Acererak the Archlich MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 87a
2021-07-23 - Number 87
2021-07-23 - Number 87s
2021-07-23 - Number 87p
2021-07-23 - Number 372
2002-06-24 - Number 92688
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Zombie Wizard |
| Abilities | Venture into the dungeon |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When Acererak the Archlich enters the battlefield, if you haven't completed Tomb of Annihilation, return Acererak the Archlich to its owner's hand and venture into the dungeon. Whenever Acererak the Archlich attacks, for each opponent, you create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token unless that player sacrifices a creature.
Cards like Acererak the Archlich
Acererak the Archlich emerges as a unique multifaceted card in MTG, drawing close parallels to cards that both evade death and scale their abilities based on dungeons. Like Disturbed Burial, which provides a consistent creature return mechanic, Acererak stands out with its ability to repeatedly venture into dungeons when cast from the graveyard. However, unlike Disturbed Burial’s scalability through its buyback cost, Acererak obviates additional mana expenditure by returning to the hand if a dungeon hasn’t been completed, ensuring a persistent board presence and dungeon progress.
Another analogous card is Gonti, Lord of Luxury. Both Gonti and Acererak disturb opponents by manipulating the game’s flow, though Gonti favors direct card advantage from an opponent’s deck over dungeon mechanic synergies. The Archlich, on the other hand, rewards longer-term strategizing and deck-building around the dungeon mechanic. Balancing these aspects can determine the potency of Acererak in a game, situating it as an invaluable asset within specific MTG deck archetypes focused on dungeon-related interactions.
Evaluating Acererak’s value amongst similar cards in MTG requires acknowledging its recursive utility and how it strategically complements decks that capitalize on the dungeon mechanics. Its distinctive design ostensibly renders it a focal point in dungeon-centric strategies.
Cards similar to Acererak the Archlich by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Acererak the Archlich. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WUBRG | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-06 | |
 | Aluren | Legacy | Aluren | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Legacy Mainevent |
| Esper Control | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
| Four-color Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
| Sultai Aluren | Legacy | Aluren | Legacy League 2023-12-16 |
| Sultai Acererak Combo | Pioneer | Gwenna Acererak Combo | NRG Series $5,000 Trial - Madison, Wisconsin (Pioneer) |
| Sultai Rona Combo | Pioneer | 4c Rona Combo | #19 Last Chance Qualifier: Pioneer |
| Esper Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Gwenna Acererak Combo | Pioneer | Gwenna Acererak Combo | Pioneer League 2023-11-20 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Acererak the Archlich shines in enabling players to delve deeper into their libraries. This potent MTG card ensures that whenever it enters the battlefield, if you haven’t completed the Tomb of Annihilation dungeon, return Acererak to your hand and venture into the dungeon. This ability potentially generates a significant card advantage by repeatedly allowing dungeon exploration without the need to commit additional cards from hand.
Resource Acceleration: Through its dungeon venturing mechanic, Acererak the Archlich can accelerate resource gain. Certain dungeons provide benefits like creating Treasure tokens or adding mana of any color to your mana pool, facilitating quicker deployment of high-cost spells and overwhelming your adversaries through superior mana resources.
Instant Speed: Although Acererak himself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the card he synergizes with, “Venture into the Dungeon,” can be triggered on instants or abilities that work at instant speed. This flexibility ensures that you can progress through dungeons and reap their rewards even during your opponent’s turn, keeping your strategy adaptive and dynamic.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the context of Acererak the Archlich, every time you wish to procure the benefits of the venture into the dungeon mechanic through its ability, you must first cast it from your hand. This can deplete your hand’s options, especially if you’re leveraging strategies that don’t support ample card draw.
Specific Mana Cost: Acererak’s casting cost requires a very specific color palette: one black, two colorless. Players running a deck without a strong black mana base might find it difficult to bring Acererak into play when needed, limiting its versatility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at three mana, Acererak the Archlich might come across as a costly investment when cheaper creatures can venture into the dungeon as well. In fast-paced games, having a lower cost creature that can start delving into dungeons early can be more advantageous.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Acererak the Archlich thrives in an array of strategies, easily sliding into decks that capitalize on graveyard mechanics or those aiming for an instant win through its dungeon-delving ability.
Combo Potential: This card exudes synergy, especially when paired with cards that allow multiple dungeon completions in a single turn, setting up for game-ending combos and interactions.
Meta-Relevance: Given its unique mechanic, Acererak can become a game-changer in metas packed with creature-based decks, providing an alternate pathway to victory that circumvents conventional creature combat.
How to Beat Acererak the Archlich
Acererak the Archlich is a unique card that poses challenges to MTG players due to its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield. Positioning itself in a category of creatures that can be particularly difficult to eradicate permanently, Acererak stands out with its triggers from dungeon completion. This creates a complex situation as simply sending it to the graveyard doesn’t eliminate the threat it poses.
Players have found effective strategies against this enduring lich. The use of exile effects can remove Acererak from the game entirely, thereby preventing its return. This is where cards such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile become invaluable tools, as they bypass the graveyard, dodging Acererak’s tenacious comebacks. Additionally, graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can prevent Acererak from triggering its abilities, as it directly impacts the mechanics that allow it to come back.
Dealing with Acererak the Archlich necessitates a tactical approach. Preventing it from exploiting dungeon mechanics or neutralizing its graveyard recursion goes a long way. Players must anticipate and prepare for the resilience of such a formidable adversary, adapting their deck to include answers that can disrupt or permanently remove Acererak from the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Acererak the Archlich MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos, 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 Acererak the Archlich and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Acererak the Archlich Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Andrey Kuzinskiy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 92688 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrey Kuzinskiy | ||
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 87a | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrey Kuzinskiy | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 87 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrey Kuzinskiy | |
| 4 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 87s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrey Kuzinskiy | |
| 5 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 87p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrey Kuzinskiy | |
| 6 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 372 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrey Kuzinskiy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Acererak the Archlich has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Acererak the Archlich card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | Acererak the Archlich has an intervening if clause in its first triggered ability. If you have completed Tomb of Annihilation, the ability won't trigger at all. If it does trigger, but you somehow complete Tomb of Annihilation while the ability is on the stack, then the ability won't do anything. You won't return Acererak to its owner's hand and you won't venture into the dungeon. |
| 2021-07-23 | If Acererak is no longer on the battlefield as its first ability resolves and you haven't completed Tomb of Annihilation, you will still venture into the dungeon. |
| 2021-07-23 | In a multiplayer game, each opponent decides in turn order whether or not they will sacrifice a creature and which one they will sacrifice. Each opponent knows the choices made before they make their own choice. Then, once all opponents have chosen, creatures are sacrificed and tokens are created simultaneously. |