Makeshift Mannequin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Reanimates creatures at instant speed, allowing surprises and flexible strategic plays.
  2. Leverages card advantage by turning graveyard assets into battlefield threats.
  3. Introduces potential drawbacks like a discard requirement and specific mana costs.

Text of card

Return target creature card from your graveyard to play with a mannequin counter on it. As long as that creature has a mannequin counter on it, it has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."

"This vulgar mimicry will end now." —Desmera, perfect of Wren's Run


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Makeshift Mannequin ensures you get more out of your resources by reanimating a creature from your graveyard directly onto the battlefield. This kind of utility not only brings back a powerful asset but also effectively draws you a card that’s immediately playable, keeping you ahead in the card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing traditional acceleration, Makeshift Mannequin can be considered a form of resource acceleration by bypassing the higher mana costs of large creatures. Paying four mana to bring back a potentially high-cost creature can radically shift the pace of the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: The ability to reanimate at instant speed gives you significant strategic flexibility. You can choose the perfect moment during your opponent’s turn to surprise them with a blocker or to bring back a creature with a powerful enter-the-battlefield effect, disrupting their plans and maintaining the initiative.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the notable downsides of Makeshift Mannequin is that it comes with the necessity for discarding a card as part of its reanimation process. This can pose a challenge, especially when your hand is running low on cards, and every card in hand is vital to maintaining your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Makeshift Mannequin requires both colorless and black mana to cast. This specific mana requirement can sometimes impede your deck’s fluidity, particularly if you are running a multi-color deck and you find yourself short on black mana sources at the crucial moment when you need to play it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three colorless and one black mana, Makeshift Mannequin is on the higher end of the mana spectrum for reanimation effects. Considering the variety of cards in MTG that can bring creatures back from the graveyard for less, or offer additional benefits, the cost of Makeshift Mannequin might deter players from including it in their deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Makeshift Mannequin is a multifaceted card capable of bringing back a wide array of creatures from your graveyard, making it a valuable addition to various deck archetypes that rely on creature synergies.

Combo Potential: With the ability to reanimate key combo pieces at instant speed, Makeshift Mannequin can be the linchpin in executing surprise wins or turning the tide of a match unexpectedly in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, the reactive nature of Makeshift Mannequin ensures it remains a pertinent choice for decks looking to exploit the dynamics of the current meta.


How to beat

Makeshift Mannequin is a unique reanimation spell in Magic: The Gathering, letting players return a creature card from their graveyard to the battlefield with a new lease on life. However, unlike some other resurrection spells, Makeshift Mannequin comes with a leash – the creature is returned with an attached aura that makes it vulnerable to instant downfall if targeted by a spell or ability.

This particular vulnerability is the key to overcoming the temporarily revived threats posed by Makeshift Mannequin. By keeping removal spells or abilities in hand, you can respond to the reanimation by targeting the creature and thereby triggering the destruction clause of Makeshift Mannequin’s aura. Instant-speed interaction is crucial here; hence, including such spells in your deck is wise. Additionally, exiling graveyard cards before your opponent gets the chance to use Makeshift Mannequin can nullify its effectiveness altogether. Counterspells are also effective, as they can prevent Makeshift Mannequin from resolving in the first place, ensuring the creature never makes it to the battlefield.

By preparing for what Makeshift Mannequin brings to a duel and incorporating suitable countermeasures, you can ensure that opponent’s attempts at cheating death are but a momentary hiccup in your path to victory.


Cards like Makeshift Mannequin

Makeshift Mannequin is an intriguing reanimation spell in Magic: The Gathering that allows for the return of a creature card from the graveyard to the battlefield. Its uniqueness lies in the instant speed and the conditional shield provided to the resurrected creature in the form of a -1/-1 counter that destroys the creature if it would be the target of a spell or ability. In comparison, Zombify serves a similar purpose in the reanimation landscape but operates at sorcery speed, lacking the protection and instantaneity that Makeshift Mannequin offers.

Exhume is another resuscitation spell that can be cast for less mana, yet it comes with a potential downside; each player gets to return a creature card from their graveyard to the battlefield, which could be risky if your opponent also has a valuable target. Animate Dead, while it permanently brings back a creature with a slight debuff and for even less mana, doesn’t have the advantage of being an instant. This makes Makeshift Mannequin uniquely positioned in games that require fast responses and protective measures for key creatures.

In analyzing reanimation options, Makeshift Mannequin holds a significant place for players looking to surprise opponents and shield important creatures, despite the slight vulnerability that accompanies its usage.

Zombify - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Zombify - Odyssey (ODY)
Exhume - Urza's Saga (USG)
Animate Dead - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Makeshift Mannequin by color, type and mana cost

Sewers of Estark - MTG Card versions
Feast or Famine - MTG Card versions
Nocturnal Raid - MTG Card versions
Slaughter - MTG Card versions
Death Bomb - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Haze - MTG Card versions
Insidious Dreams - MTG Card versions
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - MTG Card versions
Hostile Negotiations - MTG Card versions
Death Pulse - MTG Card versions
Irradiate - MTG Card versions
Burden of Greed - MTG Card versions
Shriveling Rot - MTG Card versions
Hideous Laughter - MTG Card versions
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - MTG Card versions
Chill to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Tendrils of Corruption - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Trap - MTG Card versions
Snuff Out - MTG Card versions
Instill Infection - MTG Card versions
Sewers of Estark - HarperPrism Book Promos (PHPR)
Feast or Famine - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Nocturnal Raid - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Slaughter - Exodus (EXO)
Death Bomb - Planeshift (PLS)
Psychotic Haze - Torment (TOR)
Insidious Dreams - Torment (TOR)
Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit - From Cute to Brute (PCTB)
Hostile Negotiations - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Death Pulse - Onslaught (ONS)
Irradiate - Mirrodin (MRD)
Burden of Greed - Darksteel (DST)
Shriveling Rot - Darksteel (DST)
Hideous Laughter - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
When Fluffy Bunnies Attack - Unhinged (UNH)
Chill to the Bone - Coldsnap (CSP)
Tendrils of Corruption - The List (PLST)
Ravenous Trap - The List (PLST)
Snuff Out - Doctor Who (WHO)
Instill Infection - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Makeshift Mannequin MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Archenemy, 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 Makeshift Mannequin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Makeshift Mannequin Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2010-06-18. Illustrated by Darrell Riche.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-10-12LorwynLRW 1242003normalblackDarrell Riche
22010-06-18ArchenemyARC 202003normalblackDarrell Riche

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Makeshift Mannequin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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