Dearly Departed MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 9
2016-02-26 - Number 6
2020-04-17 - Number 84
2021-09-24 - Number 84
2023-06-23 - Number 165
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Flying As long as Dearly Departed is in your graveyard, each Human creature you control enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.
"Never forget our ancestors. They have not forgotten us." —Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Cards like Dearly Departed
Dearly Departed delves into an intriguing niche within the realm of spirit creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It boasts a unique synergy with Human creatures, offering an enduring benefit even from the graveyard. Not many cards offer similar post-mortem interactions. However, a notable comparison could be made with Haunted Dead, which also leverages its graveyard presence by allowing players to return it to the battlefield.
Another card with a kinship to Dearly Departed is the Gallows Warden. Although it doesn’t interact with the graveyard, it also serves the spirit tribe and enhances the power of all other spirits. Conversely, Dearly Departed emboldens Human creatures specifically, both in life and afterlife. Cemetery Protector stands out as a newer addition, similarly boosting Humans but also having the ability to exile a card from a graveyard upon entering the battlefield, anchoring its value both on and off the battlefield.
In sum, Dearly Departed is a distinctive card that shines in a dedicated spirit or Human deck by continuing to influence the game even after it has been placed in the graveyard, resonating well in specific deck strategies within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Dearly Departed by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Dearly Departed. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Selesnya Combo | Legacy | MO78#CS |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dearly Departed ensures that you’re not just playing creatures but also enhancing future plays. When a Human creature comes into play with this card in your graveyard, you receive a substantial boost without spending extra resources, effectively gaining multiple benefits from a single card.
Resource Acceleration: Although this card doesn’t directly generate mana or tokens, it accelerates your board state by turning all your future Human creature plays into more potent threats. This intrinsic value can lead to indirect resource acceleration as your enhanced creatures may require your opponent to use more resources to deal with them.
Instant Speed: One of the powerful aspects of Dearly Departed is its capability to be a game-changer even when it’s sitting in your graveyard. This passive ability functions at the speed of the game—no need for mana commitment at instant speed, yet it continuously offers the promise of upgraded creatures whenever you play them.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As a card that interacts with your graveyard, Dearly Departed necessitates a strategic game plan for it to be fully effective. This could mean having to discard other potentially valuable cards to make the most of its abilities, which could hinder your play if you’re not equipped with the right support cards or if you are facing graveyard disruption by your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Dearly Departed requires precise mana allocation with two white mana in its cost. This can be restrictive for multi-colored decks that may face difficulty in generating the necessary white mana consistently, especially early in the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of six, Dearly Departed sits at a higher tier of mana costs. Although it offers a persistent boon to Humans you control, it competes with other high-impact cards that could potentially offer more immediate or versatile benefits for the same or less investment.
Reasons to Include Dearly Departed in Your Collection
Versatility: Dearly Departed slides seamlessly into a variety of white and human-centric decks. Given its ability to buff human creatures even from the graveyard, it’s a card that offers value in multiple stages of the game.
Combo Potential: This card has great synergy with mechanics that bring creatures back from the graveyard. Pairing it with reanimation spells or effects maximizes the benefit you get from its passive ability, lending considerable strength to return-to-play strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where tribal decks, especially human tribes, maintain a strong presence, Dearly Departed stands as a powerful inclusion. It’s especially potent in metas with heavy creature-based tactics, providing an ongoing advantage as long as it resides in your graveyard.
How to beat
Dearly Departed is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that has the potential to shift the dynamic of gameplay when it’s in the graveyard. Its ability to bolster humans from beyond the grave makes it a key component in human-centric decks. To counteract its influence, it is crucial to utilize graveyard removal spells, such as Relic of Progenitus or Bojuka Bog, which can exile Dearly Departed and nullify its ongoing effect.
Another effective strategy against this spirit is to use instant-speed removal spells, like Swords to Plowshares, when it is on the battlefield to ensure it doesn’t make it to the graveyard. Moreover, employing counter spells or hand disruption techniques to prevent Dearly Departed from ever making an appearance can dismantle your opponent’s plan, keeping the battlefield clear of its powerful buff.
By understanding the significance of timing and disrupting the graveyard, players can effectively mitigate the impact of Dearly Departed. This approach requires forethought and precise play but is key in overcoming a card that lingers with such a persistent presence.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dearly Departed MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed, 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 Dearly Departed 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
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Printings
The Dearly Departed Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 9 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 2 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 3 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 4 | 2021-09-24 | Midnight Hunt Commander | MIC | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 5 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 165 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arthur Yuan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dearly Departed has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dearly Departed card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | In most cases, when determining whether a creature entering the battlefield under your control should get a +1/+1 counter, you'll simply look at what the creature will looklike on the battlefield. You'll consider any effects affecting a creature entering the battlefield under your control. |
| 2011-09-22 | The effect is cumulative. Human creatures you control will enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter for each Dearly Departed in your graveyard. |