Graveyard Marshal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Zombie Soldier
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Graveyard Marshal offers card advantage by reanimating creatures from graveyards into zombie threats.
  2. Fosters resource acceleration by turning graveyard cards into active board presence without depleting your hand.
  3. Instant speed restriction impacts opponent’s gameplay, shaping strategies with its zombie-creating ability.

Text of card

, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token.

"Rise and shine, my dears. We have work to do." —Isareth the Awakener


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Graveyard Marshal empowers players to effectively utilize their graveyard by converting dead creatures into relentless zombies. This can provide a continuous stream of threats, tipping card advantage in your favor by repeatedly transforming single-use resources into recurring assets on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable card accelerates your board presence by transforming unused resources in your graveyard into new creature tokens without demanding additional cards from your hand. By leveraging the fallen, Graveyard Marshal effectively bolsters your army and applies pressure on your opponent with increased speed.

Instant Speed: Although Graveyard Marshal’s ability isn’t at instant speed, it influences how opponents play their game. The mere presence of this threat on the battlefield can dissuade opponents from removing your creatures, knowing they could come back from the graveyard as zombies, adding a layer of tactical depth to your game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Graveyard Marshal necessitates a strategic balance in your gameplay, as you will need to discard creature cards to activate its exile and token-creating ability. This can be a drawback when your hand is lacking in expendable creature cards, potentially stalling your board development.

Specific Mana Cost: This particular card demands both black mana for casting, which might not seamlessly fit into multi-colored deck schematics. Players may find themselves mana-locked at crucial moments or forced to revise their land base to accommodate this card’s strict mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost set at two black mana, Graveyard Marshal’s activation cost can be relatively steep considering alternative black creatures that can impact the board more swiftly or offer additional value at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Graveyard Marshal is a card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of black decks. Its ability to turn your dead creatures into threats gives it a place in aggressive zombie builds as well as more control-oriented strategies that require maintaining presence on the board.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that feed on graveyard synergies. The ability to exile a creature from the graveyard to create a Zombie token can be the cornerstone of combo engines, making it invaluable for players wanting to exploit death triggers or populate the board with undead minions.

Meta-Relevance: Given its cost-efficiency and the power it can pack in creature-heavy metas, Graveyard Marshal is a prime pick against opponents relying on creature removal to stall the game. Its enduring relevance in strategies that capitalize on creature deaths makes it a smart addition to collections aiming for resilience in ever-shifting metas.


How to beat Graveyard Marshal

Graveyard Marshal stands out in the realm of creature cards, turning your graveyard into a resource to fuel your undead army. With its ability to exile a creature card from your graveyard to create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token, managing your graveyard becomes a strategic element. To counteract Graveyard Marshal’s strength, limiting the number of creature cards that reach your graveyard is key. This can be achieved through the use of exile removal spells rather than traditional destroy mechanics, which would populate the graveyard and fuel the Marshal’s ability.

Spot removal is also crucial; cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can effectively deal with the Marshal before its ability becomes problematic. Another strategy involves graveyard hate mechanics – cards like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace can clean up or altogether negate your graveyard as a resource, rendering Graveyard Marshal’s ability moot. Overall, maintaining control over both the battlefield and the graveyard is the most effective method to nullify the Marshal’s undead march.


Cards like Graveyard Marshal

Graveyard Marshal is a standout creature in MTG with its ability to sustain a presence on the battlefield. This zombie soldier has the power to convert your graveyard into potent resources, reminiscent of cards such as Death Baron, which grants other Zombies you control a boost in strength and deathtouch. However, Graveyard Marshal exclusively focuses on exiling creature cards from your graveyard to create tokens, offering a different strategy for utilizing the dead.

Another comparison can be drawn with Diregraf Colossus, which also thrives on a graveyard filled with zombies. Instead of exiling the dead, Diregraf Colossus strengthens itself and can spawn Zombie tokens every time you cast a Zombie spell. The divergent paths of Graveyard Marshal and Diregraf Colossus speak to varied tactical approaches – one prioritizing field presence through tokens, the other through sheer size. Then there’s Cryptbreaker, which allows you to draw cards by tapping Zombies you control, presenting yet another tactical option for players utilizing the undead.

In evaluating the different strengths of Zombie-centric cards in MTG, Graveyard Marshal holds its own as a formidable option for any deck looking to leverage graveyard mechanics for token generation and pressure on the opponent.

Death Baron - MTG Card versions
Diregraf Colossus - MTG Card versions
Cryptbreaker - MTG Card versions
Death Baron - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Diregraf Colossus - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)
Cryptbreaker - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Graveyard Marshal by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Scarred Vinebreeder - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Stromgald Crusader - Coldsnap (CSP)
Scarred Vinebreeder - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Graveyard Marshal MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2019 Promos, 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 Graveyard Marshal and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Graveyard Marshal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Mark Behm.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 992015normalblackMark Behm
22018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 99s2015normalblackMark Behm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Graveyard Marshal has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks