Demilich MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 53p
2021-07-23 - Number 53a
2021-07-23 - Number 53
2021-07-23 - Number 366
2021-07-23 - Number 53s
2002-06-24 - Number 92658
2002-06-24 - Number 92616
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Skeleton Wizard |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast for each instant and sorcery spell you've cast this turn. Whenever Demilich attacks, exile up to one target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. Copy it. You may cast the copy. You may cast Demilich from your graveyard by exiling four instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard in addition to paying its other costs.
Cards like Demilich
Demilich emerges as a compelling choice for players looking for a powerhouse in blue spell strategies within Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarity to Snapcaster Mage, which is also renowned for granting second life to spells from your graveyard. Unlike Snapcaster Mage, Demilich allows you to cast multiple instants or sorceries from the graveyard, albeit only during your turn. Moreover, Demilich’s cost can be reduced by the amount of instants and sorceries you’ve played, potentially allowing you to cast it for just blue mana.
Analogous to Arcanist, the Omnipotent in its card draw potential, Demilich offers a less direct, though potentially more frequent, method of gaining card advantage. While Arcanist provides a consistent flow of cards, Demilich necessitates a more strategized approach, relying on the casting of spells for its engine to operate. This synergy-driven method can be incredibly rewarding for seasoned players adept at maximizing spell casts.
Ultimately, Demilich stands out in its role within spell-slinging decks. It provides a dynamic that champions proactive gameplay and rewards a strategy dense with instants and sorceries, confirming its extraordinary niche in decks crafted with a high volume of noncreature spells.
Cards similar to Demilich by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Demilich. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer Challenge 96 2023-12-03 (1) |
 | Temur Control | Modern | Temur Control | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-29 |
| URG | Modern | Modern League 2024-04-22 | |
| URw Demilich Phoenix | Free form | d00mwake's Pure Modern Subscriber Tournament #4 | |
| UBR | Legacy | Legacy Challenge 64 2023-12-31 | |
| Grixis Phoenix | Pioneer | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer Challenge 96 2023-12-09 (1) |
| Arclight Phoenix | Legacy | Arclight Phoenix | Legacy Challenge 32 2023-11-25 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Demilich card offers the potential to significantly improve your card advantage. By allowing you to cast instants or sorceries from your graveyard, you can reuse valuable spells, essentially drawing from a larger repertoire without depleting your hand.
Resource Acceleration: After casting Demilich, whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you can tap an untapped Wizard you control to reduce the spell’s cost. This synergizes exceptionally well with decks that have an ample number of Wizards, facilitating a faster execution of your game plan through resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: Demilich may not be an instant itself, but its ability triggers at instant speed, which means as you cast those spells from the graveyard, you’re able to surprise opponents during their turn. This fluidity can provide a tactical edge in tight matches, ensuring that you always have the upper hand in terms of adaptability and strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Demilich requires you to exile four instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard as you cast it, imposing an additional cost that could strip your graveyard of valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Demilich’s casting cost exclusively demands blue mana, which can be restrictive, especially in multicolor decks that might struggle to provide quadruple blue mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its ability to be cast from the graveyard, Demilich’s upfront cost of four blue mana can be burdensome when compared to other options in the slot, potentially slowing down your game plan in fast-paced matches.
Reasons to Include Demilich in Your Collection
Versatility: Demilich boasts flexible casting options, allowing you to cast it from your graveyard by exiling four instants or sorcery cards from your graveyard instead of paying its mana cost. This makes it an adaptable addition to various blue-centric decks that maximize spell casting.
Combo Potential: When you cast Demilich, you have the chance to return an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. Its synergy with spell-slinger strategies significantly enhances decks that revolve around casting numerous spells in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: With its ability to recur valuable spells and act as a formidable recurring threat, Demilich maintains relevance in metas that favor decks with high spell density and those that seek to optimize graveyard interactions. Its presence in your deck could be an influential factor in such environments.
How to beat
Demilich stands out as a formidable card in MTG, boasting the ability to not only cast spells from your graveyard but also return to your hand when you cast instants or sorceries. This skeletal wizard poses a unique challenge, but it’s not insurmountable. One effective tactic is increasing your removal options. Sort through your deck for spells that exile instead of destroying—that way, Demilich won’t be able to return from the graveyard. Instant-speed spells that exile are particularly potent as they can disrupt your opponent’s flow and remove the Demilich before it impacts the game significantly.
Controlling your opponent’s graveyard is another keen strategy. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void prevent cards from hitting the graveyard in the first place, thus negating Demilich’s powerful ability. Additionally, countering the casting of instants or sorceries with cards such as Dovin’s Veto provides a dual benefit: stopping your opponent’s game plan while keeping Demilich tame. It’s important to plan ahead, keeping mana open for these interactions to catch your opponent off-guard.
Ultimately, while Demilich is a strong player in the meta, incorporating smart tech choices and counterplay into your deck can level the playing field, turning what seems like an arduous task into a manageable one.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Demilich MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online 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 Demilich 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 Demilich Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Daniel Zrom.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 92658 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom | ||
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 92616 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom | ||
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 53p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom | |
| 4 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 53a | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom | |
| 5 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 53 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom | |
| 6 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 366 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom | |
| 7 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 53s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Zrom |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Demilich has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Demilich card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | Casting the copy happens as part of the resolution of Demilich's triggered ability. If you choose to cast it, you must do so right away. If you choose not to cast it right away, the copy ceases to exist the next time a player would receive priority. |
| 2021-07-23 | Demilich's last ability doesn't change when you can cast it. In most cases, you can cast Demilich only during your main phase. |
| 2021-07-23 | If you exile a card as the triggered ability resolves, that card will remain exiled whether you cast the copy or not. |
| 2021-07-23 | While casting Demilich, if you are required to pay an additional cost that includes a generic mana component, Demilich's cost reduction effect can apply to it. For example, if you're required to pay an additional to cast Demilich (perhaps because of Sphere of Resistance), and you've cast five or more instant and/or sorcery spells this turn, you would pay to cast Demilich. |
| 2021-07-23 | You must pay all normal costs for casting the copy. |