Afterlife MTG Card

Afterlife ensures card presence by creating tokens upon creature death, enhancing board control. Spirit tokens bolster defense and resource conservation, proving vital for strategic play. Instantaneous trigger of Afterlife provides swift answers to threats, crucial for game tempo.

Mirage (MIR)
1996-10-08 - Number 1

Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
1999-10-04 - Number 1

Commander 2011 (CMD)
2011-06-17 - Number 2

Vintage Masters (VMA)
2014-06-16 - Number 10

Commander 2014 (C14)
2014-11-07 - Number 64

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Text of card

Bury target creature and put an Essence token into play under the control of that creature's controller. Treat this token as a 1/1 white creature with flying.

Facets of life, reflections of the soul.

Cards like Afterlife

Afterlife is a key player in Magic: The Gathering when it comes to creatures that offer additional value upon departure from the battlefield. A close relative in functionality is Doomed Traveler, a creature which also provides a token when it dies. While Doomed Traveler produces a single flying Spirit token, Afterlife, dependent on its numeric value, can create multiple tokens, increasing potential battlefield presence after the creature’s demise.

In comparison, Luminous Broodmoth from the Ikoria set elevates the mechanic by granting flying to non-flying creatures that die, effectively providing a resilient and potentially more powerful second life. Additionally, there’s Teysa Karlov that doubles death triggers, amplifying the effects of Afterlife and other similar abilities, making it a powerhouse in decks crafted around such synergies. However, Teysa does not in itself provide tokens, making it an enhancer rather than a direct parallel.

Understanding the landscape of similar cards to Afterlife, it stands out not just for the immediate token generation, but for its scalability and versatility within various strategies, making it a robust choice for players who anticipate their creatures’ inevitable end as an advantage in the game’s intricate dance of power.

Cards similar to Afterlife by color, type and mana cost

Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Afterlife enables you to create spirit tokens upon the creature’s death, ensuring that you maintain board presence and card advantage even after a loss.

Resource Acceleration: The spirit tokens can be used defensively to block incoming attacks, effectively conserving your life total and resources for future turns.

Instant Speed: Afterlife triggers instantly when the creature dies, providing an immediate response to threats or removal spells, which makes it a reliable and valuable mechanic in real-time strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Afterlife cards often require a discard from your hand, which could deplete your resources, especially when your hand size is already reduced. This can be tough during late-game scenarios when each card in hand is vital.

Specific Mana Cost: Many Afterlife cards come with mana costs involving white mana specifically, which could pigeonhole them into certain archetypes and make them less flexible for multicolor decks that do not focus on white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost associated with activating Afterlife abilities can be rather high. This might make it less appealing compared to other low-cost mechanics that can generate similar effects or value on the board without such a significant mana investment.

Reasons to Include Afterlife in Your Collection

Versatility: Afterlife cards provide flexibility given their ability to generate creature tokens upon death. This attribute ensures they serve multiple roles within gameplay, fitting easily into a variety of deck strategies that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Afterlife’s token generation pairs well with synergies focused on sacrificing creatures, creating an engine for both offensive and defensive tactics. Engaging with other card abilities that get triggered by creature deaths or token creation, it can lead to powerful in-game advantages.

Meta-Relevance: With decks that often involve creature-based strategies, Afterlife maintains relevance by offering a resilient option against board wipes and control effects. It also provides a steady stream of creatures that can be crucial in maintaining presence on the board.

How to beat

The Afterlife mechanic in Magic: The Gathering offers a strategic layer by creating creature tokens upon death. Understanding how this operates is key to stifling its advantages. The first method to counter this effect is by utilizing exile effects. Cards that exile, rather than destroy, can bypass the Afterlife trigger entirely, ensuring that your opponent gains no additional creatures to their board.

Another tactic involves reducing the effectiveness of the tokens generated. This can be achieved through board wipes that clear multiple creatures, like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict. Such spells are particularly potent, as they deal with both the initial creature and any Afterlife-generated tokens in a single swoop. Alternatively, employing graveyard disruption can also be beneficial. Effects that prevent cards from hitting the graveyard in the first place, or those that remove cards from the graveyard, can be destructive to Afterlife’s recursion potential.

In short, to beat the Afterlife mechanic, it’s wise to focus on exiling creatures, minimizing the impact of tokens, and disrupting graveyard interactions to maintain control over the battlefield. By implementing these strategies effectively, you can ensure the Afterlife mechanic doesn’t give your opponent an edge during play.

Where to buy

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

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Afterlife Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2014-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1996-10-08	Mirage	MIR	1	1997	Normal	Black	Pete Venters
2	1999-10-04	Mercadian Masques	MMQ	1	1997	Normal	Black	Brian Snõddy
3	2011-06-17	Commander 2011	CMD	2	2003	Normal	Black	Brian Snõddy
4	2014-06-16	Vintage Masters	VMA	10	2015	Normal	Black	Brian Snõddy
5	2014-11-07	Commander 2014	C14	64	2015	Normal	Black	Brian Snõddy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Afterlife has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal