Crypt Incursion MTG Card


Crypt Incursion can be a game-changer, offering unique card advantage and significant life gain. The instant speed allows for tactical plays, aligning with control strategies effectively. Carries limitations such as specific mana cost and reduced impact in non-creature-heavy metas.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Exile all creature cards from target player's graveyard. You gain 3 life for each card exiled this way.

The Golgari maze-runner Varolz hungers to prove his fortitude in battle, and his trail of victims feeds other hungers.


Cards like Crypt Incursion

Crypt Incursion is a unique card in Magic the Gathering set apart by its ability to drastically alter life totals in a game. Among its kin, we have Tormod’s Crypt, a nod for its zero-cost and immediate graveyard exiling, albeit without the life-gain effect. In comparison, Crypt Incursion offers a significant life boost potentially turning the tides in your favor during a match.

Looking at Bojuka Bog, we see a land card capable of exiling graveyards, much like Crypt Incursion. Though it affects all graveyards at once, Bojuka Bog doesn’t provide the life-gain Crypt Incursion does. The critical difference is the life-gain component, making Crypt Incursion stand out in decks focused on survival. Furthermore, we have cards like Leyline of the Void which constantly exiles cards that go to the graveyard—prevention rather than response—unlike Crypt Incursion which is a powerful reactive measure.

Ultimately, while there are several similar effects in Magic the Gathering, the combination of instant speed, target graveyard exile, and potential for substantial life gain positions Crypt Incursion as an advantageous tool for players, especially those in control or mill strategies seeking to stabilize against aggressive decks.

Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Bojuka Bog - MTG Card versions
Leyline of the Void - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Bojuka Bog - MTG Card versions
Leyline of the Void - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Crypt Incursion by color, type and mana cost

Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Crypt Incursion. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 96 2023-12-03 (1)
Orzhov ControlOrzhov Control PauperLiga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 2
Grixis ControlGrixis Control PauperGrixis ControlPauper League 2024-03-05
Dimir TeachingsDimir Teachings PauperMonthly Tournament #33

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crypt Incursion offers a unique form of card advantage by targeting your opponent’s graveyard. Removing creatures from the game not only disrupts the strategies centered around graveyard recursion but also can potentially net you a substantial life gain, tipping the balance in longer, more attritional matchups.

Resource Acceleration: While Crypt Incursion doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, the life gained can be considered a form of resource acceleration. It gives you a buffer that can effectively buy you more turns to deploy your strategies or draw into more powerful spells, which can be game-changing against aggressive decks that rely on reducing your life total quickly.

Instant Speed: The true power of Crypt Incursion lies in its instant speed. This tactical flexibility lets you wait until the most opportune moment to play it, such as in response to an opponent’s reanimation spell or after a large number of creatures have been put into the graveyard following a board wipe. The ability to cast it during your opponent’s turn further ensures that your mana can be used efficiently and reactively, aligning with the control archetypes that typically include this spell in their decklists.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Crypt Incursion doesn’t force you to discard, its requirement to have creatures in graveyards can be seen as a similar drawback. If your opponent isn’t running creature-heavy strategies or has graveyard shuffling effects, Crypt Incursion loses its potential impact.

Specific Mana Cost: Specific mana cost can be restrictive in some decks. Crypt Incursion has a triple black mana cost, which could be prohibitive in multicolor decks that may not always have the necessary black mana available at the moment it’s most needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three black, Crypt Incursion is considered to have a high cost for its effect when compared to other life-gaining or graveyard interaction spells. This may deter players from including it in faster-paced decks where mana efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Crypt Incursion in Your Collection

Versatility: Crypt Incursion is a highly adaptable card that can seamlessly fit into various control and mill decks. Its ability to significantly increase your life total makes it a strong defensive option against aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: Designed for synergy, Crypt Incursion can work wonders with graveyard manipulation, acting as a crucial component in any strategy looking to exploit a well-stocked graveyard while crippling the opponent’s creature-based tactics.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the presence of creature-heavy decks in the competitive scene, Crypt Incursion proves to be an invaluable asset. It can be a game-changer in matches where the opponent relies on their graveyard, providing you with a substantial life buffer and disrupting their plans.


How to beat

Crypt Incursion is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide of battle by targeting a player’s graveyard. Known for its life-gaining ability, it’s not uncommon for it to become a significant obstacle to overcome, especially for decks that capitalize on graveyard strategies. This card, with its instant speed, allows a player to exile all creature cards from an opponent’s graveyard, and for each card exiled, that player gains three life, potentially swinging the momentum of the game.

To effectively counteract Crypt Incursion, it’s crucial to employ graveyard disruption or spell denial strategies. Cards such as Tormod’s Crypt or Relic of Progenitus provide an inexpensive method to clear graveyards before Crypt Incursion can capitalize on the accumulated creatures. Additionally, a well-timed counterspell such as Negate can neutralize Crypt Incursion before it has the chance to affect the board. Prioritizing the use of these tactical interventions can prevent your opponent from gaining a substantial life advantage and ensure that your graveyard-focused strategies remain unhampered.

In essence, while Crypt Incursion presents a challenge, it can be surmounted with the right tools and timing, ensuring that your path to victory remains clear against this particular defensive card in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the strategic depth of MTG often comes with the challenge of countering powerful plays, and Crypt Incursion is a prime example of such a card. Its instant-speed, life-gaining ability can turn the tides against creature-heavy decks, making it a valuable asset in your arsenal. Studying the nuanced interplay of this card can elevate your game, especially when facing graveyard-dependent strategies. To bolster your defense and refine your tactics, visit our page for more insights on optimizing your deck with Crypt Incursion and other pivotal cards. Learn how to outmaneuver your opponents and turn potential defeats into stunning victories with MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crypt Incursion MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Incursion and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crypt Incursion Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 232003NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1982015NormalBlackLoïc Canavaggia

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crypt Incursion has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal