Crypt Angel MTG Card
2000-10-02 - Number 97
2001-08-08 - Number tvdl97sb
2001-08-08 - Number tvdl97
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Flying,Protection |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying, protection from white When Crypt Angel comes into play, return target blue or red creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Once an angel, now an abomination.
Cards like Crypt Angel
Crypt Angel is a distinguished creature within Magic: The Gathering’s myriad of cards, particularly in decks craving resurrection mechanics. Sharing traits with cards like Gravedigger, Crypt Angel also brings a creature back from the graveyard to your hand upon entering the battlefield. The difference, however, lies in Crypt Angel’s protection from white, offering an additional defense tactic that Gravedigger lacks.
In a comparison of reanimation abilities, Phyrexian Reclamation brings a unique angle to the table. While Crypt Angel is a one-off event tied to a creature, Phyrexian Reclamation offers ongoing graveyard retrieval at a cost. This enchantment presents a trade-off, sacrificing life for versatility. Alternatively, Unearth serves as another analogue, yet it shines by offering a cheaper reanimation solution for small creatures and delivering it with the speed of an instant.
Consequently, evaluating the nuances among these options reveals that Crypt Angel holds a special place with its singular blend of graveyard interaction and combat utility, making it a powerful choice for players seeking strategic depth and a guardian against white in their MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Crypt Angel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crypt Angel provides a strategic benefit by potentially bringing back another creature from the graveyard when it enters the battlefield. This recycling of resources can result in an edge over your opponent, as you gain an extra creature without losing a card from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: As a versatile creature, Crypt Angel can serve as a form of resource acceleration by returning mana-efficient creatures to the battlefield. This can help with managing your resources more effectively, giving you the upper hand for undertaking powerful plays earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: Although Crypt Angel itself is not an instant, its protection from white ability can be a tactical advantage at instant speed. It can dodge spells and abilities from one of the most common removal colors in MTG, allowing you to maintain board presence against white-based control decks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crypt Angel can present a challenge with its discard mechanic, requiring a strategic hand management as it can deplete the valuable resources you might need later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a multi-color card that requires both black and white mana, Crypt Angel demands a specific mana base, which can be a hurdle in decks not dedicated to those colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively steep casting cost of five mana including two color-specific, it may compete for a spot in your deck with other high-impact cards that could offer immediate advantages upon hitting the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Crypt Angel offers a flexible role in a variety of decks, primarily in black-dominated or multicolored ones. Its flying ability and robust protection from white make it a challenging blocker or attacker against one of the most common removal colors.
Combo Potential: Upon entering the battlefield, Crypt Angel allows you to return a multicolored creature from your graveyard to your hand, setting up powerful plays and synergies with creatures that have impactful enter-the-battlefield effects or those that benefit from being cast multiple times.
Meta-Relevance: Given its resurrection ability, the Crypt Angel can be especially relevant in metas with high levels of creature removal. It can continuously bring value and threats back to the field, maintaining pressure and advancing your board state in the face of opposition.
How to beat Crypt Angel
Crypt Angel is a unique creature card in MTG known for its distinct abilities, especially the power to bring creatures back from the graveyard when it enters the battlefield. Understanding its nuances is key to overcoming this card’s strategic advantage. To effectively counter the Angel, consider utilizing timely removal spells that can exile it from the game or the graveyard to prevent its ability from triggering. Cards like Path to Exile or Relic of Progenitus can be crucial in this scenario.
Another strategy is to control the timing of the game. Use countermagic like Cancel or Negate when your opponent is casting Crypt Angel to stop the play before it gains traction. Dealing with the creatures that Crypt Angel brings back is also vital. Board wipes such as Damnation or Wrath of God can reset the field, mitigating the impact of the Angel’s ability. Proper foresight and a deck equipped with versatile answers will keep Crypt Angel from dominating the board.
Ultimately, beating Crypt Angel revolves around the anticipation of your opponent’s moves and having a varied toolset to address threats. Managing your resources efficiently and knowing when to stymie your opponent’s key plays makes the difference in maintaining control over the game when facing this imposing card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crypt Angel MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Crypt Angel and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Crypt Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2001-08-08. Illustrated by Todd Lockwood.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-10-02 | Invasion | INV | 97 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | |
| 2 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | tvdl97sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Todd Lockwood | |
| 3 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | tvdl97 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Todd Lockwood |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crypt Angel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |