Shallow Grave MTG Card


Instant speed allows Shallow Grave to ambush opponents, fortifying its role as a game-changing tactical play. Combines card advantage with resource acceleration for powerful creature plays at a reduced cost. Demands careful graveyard management while remaining at a specific mana cost, which affects deck synergy.
Shallow Grave - Mirage
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Released1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set nameMirage
Set codeMIR
Number141
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohn Coulthart

Text of card

Put the top creature card from your graveyard into play as though it were just played. That creature is unaffected by summoning sickness. Remove the creature from the game at end of any turn.

Good help is hard to dig up.


Cards like Shallow Grave

Shallow Grave stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its immediate impact in returning creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield. This powerful reanimation spell has similarities with other cards such as Exhume and Reanimate. They all serve to quickly bring creatures back into play, but Shallow Grave offers a twist with its “at the end of turn” exile effect, contrasting Exhume, which allows both players to benefit by returning a creature to the battlefield without the exile clause.

Reanimate is another closely related card, which also brings a creature from the graveyard back to the battlefield, but it stays in play rather than being exiled. Reanimate, however, comes with a potentially high life cost dependent on the creature’s power, while Shallow Grave has a fixed cost without direct life loss. Animate Dead is also part of this family of cards, differing in that it attaches to the creature as an enchantment, a less temporary solution compared to the fleeting presence ensured by Shallow Grave’s effect.

While analyzing reanimation spells, Shallow Grave’s transient yet instantaneous nature positions it as an ideal card for surprise tactics and combo gameplay, providing a unique option within the realm of resurrection-themed cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Exhume - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shallow Grave by color, type and mana cost

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Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Chill Haunting - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
Toxic Stench - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Chill Haunting - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
ReanimatorReanimator LegacyReanimatorLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-05

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shallow Grave has an intrinsic benefit of potentially reclaiming a high-value creature from the graveyard. This enables players to reutilize powerful creatures for a significant one-turn impact, which can often swing the game in their favor. By effectively letting you bypass the cost of casting a creature from your hand, it’s a strategic way to reclaim and reassert board presence.

Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a form of resource acceleration by allowing you to cheat a creature onto the battlefield for much less than its normal casting cost. It essentially offers a discount on high-cost creatures by utilizing the graveyard as a resource, making it a cornerstone for combo-oriented decks that aim to assemble game-winning interactions efficiently.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Shallow Grave at instant speed adds a layer of unpredictability and tactical depth. You can wait until the last possible moment to make a decisive move, often catching your opponent off guard. This flexibility allows for reactionary plays during your opponent’s end phase, or in response to actions that would disrupt your game plan, which is pivotal in a dynamic and interactive game like MTG.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside of Shallow Grave is the necessity to carefully orchestrate your graveyard contents. Mismanagement of graveyard resources can fizzle the intended effect, wasting valuable momentum in a game.

Specific Mana Cost: Shallow Grave’s casting cost demands one black and one generic mana, which might not fit seamlessly into all deck architectures, particularly those running multiple colors or with a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana might seem low, but given that the resurrected creature is exiled at the beginning of the next end step, other reanimation spells in the game could provide more permanent solutions without this drawback.


Reasons to Include Shallow Grave in Your Collection

Versatility: Shallow Grave is a dynamic card capable of fitting into any deck strategy emphasizing speed and reanimation. Its swift response to return a creature from the graveyard to play can turn the tide of a game unexpectedly, making it a fine pick for surprise tactics.

Combo Potential: The card shines in combinations that capitalize on fleeting yet potent creature effects. It can resurrect combo pieces from the graveyard for an instant impact, potentially leading to a game-winning turn.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that sometimes slows down due to control decks, Shallow Grave provides a quick and efficient way to bypass typical summoning constraints, ensuring your key creatures have an immediate effect on the battlefield and pressuring opponents to have an immediate answer.


How to beat

Shallow Grave is often a pivotal card in MTG, bringing creatures back from the graveyard for a surprise tactic. When looking to counter this strategy, graveyard disruption is key. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt offer instant speed graveyard removal, effectively neutering the potential of Shallow Grave. Another viable option is Leyline of the Void, which exiles cards that go to the graveyard, ensuring that there’s nothing for Shallow Grave to target.

Timing is also essential when playing against Shallow Grave. Instant speed removal such as Path to Exile can be held in reserve until an opponent attempts to reanimate a creature. This way, you can respond to Shallow Grave by exiling the targeted creature, rendering the spell useless. If you’re playing blue, countermagic like Counterspell also serves as an effective preventive measure.

Diligence in tracking what gets discarded or milled can give you an edge, allowing you to anticipate and disrupt a Shallow Grave play. In essence, understanding the mechanics of your opponent’s graveyard and maintaining control over it with quick responses and anticipatory plays will bolster your defenses against the surprise reanimation tactics of Shallow Grave.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the tactics and strategies of MTG with Shallow Grave, a card that presents opportunities for game-changing plays. Its ability to quickly resurrect creatures lends itself to dynamic strategies and can turn the tides of combat in your favor. This card is a must-have for players looking to craft a deck with a strong reanimation theme or for those who wish to include an element of surprise. Master the intricacies of Shallow Grave and similar resurrection spells to enhance your gameplay. For a comprehensive guide on incorporating this powerful card into your arsenal, and tips on countering it, visit our in-depth discussions. Hone your MTG skills and ensure your strategies are graves ahead of the competition.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shallow Grave MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Shallow Grave and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shallow Grave has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shallow Grave card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 Only exiles the creature if the creature is still on the battlefield at the beginning of the end step.