Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain MTG Card


Throne of the Grim Captain offers card advantage and instant speed actions for adaptive play and resource accumulation. It requires precise mana and card discard, potentially posing deck building and gameplay hurdles. Its versatility and meta-relevance add value to collections, despite some cards offering similar benefits.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Artifact
Abilities Craft,Mill,Transform

Text of card

: Mill two cards. Craft with a Dinosaur, a Merfolk, a Pirate, and a Vampire (, Exile this artifact, Exile the four from among permanents you control and/or cards in your graveyard: Return this card transformed under its owner's control. Craft only as a sorcery.)


Cards like Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain

Throne of the Grim Captain shines in decks emphasizing plundering the depths of graveyards within Magic: The Gathering. It sparks comparisons to cards like Captain’s Hook, which also boosts a creature’s power and confers the menace ability. Still, the Grim Captain’s throne takes it further by siphoning strength from the fallen foes in graveyards.

Wander in Death is another card that sails in a similar thematic fleet, offering the retrieval of creatures from the graveyard. Whereas the Throne harnesses this concept passively by strengthening a single creature, Wander in Death presents a more versatile option by returning two creatures to hand, providing direct card advantage. Notably, both cards share a synergy with themes of piracy and unearthed potential.

Gleaming with synergistic appeal, Throne of the Grim Captain edges out for players who savor continuous board presence enhancement. Its passive benefit of accruing power from a growing graveyard can prove to be a strategic boon that, over time, may surpass the immediate yet fleeting advantages of its counterparts.

Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wander in Death - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wander in Death - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain by color, type and mana cost

Charcoal Diamond - MTG Card versions
Blade of the Oni - MTG Card versions
Transmogrant's Crown - MTG Card versions
Vault Skirge - MTG Card versions
Razorlash Transmogrant - MTG Card versions
Mukotai Soulripper - MTG Card versions
Cranial Plating - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Leaden Myr - MTG Card versions
Salvage Slasher - MTG Card versions
Glaze Fiend - MTG Card versions
Metalspinner's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions
Implement of Malice - MTG Card versions
Wishclaw Talisman - MTG Card versions
Giant's Skewer - MTG Card versions
Gisa's Favorite Shovel - MTG Card versions
Lucille - MTG Card versions
Netherborn Altar - MTG Card versions
Malefic Scythe - MTG Card versions
Draugr's Helm - MTG Card versions
Charcoal Diamond - MTG Card versions
Blade of the Oni - MTG Card versions
Transmogrant's Crown - MTG Card versions
Vault Skirge - MTG Card versions
Razorlash Transmogrant - MTG Card versions
Mukotai Soulripper - MTG Card versions
Cranial Plating - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Leaden Myr - MTG Card versions
Salvage Slasher - MTG Card versions
Glaze Fiend - MTG Card versions
Metalspinner's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions
Implement of Malice - MTG Card versions
Wishclaw Talisman - MTG Card versions
Giant's Skewer - MTG Card versions
Gisa's Favorite Shovel - MTG Card versions
Lucille - MTG Card versions
Netherborn Altar - MTG Card versions
Malefic Scythe - MTG Card versions
Draugr's Helm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Throne of the Grim Captain excels at providing card advantage, a crucial aspect for players looking to outpace their opponents. By enabling access to additional cards, players can maintain a superior position and choices on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This card facilitates resource acceleration boosting your mana availability. With an efficient cost to effect ratio, Throne of the Grim Captain can be an integral part in ramping up to your game-winning strategy swiftly.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Throne of the Grim Captain at instant speed grants you flexibility. This means significant strategic depth as it allows you to react to your opponent’s moves or optimise your own strategies during their end phase, thus keeping them guessing your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Throne of the Grim Captain’s activation hinges upon discarding another card, which could deplete your hand and leave you at a disadvantage, particularly in gameplay scenarios where card retention is vital.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a precise combination of mana types to cast, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that are aligned with its color identity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a more substantial mana investment than some alternatives within its category, Throne of the Grim Captain could be seen as less economical, especially in fast-paced games where efficiency is paramount.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Throne of the Grim Captain can be an asset to a variety of deck builds due to its ability to impact multiple aspects of the game. Whether you’re advancing your board position or disrupting opponents, it offers utility in numerous situations.

Combo Potential: This card plays well with strategies that capitalize on sacrifice effects or death triggers. Its synergy with such mechanics can unlock powerful combinations, enhancing your overall strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the ever-evolving landscape of the game, Throne of the Grim Captain holds its ground by fitting into decks that can pivot according to the current competitive trends, making it a resilient choice for diverse metagames.


How to beat

The Throne of the Grim Captain can pose a unique challenge to overcome in Magic: The Gathering. Masterfully designed, this card oftentimes becomes the cornerstone of powerful strategies, especially in decks that capitalize on creature deaths. However, there are various methods to dismantle the efficacy of this card without disrupting your overall gameplay.

Control decks can prove particularly effective, focusing on removal spells to ensure creatures do not remain on the battlefield long enough to trigger the Throne of the Grim Captain’s abilities. Counterspells also serve as a sound strategy, interrupting key plays and leaving the Throne without a crew to command. Artifact removal spells are essential too, as they can directly target and eliminate the Throne before it can turn the tides of battle.

Adopting a plan that emphasizes board presence and disruptive tactics is crucial. Denying your opponent the triggers and advantages that Throne of the Grim Captain provides can swiftly shift the momentum in your favor, ultimately guiding you towards victory against decks that rely on this potent card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-11-17 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-11-17The Lost Caverns of IxalanLCI 3132015TransformBlackRafal Wechterowicz
22023-11-17The Lost Caverns of IxalanLCI 2662015TransformBlackTiffany Turrill

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-11-10 Although the creature card you put onto the battlefield is an attacking creature, it was never declared as an attacking creature. This means that abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks won't trigger when it enters the battlefield attacking.
2023-11-10 Craft abilities are activated abilities with costs that have a mana component as well as an additional "materials" component.
2023-11-10 Craft abilities are written "Craft with
-aterials]
-ana]", which means "
-ana], Exile this permanent, Exile
-aterials] from among permanents you control and/or cards in your graveyard: Return this card to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. Activate only as a sorcery."
2023-11-10 If a card that isn't a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a card with craft, it'll stay in exile if you activate the craft ability. It won't return to the battlefield.
2023-11-10 If the materials required include multiple objects, you may exile some of them from among permanents you control and the rest from among cards in your graveyard. You don't have to choose all permanents or all cards from your graveyard.
2023-11-10 The Dinosaur, Merfolk, Pirate, and Vampire exiled to pay Throne of the Grim Captain's craft cost need to be separate objects. One creature with changeling is not enough.
2023-11-10 The back faces of some cards with craft refer to cards "used to craft" it. This refers to the cards exiled as part of the cost of the craft ability of the front face. Those cards are considered to be "used to craft" that permanent as long as they remain exiled and the permanent remains on the battlefield, even if the permanent's controller changes or some of its characteristics change (because of a copy effect, for example.)
2023-11-10 You choose which player, planeswalker, or battle the creature you put onto the battlefield is attacking as it enters the battlefield. It doesn't have to be the same player, planeswalker, or battle that The Grim Captain is attacking.
2023-11-10 You may exile tokens you control as part of the materials required. However, because they aren't cards and won't stay in exile, any abilities that refer to what you "used to craft" the back faces won't refer to anything.