Undying Evil MTG Card


Undying Evil - Dark Ascension
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameDark Ascension
Set codeDKA
Number77
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. It provides card advantage by letting creatures return stronger, enhancing board presence effectively.
  2. Saves mana, enabling a faster game plan by reviving creatures without additional mana costs.
  3. Instant casting speed allows for strategic reactionary play to surprise opponents and protect vital creatures.

Text of card

Target creature gains undying until end of turn. (When it dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)

"Is it true the evil that people do follows them into death? Let's find out." —Liliana Vess


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Undying Evil can turn a potential loss into a win by saving a crucial creature from destruction. This not only maintains your board presence but effectively grants you an extra creature, since the one targeted will return stronger, netting you card advantage without losing a step.

Resource Acceleration: By ensuring your creature comes back from the graveyard, you circumvent the mana cost associated with casting another creature from your hand. This saves resources and can help you accelerate your game plan, as you can allocate mana elsewhere.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Undying Evil at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing you to react to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This strategic depth ensures that you can adapt to threats and protect key creatures even when it’s not your turn, catching opponents off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Undying Evil can provide a crucial moment of resilience for your creature, it requires you to have that creature on the battlefield and potentially capable of dying that turn. This can limit flexibility, especially if you are holding onto the card without immediate prospects for use.

Specific Mana Cost: Undying Evil’s mana cost is singularly black, which constrains its integration in multi-colored decks that may struggle to access black mana consistently or early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only a single black mana, its cost-effectiveness is up for debate. The card is reactive by nature and holding up mana for it might lead to a loss in tempo, especially if the opportunity to utilize it effectively doesn’t present itself promptly.


Reasons to Include Undying Evil in Your Collection

Versatility: Undying Evil is a low-cost instant that can be easily slotted into various decks. Whether you are looking to protect a key creature or simply get more value from a creature before it dies, this card effortlessly adjusts to multiple in-game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo possibilities. By giving a creature undying, you can pair it with sacrifice effects or enter-the-battlefield abilities for repeated use. It turns any creature into a persistent threat, capable of returning to the battlefield stronger than before.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where removal spells are common, Undying Evil provides an unexpected layer of resilience. Being able to thwart an opponent’s attempt to remove your creatures not only maintains board presence but can also swing the momentum in your favor. Its relevance grows in metas filled with spot removal and board wipes.


How to beat

Undying Evil possesses a unique mechanic in MTG that can flip the battle in your adversary’s favor by bringing their creature back stronger after defeat. Overcoming this card requires strategic plays and card choices. To effectively neutralize its impact, consider employing graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus to remove creatures before Undying Evil can take effect. Another method involves countering the spell directly with options such as Cancel or Mana Leak, preemptively addressing the threat. Alternatively, exile effects from spells like Swords to Plowshares can bypass the undying trigger entirely, ensuring the creature does not return to haunt you.

Board control tools also hold significance; a card like Wrath of God can clear the board, but be wary, Undying Evil may still bring a creature back if it’s in play at the right moment. Targeted removal after an Undying Evil creature returns ensures the boosted creature doesn’t give your opponent a lasting advantage. Implementing these strategies effectively will enhance your resilience against opponents leveraging Undying Evil and build towards game dominance.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deep into MTG’s strategic layers, Undying Evil stands out as a powerhouse of potential. Surviving board wipes, countering removals, or reaping entry effects, this card offers a subtle yet impactful edge. But mastering its use is an art. With every card, balance is crucial—knowing when to play and what synergies to pursue can transform good players into great ones. At BurnMana, we shine a spotlight on nuanced play and deck optimization that keeps you one step ahead. Enhance your MTG knowledge and skill set with us and make every card play count. Learn how to integrate Undying Evil into your arsenal and outmaneuver the competition. Dive in with us.


Cards like Undying Evil

Undying Evil adds a layer of resiliency to creatures on the battlefield. In the realm of Magic the Gathering, it has peers, but each comes with its nuances. Take for instance, Supernatural Stamina. Both these cards grant a creature the ability to come back to life after being destroyed. However, Supernatural Stamina has the added benefit of temporarily boosting a creature’s power, a feature Undying Evil lacks. Conversely, Undying Evil offers a permanent +1/+1 counter, which can be invaluable in strategic combat scenarios.

Moving on to another comparison, we have Unearth. This card also brings creatures back to life, albeit for a single turn. Unearth is more restrictive in target selection but offers the creature haste to immediately impact the board. This compares to Undying Evil’s indefinite effect of reincarnation, coupled with enhancement through +1/+1 counters, enabling a more formidable presence over time.

Inspecting these comparisons, Undying Evil is a card that stands out for players looking to fortify their creatures against removal and pave the way for a sustained board advantage. The trade-offs it presents make it a compelling choice for decks looking to exploit death triggers or enhance creature durability.

Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions

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Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Vendetta - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Undying Evil MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Undying Evil and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Undying Evil has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

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