Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Orc Shaman
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Sek’Kuar generates tokens for card advantage and sustains board presence during a match.
  2. It leads to faster strategy execution, synergizing with sacrifice-based plays.
  3. Instant token creation can catch opponents off guard for unexpected attacks.

Text of card

Whenever another nontoken creature you control is put into a graveyard from play, put a 3/1 black and red Graveborn creature token with haste into play.

Karplusan legend told of an orc so cruel that he burned his own followers in rage—yet so revered that they rose from their pyres to serve him.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sek’Kuar Deathkeeper excels in card advantage by creating 3/1 Graveborn creature tokens with haste every time a non-token creature you control dies. This effect effectively replaces your lost resources, maintaining a full battlefield presence and applying pressure.

Resource Acceleration: By generating additional creatures, Sek’Kuar can rapidly accelerate your board state, providing fodder for sacrificing. These tokens can be leveraged for various synergistic plays, enabling faster execution of your strategy and overwhelming your opponents with an ever-growing army.

Instant Speed: While Sek’Kuar himself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the tokens he creates arrive on the battlefield immediately upon the death of your creatures. This ability can turn any instant-speed removal or sacrifice effect you control into an unexpected offensive capability, catching opponents off-guard during their turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Challenges arise with Sek’Kuar Deathkeeper when considering its requirement to sacrifice a nontoken creature. While this triggers Sek’Kuar’s ability to create a Graveborn token, it demands a steady stream of creatures you’re willing to part with, potentially depleting your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Sek’Kuar Deathkeeper’s casting cost of one black, one red, and one green mana, not to mention two additional generic mana, makes it a card with a particularly specific mana requirement. This can be restrictive and often limits the card’s inclusion to decks that are tailored around these colors and can reliably generate the right mana combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost of five, Sek’Kuar Deathkeeper sits at a higher end on the mana curve. In fast-paced games, or in formats where efficiency is key, the cost for summoning Sek’Kuar might outweigh the benefits received from the tokens it generates, especially when other lower-cost cards can provide similar or better board advantages.


Reasons to Include Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper is not just a typical commander. Its ability to create Graveborn tokens with haste makes it a strong contender in any deck focusing on sacrificing creatures for value. Whether you’re steering toward a heavy graveyard synergy or just want additional board presence, Sek’Kuar provides a robust platform for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Sek’Kuar can turn any creature’s demise into an aggressive play. Think about pairing it with cards that have “when this creature dies” effects for an explosive reaction. The potential to chain creature deaths into a swarm of hasty attackers can quickly overwhelm opponents, providing a dynamic angle to combo-centric decks.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, the strength of a card can wax and wane with the shifting meta. The role of Sek’Kuar in your collection remains significant as it challenges popular control and stax strategies. By creating tokens upon the death of your creatures, it circumvents opponent’s attempts to lock down the board, maintaining relevance against decks that rely on incapacitating creature strategies.


How to beat Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper

Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper is a commander that thrives on the demise of your creatures, offering a potent incentive to engage in creature sacrifice strategies within Magic: The Gathering. To outmaneuver Sek’Kuar, smart removal of key creatures is crucial. Focus on interrupting the sacrifice synergy by employing spot removals or grave hate tactics to stifle the engine of token generation. Graveyard disruption cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze can be particularly effective against Sek’Kuar’s graveyard-reliant mechanics.

It’s essential to prevent Sek’Kuar from exploiting the death of creatures, which can be achieved through exile effects or using cards such as Leyline of the Void to ensure that creatures don’t hit the graveyard at all. Keep a sharp eye on the board state, and prioritize the removal of creatures with persist or undying, which can repeatedly trigger Sek’Kuar’s ability, potentially overwhelming you with 3/1 Graveborn tokens. Additionally, maintain board control through sweepers, and counteract the large number of tokens generated with mass removal spells.

Adapting to the dynamic flow of the game is key—staying vigilant and responsive to the threats presented by Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper can ultimately disrupt your opponent’s strategy and tilt the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re drawn to the strategic complexities of MTG and enjoy commanding a deck that turns setbacks into opportunities, Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper should not be overlooked. The ability to spawn aggressive tokens with haste upon losing your creatures offers a distinctive approach to board control, keeping your gameplay both vibrant and resilient. Moreover, integrating Sek’Kuar into your collection presents valuable combo potential and a robust defense against control strategies. For players looking to harness the power of sacrifice-based mechanics or expand their command choices, delve deeper with us into the synergies and tactics that make Sek’Kuar a formidable presence in any matchup.


Cards like Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper

Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper adds a captivating twist to the roster of graveyard synergy cards in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels other commanders like Meren of Clan Nel Toth, which also capitalizes on creature death by bringing them back to the battlefield. Sek’Kuar differs by spawning 3/1 Graveborn creature tokens with haste, transforming death into an offensive opportunity rather than direct recursion.

Like Sek’Kuar, Teysa Karlov is another commander that thrives on creatures dying. She doubles death triggers from other permanents you control, amplifying the outcomes of each creature’s demise. However, Sek’Kuar’s unique ability to immediately create pressure with new tokens can be a game-changer on the battlefield. The comparison continues with the notable Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, who brings its own tokens into play, but rather than capitalizing on death, it uses these tokens as a resource for other mechanics like devour.

In essence, each of these commanders offer distinct advantages related to creature death, but Sek’Kuar’s ability to swiftly transform losses into aggressive board presence arguably sets it apart in Magic: The Gathering, especially in formats where relentless pressure and board state are key.

Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Teysa Karlov - MTG Card versions
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher - MTG Card versions
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Teysa Karlov - MTG Card versions
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Commander 2013, 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 Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 1312003NormalBlackJeff Miracola
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2102003NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3542015NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5912015NormalBlackJesper Ejsing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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