Debt to the Deathless MTG Card


Offers significant card advantage by coupling life drain with personal life gain in one fell swoop. Works best with mana acceleration, transforming into a devastating late-game force as mana increases. Though powerful, the card demands precise mana colors and is optimally a high-cost, late-game play.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Each opponent loses two times X life. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.

Some of Orzhov's cruelest collectors remember their debtors by taste alone.


Cards like Debt to the Deathless

Debt to the Deathless makes a powerful statement in its capacity as a life manipulation spell in MTG. When evaluating its mechanics within the game, cards such as Exsanguinate often come to mind. Both of these spells allow players to drain life from their opponents and gain life in equal measure. Debt to the Deathless, however, scales in intensity with its X cost, doubling the life drain and gain for each mana spent. Conversely, Exsanguinate offers a more linear and predictable effect, without the multiplicative feature.

Another card to consider in this same realm is Gray Merchant of Asphodel, colloquially known as Gary, which can also provide a significant life swing. While not scalable in the same way, Gary’s devotion mechanic can result in substantial life totals shifting, demonstrating an alternative approach to achieving a similar end. Furthermore, there’s Profane Command, offering a flexible choice of effects, one of which mirrors the life loss dynamic. However, its lack of life gain for the caster makes it a more aggressive, yet arguably less defensive, option compared to Debt to the Deathless.

Analyzing the strengths and strategic uses of these similar cards, it is clear that Debt to the Deathless stands out with its potential for commanding late-game swings, establishing it as a formidable spell for players looking to leverage high mana for maximum impact.

Exsanguinate - MTG Card versions
Gray Merchant of Asphodel - MTG Card versions
Profane Command - MTG Card versions
Exsanguinate - MTG Card versions
Gray Merchant of Asphodel - MTG Card versions
Profane Command - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Debt to the Deathless by color, type and mana cost

Silverquill Command - MTG Card versions
Purge the Profane - MTG Card versions
Call to the Feast - MTG Card versions
Kaya's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Exhilarating Elocution - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred's Restoration - MTG Card versions
Silverquill Command - MTG Card versions
Purge the Profane - MTG Card versions
Call to the Feast - MTG Card versions
Kaya's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Exhilarating Elocution - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred's Restoration - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Debt to the Deathless allows you to essentially strip resources from your opponents while simultaneously bolstering your own life total. By dealing damage equal to twice the mana spent and gaining that much life, you’re effectively swinging the game’s momentum in your favor, which can be a massive advantage in longer matches.

Resource Acceleration: While Debt to the Deathless doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it hugely benefits from any form of mana ramp present in your deck. More mana means you can sink more into this spell, leading to a larger life gap between you and your opponents. It encourages strategies that build towards a powerful late-game.

Instant Speed: Although not cast at instant speed—Debt to the Deathless is a sorcery—the card can have an impact similar to an instant due to its potential to be a game-ending play. Timing this card right after opponents have tapped out or when they’re low on life can make it feel just as sudden and game-decisive as any instant play.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Debt to the Deathless comes with a stringent mana requirement, needing both white and black mana. This specific color combination can restrict its inclusion, making it less flexible and potentially unusable in decks that don’t run both colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the potential for massive life swings is inherent in Debt to the Deathless, its initial cost is steep. Starting at four mana and only increasing the effect by X makes it a late-game play. In faster-paced games, players may find themselves overrun before they have the chance to capitalize on its power.

Discard Requirement: While Debt to the Deathless doesn’t inherently require a discard, building up to a potent X value often means depleting your hand. As such, players may find themselves at a card disadvantage, having invested many resources into a single, albeit powerful, spell.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Debt to the Deathless is a dynamic card that serves multiple roles in a variety of decks. Its scalable mana cost allows players to use it in the early game for moderate effects or in the late game for a significant impact, making it a robust finisher in many games.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with other lifegain and mana acceleration strategies, enabling explosive turns that can swing games dramatically. It works extremely well in decks that aim to multiply mana sources or benefit from life total changes.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control and combo decks prevail, Debt to the Deathless can be a game-changer. It provides a valuable lifeline against aggressive strategies while also doubling as a means to deplete opponents’ life totals in stalled board states or during protracted matches.


How to beat

Debt to the Deathless is a powerful late-game spell in Magic: The Gathering that can shift the tide of a match by draining an opponent’s life while replenishing yours. To counteract this card, you’ll want to focus on prevention and disruption strategies. Keeping up mana for counter spells like Negate or Absorb is critical to prevent Debt to the Deathless from resolving. If you’re unable to counter it, alternative options include life gain acceleration to outpace the damage, or leveraging cards like Erebos, God of the Dead to prevent life gain altogether.

In decks that can’t use counterspells, hand disruption is a valuable tool. Thoughtseize and Duress can extract Debt to the Deathless from your opponent’s hand before they get a chance to cast it. Furthermore, graveyard manipulation with cards like Scavenging Ooze can remove Debt to the Deathless from the equation if it’s thrown into the graveyard through discarding or milling effects. Lastly, consider deploying aggressive creatures early on to pressure life totals and reduce the game length, leaving little opportunity for your opponent to gather the resources required for such a devastating spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you are looking to enrich your MTG experience, ponder the strategic depth that Debt to the Deathless adds to your game. Manifesting an incredible late-game turning point, it leverages your mana ramp to steal the show. Discover how it harmonizes with other life-altering cards to dominate matches and resist fast-paced onslaughts. While it demands a fine-tuned mana base, the potential payoff in your control or combo decks is considerable. Accept the challenge to employ disruption techniques effectively, ensuring this potent card can consistently achieve its game-ending capability. Expand your MTG horizons with us and embrace the full potential of Debt to the Deathless.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Debt to the Deathless MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Ravnica Remastered, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Debt to the Deathless and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Debt to the Deathless Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Seb McKinnon.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 642003NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1762015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
32024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3641997NormalBlackSeb McKinnon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Debt to the Deathless has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal