Body Snatcher MTG Card


Body Snatcher offers unique card advantage by utilizing graveyard mechanics for tactical board control. Enables quick plays by skipping normal casting restrictions, providing a significant tempo boost. Grants instant speed reactions to opponents’ graveyard targeting, enhancing MTG match strategy depth.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Minion
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Body Snatcher comes into play, you may choose and discard a creature card from your hand. If you don't, remove Body Snatcher from the game. When Body Snatcher is put into a graveyard from play, remove Body Snatcher from the game and return target creature card from your graveyard to play.


Cards like Body Snatcher

The Body Snatcher card offers MTG players a unique edge in gameplay, subtly reminiscent of other creature cards that manipulate the graveyard. Akin to the likes of Havengul Lich, Body Snatcher also presents the capability to pull creatures from the beyond, but with its own twist. Whereas the Lich can cast creatures directly, Body Snatcher requires a creature to die for it to fetch another from your graveyard instantly. This nuanced difference significantly impacts your strategic approach.

Moving to Phyrexian Delver, a comparison unfolds with a similar effect of resurrecting creatures from the graveyard. While Phyrexian Delver does not necessitate a death trigger like Body Snatcher, the life-loss incurred with its revival ability can be a steep price to pay. Additionally, Reanimate stands out as a notable one-mana spell with graveyard retrieval potency. However, unlike Body Snatcher, Reanimate fetches back to your hand and affects life points proportional to creature power, demanding precise timing and life management.

In evaluating these similar cards, Body Snatcher is distinguished by its conditional triggering, potentially weaving a web of complex combos and allowing players to execute surprise plays that capitalize on death-trigger mechanics inherent to certain MTG decks.

Havengul Lich - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Delver - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions
Havengul Lich - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Delver - MTG Card versions
Reanimate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Body Snatcher by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Nimana Sell-Sword - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Nimana Sell-Sword - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Body Snatcher provides a unique form of card advantage by interacting with the graveyard. Upon entering the battlefield or leaving, it allows you to essentially ‘trade’ the card itself for a potentially more valuable creature card in your graveyard, leading to advantageous board states.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly related to mana, Body Snatcher speeds up your resource game by bypassing normal casting costs and timings of creature cards. It sets up powerful plays earlier than normally possible, which can be a significant tempo swing in your favor.

Instant Speed: The utility of Body Snatcher significantly increases due to its ability to be sacrificed at instant speed. This grants the flexibility to react to an opponent’s actions, such as countering graveyard exile spells or creating surprise blockers, ensuring you maximize the strategic depth of every match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Body Snatcher demands that you pitch another creature card from your hand into the graveyard to make use of its ability, leading to a potential decrease in hand advantage and difficult decisions when hand resources are already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Tapping into both black and colorless mana sources, this card’s cost necessitates a focused mana base, sometimes restricting deck-building options and synergies within multi-colored decks that might struggle to meet the stringent mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four total mana investment, the card’s effectiveness is weighed down when you compare it to other options in the format. This casts a shadow on its utility, especially considering the speed of the current metagame where lower cost creatures could be both more impactful and efficient.


Reasons to Include Body Snatcher in Your Collection

Versatility: Body Snatcher’s flexible ability to exchange creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield allows it to adapt across various deck archetypes. This makes it a useful tool for reanimator strategies or any deck that leverages graveyard synergies.

Combo Potential: The card possesses significant combo potential, providing a gateway to powerful enters-the-battlefield and leaves-the-battlefield effects. This potential multiplies when paired with creatures that have strong death or ETB triggers, leading to game-changing plays.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, a card like Body Snatcher can gain prominence. Its ability to disrupt opponent strategies and resurrect key creatures can give it a pivotal role in shifting metas, making it a smart addition for players looking to stay competitive.


How to beat

Body Snatcher is a unique creature that poses interesting challenges on the battlefield. The card boasts the ability to bring other creatures back from the graveyard at the expense of its own life. This ability makes it a tool for potential game-turning reanimations. A savvy player might look to counter this ability by using graveyard hate cards that can remove creatures from the game or restrict players from accessing the graveyard altogether. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void are excellent counters.

To effectively combat Body Snatcher, it’s important to manage the timing of its trigger. Players should consider instant speed removal to destroy Body Snatcher in response to its trigger, thus preventing the intended creature from returning to the battlefield. An example is Swords to Plowshares, which can exile it before its ability resolves. Alternatively, holding up counter spells when an opponent has enough mana to cast Body Snatcher deters its play or nullifies it upon casting, disrupting the opponent’s game plan.

Playing against Body Snatcher, preparing a strategic approach that involves grave disruption, well-timed removal, or counter spells could be key in retaining control of the game and diminishing the card’s impact.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depths of MTG strategy with a card like Body Snatcher can revolutionize your gameplay. This unique card offers a blend of tactics from resource acceleration to surprise battlefield maneuvers. By understanding the pros and cons this card brings to the table, you are better positioned to build a deck that truly stands out. Whether you’re into reanimator themes or looking for ways to optimize your combo plays, Body Snatcher is a card that can shift the tide of any match. Enhance your collection and adapt to changing metas with this versatile card. For more insights and to maximize your game, join us and discover how Body Snatcher can be a game-changer in your MTG arsenal.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Body Snatcher MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and The List, 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 Body Snatcher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Body Snatcher Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Mark Zug.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-06-07Urza's DestinyUDS 531997NormalBlackMark Zug
22020-09-26The ListPLST UDS-531997NormalBlackMark Zug
32023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2981997NormalBlackMark Zug
42023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 752015NormalBlackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Body Snatcher has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-12-08 Although you can choose Body Snatcher itself as the target of its last ability, it will be exiled before it can be returned to the battlefield.
2022-12-08 You choose whether to discard a card or not as the enters-the-battlefield ability resolves.