Dread Slaver MTG Card

Dread Slaver manipulates the battlefield by turning defeated creatures into allies, offering significant card advantage. While powerful, it has specific mana requirements and a high cost, which may limit deck-building flexibility. Its distinctive control mechanic makes it a strategic asset in creature-heavy meta environments.

Avacyn Restored (AVR)
2012-05-04 - Number 98

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 405

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Zombie Horror
Power	3
Toughness	5

Text of card

Whenever a creature dealt damage by Dread Slaver this turn dies, return it to the battlefield under your control. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types.

Half a brain rules the mindless.

Cards like Dread Slaver

Dread Slaver is a unique creature card that stands out in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other creature cards that manipulate the battlefield by seizing control of opponents’ creatures. For instance, take the card Olivia Voldaren, which also can take command of enemy creatures, but requires an investment of mana to do so. Unlike Olivia, Dread Slaver’s ability activates upon dealing combat damage, giving it a different strategic advantage.

Another card to consider in this comparison is Necrotic Ooze. While Necrotic Ooze doesn’t directly steal creatures, it gains the activated abilities of all creature cards in all graveyards, which can indirectly affect board control. Whereas Necrotic Ooze has a broader scope of influence, Dread Slaver’s ability is focused on creatures it directly damages. Additionally, Massacre Wurm is worth mentioning due to its ability to weaken the opponent’s creatures and can also shift the tide of a game, although it lacks the creature-stealing mechanic.

In essence, Dread Slaver’s particular set of skills makes it a scenario-specific, but potentially game-changing creature card in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to reanimate and control opponent’s creatures upon dealing damage can turn the tide of a match, aligning it with, but distinct from other cards with similar battlefield manipulation effects.

Cards similar to Dread Slaver by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dread Slaver’s ability to take control of any creature it damages introduces the potential for significant card advantage. By turning opponent’s creatures against them, you can maintain a stronger board presence without expending extra cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Dread Slaver itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the act of reanimating an opponent’s creature can serve as an indirect form of acceleration. Instead of spending resources to cast your own creatures, you leverage the ones already played by your opponents.

Instant Speed: Although Dread Slaver operates at sorcery speed, its persistent impact on the battlefield encourages a game state where your opponent must consider the risks of attacking or blocking with their creatures at any time. This can give you a psychological edge, as the threat of Dread Slaver’s ability may influence the opponent’s choices during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dread Slaver demands a steady flow of creatures entering the battlefield under your control, which might force you to alter your strategy or sacrifice valuable creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Dread Slaver comes with a distinct mana requirement including black mana. This can constrict deck-building options, particularly in formats where mana base flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five mana, including three black, the investment for Dread Slaver can be prohibitive. There are alternative creatures and spells that might provide more immediate impact or versatility at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dread Slaver offers a unique advantage as it can adapt to various game scenarios. This card can serve as both a defensive mechanism against aggressive decks and a tool to turn the tide by stealing opponents’ creatures after combat.

Combo Potential: With the ability to assimilate your opponent’s creatures into your own ranks, Dread Slaver holds the potential for powerful combos. It synergizes with cards that manipulate combat to ensure that enemies engage with it, fully utilizing its formidable ability to control the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creatures frequently clash, Dread Slaver shines by providing a recurring threat that can alter the state of the game. Its presence requires the opposition to think twice before sending their creatures into combat, making it a card worth considering for its strategic depth and impact on opponent’s tactics.

How to beat

Dread Slaver stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to capture creatures it deals combat damage to. This can quickly turn the tide of a game as it converts opponents’ defeated creatures into zombie allies for your own battlefield. Yet, there are strategies to defuse its potential. One effective way to overpower this menacing creature is through removal spells. Instant speed removals like Path to Exile and Murder can cleanly handle Dread Slaver before it wreaks havoc.

Counterspells are also an excellent preemptive measure to ensure that Dread Slaver never hits the battlefield. By using counters like Counterspell or Mana Leak, you can effectively neutralize the threat it poses while it’s still a spell. If it does manage to enter the battlefield, tapping it with spells or abilities that prevent it from attacking, such as those found in Frost Breath or Pacifism, can limit its devastating effect.

A well-timed board wipe like Wrath of God or Damnation can also be a clean sweep solution, eradicating Dread Slaver along with other menacing threats on the board. By staying one step ahead with these tactics, you can keep this dangerous creature in check and maintain control over the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dread Slaver MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Dread Slaver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dread Slaver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-05-04	Avacyn Restored	AVR		98	2003	Normal	Black	Dave Kendall
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		405	2015	Normal	Black	Dave Kendall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dread Slaver 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 Dread Slaver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2012-05-01	Dread Slaver will return if it somehow dealt damage to itself and then dies.
2012-05-01	Each time a creature dies, check whether Dread Slaver had dealt any damage to it at any time during that turn. If so, Dread Slaver’s ability will trigger. It doesn’t matter who controlled the creature or whose graveyard it was put into.
2012-05-01	If Dread Slaver and a creature it was blocking or blocked by both die in combat, Dread Slaver’s ability will trigger.
2012-05-01	The card will return to the battlefield under your control only if it’s still in the graveyard when the ability resolves. If it’s not (perhaps because an ability like undying has already returned it to the battlefield), nothing happens.