Eaten Alive MTG Card


Offers dual threat removal while triggering beneficial death effects, advancing card economy. Alternative casting cost allows strategy flexibility even with constrained mana resources. Requires careful play around sorcery speed limitation to maximize strategic effect.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature or pay . Exile target creature or planeswalker.

"If you hear a groaning noise in the cellar, don't investigate. Don't split up. Just lock the door and barricade it." —Emili, guard captain


Cards like Eaten Alive

Eaten Alive carves its niche within the realm of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering, standing alongside notable cards like Bone Splinters and Spark Harvest. These cards share a key functionality: sacrificing a creature to destroy or exile another. Eaten Alive adds to this by offering the flexibility of exiling a creature or planeswalker, giving players a tactical advantage against indestructible threats or powerful walkers.

Exploring further, we encounter Altar’s Reap, a card that provides an immediate card advantage while requiring the player to sacrifice a creature, much like Eaten Alive. Yet Eaten Alive’s alternate cost of one mana can be a game-changer, enabling a swift response even when mana is scarce. Meanwhile, Costly Plunder allows a player to sacrifice an artifact or creature to draw cards, but lacks the pinpoint removal provided by Eaten Alive.

Comparatively, Eaten Alive stands out in its category, blending the cost-effective elimination of threats with versatile casting options. Against a backdrop of similar spells, Eaten Alive can be a strategic powerhouse, offering Magic: The Gathering players strong board control for a minimal investment.

Bone Splinters - MTG Card versions
Spark Harvest - MTG Card versions
Altar's Reap - MTG Card versions
Costly Plunder - MTG Card versions
Bone Splinters - MTG Card versions
Spark Harvest - MTG Card versions
Altar's Reap - MTG Card versions
Costly Plunder - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Eaten Alive by color, type and mana cost

Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Mind Peel - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Chorus of Woe - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Cry of Contrition - MTG Card versions
Deathmark - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions
Raise Dead - MTG Card versions
Mind Twist - MTG Card versions
Contract from Below - MTG Card versions
Spoils of War - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Despair - MTG Card versions
Mind Peel - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdling Scream - MTG Card versions
Organ Harvest - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Bubbling Muck - MTG Card versions
Chorus of Woe - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Soul Strings - MTG Card versions
Restless Dreams - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapy - MTG Card versions
Confront the Past - MTG Card versions
Stir the Grave - MTG Card versions
Cry of Contrition - MTG Card versions
Deathmark - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Eaten Alive. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
BGBG StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024
Mono-Black MidrangeMono-Black Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 15 2024
BRBR StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 26, 2024
Golgari MillGolgari Mill Free formStandard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024
LifegainLifegain StandardLifegainStandard League 2023-11-23

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Eaten Alive offers the ability to potentially deal with two threats, provided the additional cost is paid, which can edge out your opponents in terms of card economy on the battlefield. Removing a creature or planeswalker while also triggering your own death effects can lead to an overall gain in resources.

Resource Acceleration: The alternate casting cost of sacrificing a creature can be a strategic play in a pinch, offering a way to utilize your assets and maintain tempo even when available mana is low. This can be particularly effective in decks that benefit from their creatures being eaten alive, so to speak.

Instant Speed: Although Eaten Alive is a sorcery, its flexibility in casting cost and potential to alter the board greatly complements any strategy that operates at a swift pace. It ensures that players can develop their strategy and still hold back the necessary resources to interact with the board at crucial junctures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To fully utilize Eaten Alive’s potential, you need to sacrifice a creature or pay its additional cost, which can be taxing if your board presence is weak or you’re aiming to maintain a creature-based strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Eaten Alive requires black mana, potentially restricting it to mono-black or multi-color decks with a reliable mana base to consistently cast it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Eaten Alive offers the utility of removal or a sacrifice outlet, a total cost of four mana including the sacrifice can feel steep, especially when competing against lower-costed removal spells in the format that may afford more flexibility and efficiency in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Eaten Alive in Your Collection

Versatility: Eaten Alive offers a flexible removal option that can be seamlessly integrated into various black decks, from aggressive builds to more controlling strategies. Its ability to exile creatures or planeswalkers makes it a valuable tool in diverse game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card also works well with strategies revolving around sacrificing creatures for value. Its alternate casting cost can turn an extra creature into a strategic advantage, fueling synergies with death-triggered abilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies often dominate the scene, Eaten Alive’s presence is timely, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution to remove key threats from the battlefield, thus keeping your deck competitive in various metagames.


How to beat

Eaten Alive stands out as a removal option for players who aim to maintain a tempo advantage. Comparable to other removal spells like Murder, which cleanly destroys a creature for three mana, Eaten Alive offers versatility with its additional sacrifice outlet for a single black mana. But, it’s crucial to acknowledge the limitations of Eaten Alive – it’s a sorcery, limiting its activation to your own turn. This is a notable contrast to instant-speed removals like Fatal Push or Cast Down.

Bypassing Eaten Alive’s impact involves a multi-faceted game plan. Creatures with hexproof or protection from black are impervious to it—think cards like Shalai, Voice of Plenty or cards with built-in indestructibility like Darksteel Myr. Additionally, playing at instant speed can outmaneuver Eaten Alive, forcing opponents to commit to it on their turn, leaving them vulnerable during yours. Prioritizing creatures that either replace themselves upon death or negate the drawback of sacrifice—such as tokens or creatures with Afterlife—can diminish Eaten Alive’s value.

Therefore, while Eaten Alive provides a cheap and potent removal tool, strategic deck building and gameplay can effectively minimize its effectiveness. Players need to craft their strategy around instant-speed responses and resilient creatures to overcome this hurdle.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into your MTG deck-building skills with Eaten Alive as a key card. Its ability to offer card advantage by handling two threats simultaneously is crucial for outsmarting opponents. Embrace the strategic value of its alternate casting cost, which can maintain your tempo and turn creatures into valuable resources. Although sorcery speed and specific mana demands present challenges, its versatility and meta relevance make Eaten Alive a potent addition to any black deck, enhancing your removal toolkit. For a deeper understanding of how to maximize the impact of Eaten Alive in your gameplay, join BurnMana where we unravel the intricacies of MTG strategy and deck optimization.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eaten Alive MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Eaten Alive and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Eaten Alive Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 992015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 992015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
32022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4092015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Eaten Alive has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal