + Naru Meha, Master Wizard + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Naru Meha by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Naru Meha enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Naru Meha.
- 5Resolve the Naru Meha trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Naru Meha from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Goblin Bombardment + Naru Meha, Master Wizard + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Naru Meha by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Naru Meha enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Naru Meha.
- 5Resolve the Naru Meha trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Naru Meha from your graveyard to the battlefield..
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Altar of Dementia + Dualcaster Mage + Extract from Darkness
- 1Cast Extract from Darkness by paying its mana cost
- 2Holding priority, cast Dualcaster Mage by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Dualcaster Mage enters, it triggers, targeting Extract from Darkness.
- 4Holding priority, activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Dualcaster Mage.
- 5Resolve the Dualcaster Mage trigger, copying Extract from Darkness
- 6Resolve the Extract from Darkness copy, causing each player to mill two cards and returning Dualcaster Mage from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Extract from Darkness
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