Desperate Castaways
Creature — Human Pirate
This creature can't attack unless you control an artifact.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Ixalan
- Price
- $0.09
- EDHREC rank
- #27156
Desperate Castaways is a 2/2 for two mana that can't attack unless you control an artifact — a restriction that makes it a non-starter in any deck not built around artifacts. In those artifact-heavy shells it's still a vanilla beater with no added upside, which is a hard sell in 2025.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Desperate Castaways is legal in Commander, Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, Vintage, Pauper, and Oathbreaker, but the attack restriction means it only earns a slot in artifact-focused decks. In Commander, artifact synergy commanders have access to creatures that do far more than swing as a 2/2 — Desperate Castaways offers no ETB, no activated ability, and no payoff beyond the body. In Pauper, where commons at two mana are held to a high standard, the conditional attack clause is a dealbreaker when unconditional options exist. Across every format, this card is outclassed by the depth of alternatives available.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.09 bulk tier
At $0.09, Desperate Castaways sits firmly in bulk territory. The price accurately reflects the card's power level — don't expect it to move.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.