Tormod's Crypt MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Its zero-cost nature allows it to be played without spending mana, giving players a resource advantage.
  2. The ability to exile graveyards at instant speed makes it a tactical asset against combo decks.
  3. Despite being single-use, its versatility makes it a staple in many MTG sideboards.

Text of card

oc T: Sacrifice Tormod's Crypt to remove all cards in target player's graveyard from the game.

The dark opening seemed to breathe the cold, damp air of the dead earth in a steady rhythm.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tormod’s Crypt doesn’t require mana to play, making it a zero-cost artifact that can be pivotal without sacrificing your turn’s resources. It slips into your strategy without hindering your ability to cast other spells, effectively providing an advantage as it doesn’t cost a card from the hand to deploy.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself doesn’t accelerate resources in a traditional sense, it allows you to maintain speed in your gameplay. Being a zero-cost artifact, Tormod’s Crypt lets you develop your board without spending valuable mana, keeping your resources open for more pressing threats or advancing your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The true power of Tormod’s Crypt lies in its instant speed ability to exile an opponent’s graveyard. This can be activated at any time, requiring no mana, giving you the tactical advantage to disrupt combo decks, graveyard strategies or simply in response to an opponent’s action that relies on graveyard interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Tormod’s Crypt does not require a card discard to activate its ability, its one-shot nature means it’s gone after use, and you might have to discard valuable hand cards to make space for other critical spells or land drops.

Specific Mana Cost: Tormod’s Crypt has the advantage of being a zero-cost artifact, making it easily playable in any deck. However, for decks that capitalize on artifacts’ casting cost, having a zero-cost card could be less synergistic compared to artifacts with a nominal mana cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering that Tormod’s Crypt has no casting cost, the “high mana cost” evaluation does not apply in the traditional sense. However, within decks that manipulate the graveyard, a single-use, no-cost artifact may be less advantageous compared to repeatable graveyard hate options, even if they come at a higher mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tormod’s Crypt is a staple in sideboards across numerous MTG formats. Its ability to remove an opponent’s graveyard at no cost makes it compatible with virtually any deck, serving as a crucial defense against strategies that rely on graveyard synergies.

Combo Potential: The card’s zero-mana activation cost allows it to smoothly fit into various combos. For instance, in decks utilizing ‘Dredge’ mechanics or those that benefit from artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield, Tormod’s Crypt can be an unexpected enabler.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, such as reanimation or ‘Delve’ techniques, Tormod’s Crypt provides a timely answer without disturbing your curve. This relevance makes it a must-have for staying competitive in ever-changing metagames.


How to beat

Tormod’s Crypt poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, as it allows players to exile all cards from an opponent’s graveyard at no cost. Against graveyard-based strategies, this artifact can be a game-changer. It does, however, have its own vulnerabilities. One key strategy is to bait out its activation prematurely. By offering less critical cards to the graveyard or over-extending non-essential plays, a savvy player can force an opponent to use Tormod’s Crypt before a more crucial graveyard play comes into effect.

Additionally, players can include various cards that can counteract artifacts directly. Green-based decks often rely on naturalize effects like Krosan Grip or Nature’s Claim, which can dispatch Tormod’s Crypt before it becomes a threat, or Artifact Mutation for those running red and green, which also leaves behind creature tokens. Artifacts like Pithing Needle can prevent Tormod’s Crypt from activating if named as the chosen card upon entry to the battlefield. It’s a delicate dance, but with the right moves and timing, overcoming Tormod’s Crypt’s potential impact is within any player’s reach.

In assessing the strengths and weaknesses of artifact removal options in Magic: The Gathering, preemptive and reactive measures alike can effectively counter strategies centered around cards like Tormod’s Crypt, ensuring its grave influence is nothing more than a fleeting concern.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic deployment of Tormod’s Crypt can be pivotal in MTG, offering a cost-free solution to graveyard threats. Its versatility and instant activation make it a strong contender for many deck types, especially where speed and efficiency are paramount. If you’re aiming to stay apace with evolving metagames or simply want to add a reliable artifact to your collection that can handle an array of graveyard strategies, Tormod’s Crypt deserves consideration. For further insights on optimizing your deck and mastering the use of powerful artifacts like Tormod’s Crypt, visit us to deepen your MTG strategy toolbox.


Cards like Tormod's Crypt

Tormod’s Crypt offers a unique solution for graveyard management in MTG. When casting an eye towards cards of a similar nature, Nihil Spellbomb comes to mind. Both share the ability to exile a player’s graveyard, yet the Spellbomb edges ahead with its card draw ability, granted you spend an additional black mana. Nonetheless, Tormod’s Crypt remains free to play and doesn’t require mana to activate, making it a swift and unobtrusive play.

Relic of Progenitus is another parallel, providing continuous graveyard excavation or a one-time graveyard sweep plus card draw. Although more versatile, the relic incurs a higher cost in terms of mana and its tap ability. For players looking for speed and efficiency, Tormod’s Crypt often is the go-to artifact.

Considering these aspects, Tormod’s Crypt stands out as a supremely efficient tool for those moments when immediate graveyard disruption is crucial, particularly in formats where speed can make or break a game. Its cost-effectiveness and usability at no mana investment make it a formidable card in the MTG universe.

Nihil Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Relic of Progenitus - MTG Card versions
Nihil Spellbomb - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Relic of Progenitus - Shards of Alara (ALA)

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Turbo-Thwacking Auto-Hammer - Unstable (UST)
Division Table - Unstable (UST)
Rapid Prototyper - Unstable (UST)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tormod's Crypt MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Chronicles, 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 Tormod's Crypt and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tormod's Crypt Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-08-01The DarkDRK 1121993normalblackChristopher Rush
21995-07-01ChroniclesCHR 1091993normalwhiteChristopher Rush
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 314272003normalblackLars Grant-West
42006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 1151997normalblackChristopher Rush
52012-07-13Magic 2013M13 2192003normalblackLars Grant-West
62014-07-18Magic 2015M15 2372015normalblackLars Grant-West
72014-11-07Commander 2014C14 2782015normalblackLars Grant-West
82019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 16422015normalblackLars Grant-West
92020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2412015normalblackLars Grant-West
102020-09-26The ListPLST C14-2782015normalblackLars Grant-West
112023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3881997normalblackLars Grant-West
122023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2352015normalblackLars Grant-West

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tormod's Crypt has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
TimelessLegal

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