Cemetery Puca MTG Card


Can become any creature that dies, greatly boosting its adaptability and threat on the board. Its instant speed transformation allows for flexible and surprising game state changes. Despite its mana requirements, the unique copying ability warrants consideration in decks.
Cemetery Puca - Shadowmoor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Shapeshifter
Released2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set nameShadowmoor
Set codeSHM
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number158
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byOmar Rayyan

Text of card

Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, you may pay . If you do, Cemetery Puca becomes a copy of that creature and gains this ability.

"'Tis a strange creature indeed that chooses the vanquished over the victor." —Awylla, elvish safewright


Cards like Cemetery Puca

Cemetery Puca is a unique card within Magic: The Gathering that introduces intriguing flexibility in gameplay. Comparable cards might include the likes of Clone or Dimir Doppelganger, each of which takes on characteristics of other creatures. However, Cemetery Puca stands out with its ability to become a copy of any creature card in a graveyard whenever a creature card is put into a graveyard from play, not just your own. This differs significantly from Clone, which only copies a creature on the battlefield at the time it enters the battlefield.

Another card for comparison is Lazav, Dimir Mastermind, which also has the ability to become a copy of a creature card that is sent to an opponent’s graveyard. Though Lazav is a legendary creature with hexproof, it is limited to opponent’s graveyards, unlike Cemetery Puca’s broader scope. Additionally, The Scarab God is a powerful alternative that can not only reanimate creatures from any graveyard but also provides other advantages such as steadily weakening opponents and manipulating the top of a player’s library.

When evaluating Cemetery Puca’s place among MTG shape-shifter and graveyard-utilizing cards, its reactive nature and any-graveyard targeting capability add a level of unpredictability and strategic depth to the game that distinguishes it from its peers.

Clone - MTG Card versions
Dimir Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - MTG Card versions
The Scarab God - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Dimir Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - MTG Card versions
The Scarab God - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cemetery Puca by color, type and mana cost

Phyrexian Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Shadowmage Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Psychatog - MTG Card versions
Satoru Umezawa - MTG Card versions
Master of Death - MTG Card versions
Urborg Emissary - MTG Card versions
Dimir Cutpurse - MTG Card versions
Dimir Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Gravelgill Duo - MTG Card versions
Wasp Lancer - MTG Card versions
Shore Snapper - MTG Card versions
Harbor Bandit - MTG Card versions
Nightveil Specter - MTG Card versions
Bane Alley Broker - MTG Card versions
Siren of the Silent Song - MTG Card versions
Jorubai Murk Lurker - MTG Card versions
Mindmelter - MTG Card versions
Diregraf Captain - MTG Card versions
Prized Amalgam - MTG Card versions
Rona, Disciple of Gix - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Shadowmage Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Psychatog - MTG Card versions
Satoru Umezawa - MTG Card versions
Master of Death - MTG Card versions
Urborg Emissary - MTG Card versions
Dimir Cutpurse - MTG Card versions
Dimir Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Gravelgill Duo - MTG Card versions
Wasp Lancer - MTG Card versions
Shore Snapper - MTG Card versions
Harbor Bandit - MTG Card versions
Nightveil Specter - MTG Card versions
Bane Alley Broker - MTG Card versions
Siren of the Silent Song - MTG Card versions
Jorubai Murk Lurker - MTG Card versions
Mindmelter - MTG Card versions
Diregraf Captain - MTG Card versions
Prized Amalgam - MTG Card versions
Rona, Disciple of Gix - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Cemetery Puca Mtg card has the unique ability to get itself onto the battlefield by taking on the form of nearly any creature that hits the graveyard. This transformative power not just offers versatility in gameplay but also helps you maintain card advantage by effectively reusing creatures from either side of the board.

Resource Acceleration: While Cemetery Puca itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its capability to become a copy of creatures with mana-producing abilities allows for potential indirect acceleration, aiding in your game’s resource development.

Instant Speed: Having the capacity to change form at instant speed, Cemetery Puca gives you the flexibility to adapt to dynamic game states, which can be critical for responding to your opponent’s plays effectively and keeping them guessing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cemetery Puca’s ability often hinges on discarding cards, presenting a challenge if your hand is already depleted or if the cards in hand are vital to your strategy. In games where maintaining a full grip of cards is critical, this requirement can lead to difficult decisions and potentially unfavorable sacrifices.

Specific Mana Cost: Catering to a blue and black mana cost, Cemetery Puca can be restrictive in deck building, particularly if you’re looking to integrate it outside of these colors. This mana requirement may deter the inclusion of Cemetery Puca in more diverse or color-variable decks, limiting its adaptability and versatility across different styles of play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may be considered steep for its initial 1/2 body, players may find that Cemetery Puca’s benefits do not immediately justify the investment, especially when compared to other creatures or spells available for a similar mana outlay. In fast-paced games, the cost efficiency becomes even more pronounced, leading some to opt for alternatives that offer an immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Cemetery Puca in Your Collection

Versatility: Cemetery Puca is a unique creature card that can adapt to multiple situations on the battlefield. Its ability to become a copy of any creature that dies adds a layer of flexibility to your gameplay, allowing you to adjust your strategy in response to the evolving game state.

Combo Potential: With its shape-shifting nature, Cemetery Puca can be the linchpin in various combo setups. It seamlessly integrates with strategies that revolve around graveyard manipulation or death triggers, amplifying the effects of cards with similar synergies.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta fluctuates, having adaptable cards like Cemetery Puca ensures that your deck can handle a wide range of threats. Its capacity to copy the abilities of powerful creatures that opponents send to the graveyard can provide you with unexpected advantages in many matchups.


How to beat

Cemetery Puca is a card that can certainly turn the tides due to its versatile nature in MTG. It’s the transformative ability that lets it adopt the characteristics of any creature card that hits the graveyard which makes it a formidable opponent. To outplay Cemetery Puca, consider focusing on graveyard control techniques, such as keeping graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze at the ready. This prevents your opponent from utilizing the graveyard as a resource and hampers Puca’s effectiveness.

Another strategic move is to limit the number of creatures that go to the graveyard. Cards with exile effects, such as Path to Exile, ensure that Cemetery Puca doesn’t get the chance to copy creatures’ abilities or stats. Lastly, employ instant-speed removal spells when Cemetery Puca’s ability is on the stack. This way, you can remove it before it gets the chance to become a bigger threat. By disrupting your opponent’s plans and adapting your play, you can nullify the impact of Cemetery Puca and maintain the upper hand.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cemetery Puca MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Cemetery Puca and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cemetery Puca has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-05-01 Cemetery Puca copies the printed values of the creature, plus any copy effects that have been applied to it. It won’t copy other effects that have changed the creature’s power, toughness, types, color, or so on. It also won’t copy counters on the creature (it’ll just retain the counters it already has).
2008-05-01 Cemetery Puca’s ability isn’t targeted. It can copy a creature with shroud or protection.
2008-05-01 If Cemetery Puca becomes a copy of a token, it copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that put it onto the battlefield. It does not become a token.
2008-05-01 If multiple creatures are put into their owners’ graveyards at the same time, Cemetery Puca’s ability will trigger once for each of those creatures. You choose the order that those abilities will resolve. It’s possible to pay , have Cemetery Puca become a copy of something, activate an activated ability of that creature, then pay again, for example. It will end up a copy of the last creature card paid for.
2008-05-01 This effect has no duration. If you use the ability, Cemetery Puca will remain a copy of the creature until it leaves the battlefield or you use the ability again. If it becomes a copy of a different creature card, the new copy will overwrite the old copy.