A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Peasant |
| Abilities | Disturb,Mill,Transform |
| Released | 2021-09-24 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt |
| Set code | MID |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | A-218 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Transform |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Raoul Vitale |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage is maximized by milling and disturbing from the graveyard, enhancing future strategic plays.
- Resource acceleration is achieved through graveyard spell casts, adding value with untap abilities.
- Instant speed casting of A-Departed Soulkeeper provides tactical flexibility during gameplay.
Text of card
When Devoted Grafkeeper enters the battlefield, mill four cards. Whenever you cast a spell from your graveyard, tap target creature you don't control. Disturb (You may cast this card from your graveyard transformed for its disturb cost.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When entering the battlefield or transforming into A-Departed Soulkeeper, A-Devoted Grafkeeper allows you to mill two cards. This fuels your graveyard, setting you up for future plays that benefit from having a well-stocked graveyard. Additionally, casting spells from your graveyard using its Disturb cost can lead to a significant card advantage over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: A-Devoted Grafkeeper helps to accelerate your resources by enabling you to cast your graveyard spells more easily. The tap ability to untap another target permanent after casting a spell from the graveyard can act as pseudo-ramp, potentially unlocking additional mana or reusing utility creatures for extra value.
Instant Speed: The Disturb ability of A-Devoted Grafkeeper allows you to cast A-Departed Soulkeeper at instant speed. This provides flexibility, enabling you to surprise your opponent with an unexpected blocker or to return a creature to your hand when most advantageous—typically during the end step of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper necessitates a discard from your hand to activate its Disturb ability. This can backfire when your hand size is dwindling, potentially forcing you to relinquish valuable cards too early in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting and Disturb costs are both tied to white and blue mana. This requirement can challenge deck building, restricting it to Azorius colors or decks with strong mana fixing to accommodate its specific needs.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing three mana for the initial creature and then additional mana to utilize its Disturb feature from the graveyard may slow your pace. For players aiming for a fast start, this mana investment might seem steep compared to other creature options.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper card functions as a robust enabler in graveyard-focused decks. Its ability to tap and untap creatures adds fluidity to a variety of game plans, allowing for unexpected plays and enhanced board control.
Combo Potential: This card flawlessly synergizes with self-mill strategies, setting up the graveyard for larger plays. Its graveyard casting option, A-Departed Soulkeeper, can lead to explosive turns, especially in decks designed to leverage the myriad of interactions available with returned creatures.
Meta-Relevance: With its unique set of abilities, the card maintains relevance in many metagames, adeptly handling creature-centric tactics and providing value that can shift the tide of a match, particularly in games that extend into longer turns and require strategic graveyard management.
How to beat A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper
A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper brings unique dynamics to the battleground by its ability to disrupt opponent strategies while managing graveyard resources. This versatility makes it a priority target for removal in any game. To effectively counter it, consider removal spells that can target both creature and enchantment types since A-Departed Soulkeeper transforms into an enchantment. Spot removal cards like Murderous Rider or Feed the Swarm provide the flexibility to address the Grafkeeper regardless of its form.
Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt can also cripple the card’s impact by exiling the graveyard, thus negating the reanimation tactics. Furthermore, efficient spell countermeasures like Dovin’s Veto or Negate ensure that A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper never hits the board. Finally, keeping the pressure with aggressive creatures may force your opponent to use their Grafkeeper defensively, diminishing its utility and enabling you to maintain control of the game tempo.
By anticipating the transformation and using targeted removals or preemptive counters, players can mitigate the dual-sided threat posed by this unique Magic: The Gathering card and maintain a strategic advantage over their opponent.
Cards like A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper
A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper introduces a unique dynamic to the graveyard interaction strategies in MTG. This card echoes similarities to other graveyard-centric creatures like Stitcher’s Supplier, which also mills cards and sets the stage for further graveyard play. However, A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper steps up the synergy by allowing you to tap two target creatures whenever you cast a spell from the graveyard, not just simply milling.
Another kin in this space is Cemetery Tampering, which persistently mills cards each turn. Despite lacking the direct battlefield interaction, it strengthens your graveyard for potent combos. Yet, the instant disruption and creature control granted by A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper is unmatched in this comparison. We also see Tormod, the Desecrator as a fitting comparator with its ability to create Zombies whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard. Whereas Tormod leverages quantity, A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper thrives on strategy and control.
To sum up, while there are several cards that flirt with graveyard themes, A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper stands out for its interactive controlling capabilities coupled with self-milling, playing into the hands of those who prefer an active command over their graveyard strategy in MTG.
Cards similar to A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-Devoted Grafkeeper // A-Departed Soulkeeper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |