Driver of the Dead MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 99
2016-02-26 - Number 56
2016-08-26 - Number 133
2019-11-07 - Number 638
2020-08-07 - Number 90
2020-09-26 - Number CN2-133
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vampire |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Driver of the Dead dies, return target creature card with converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Some vampires resorted to corpse trading after cathars burned their estates and drove them from their ancestral feeding grounds.
Cards like Driver of the Dead
Driver of the Dead fits snugly into the pantheon of creature cards that have secondary abilities when they leave the battlefield. Its ability to return a smaller creature from your graveyard to the battlefield can be likened to Gravedigger, although the latter is more direct by placing the creature back into your hand. Driver of the Dead’s effect is unique as it puts the creature directly into play, offering you an immediate board presence.
Unearthly creatures such as Cadaver Imp also play with the theme of retrieval, letting you reclaim another creature card when it enters the battlefield. Cadaver Imp is more flexible, given its lower casting cost and flying ability, but doesn’t provide the same potential for tempo gain as Driver of the Dead, which resurrects creatures automatically without spending extra mana. Lastly, Pit Keeper merits mention, as it offers a similar resurrection ability, but requires a threshold of other creatures in your graveyard to activate the effect. While more conditional, Pit Keeper comes out faster, allowing for an earlier strategic setup.
Contextualizing Driver of the Dead amid its kindred cards allows players to appreciate its ability to unexpectedly swing the game by reanimating key creatures without dipping into one’s mana reserves during later stages of play.
Cards similar to Driver of the Dead by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Driver of the Dead’s ability can offer a significant boost in card economy. When it dies, you get to return a target creature card with converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. This essentially translates into two creatures for the price of one, potentially doubling your board presence without expending an extra card from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: While Driver of the Dead itself doesn’t directly provide mana acceleration, its resurrection effect can indirectly contribute to this by bringing back creatures with mana abilities or those that can make subsequent plays cheaper. By reanimating the right creature, it can pave the way for bigger and more impactful spells sooner than you normally could.
Instant Speed: Although Driver of the Dead operates at sorcery speed, the creature it brings back could have instant speed capabilities, thereby increasing your flexibility in response to your opponent’s actions. This can catch an adversary off-guard and allow for advantageous plays during their turn, maintaining the element of surprise which is crucial in many MTG strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the caveats of Driver of the Dead is that its ability necessitates a discard from your hand. This demand can backfire, especially when your hand is already depleted, constraining your strategic moves.
Specific Mana Cost: Driver of the Dead requires a precise combination of mana to cast. Including two black mana in its cost, this card could be a challenge to accommodate in multicolored decks that are not heavily skewed towards black.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, it’s pertinent to weigh the value it brings to the table. There are other creatures or spells at similar or lower cost brackets that may offer more aggressive stats or impactful abilities, potentially overshadowing the utility of Driver of the Dead in a competitive environment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Driver of the Dead offers a solid inclusion for decks that aim to capitalize on creature recursion. Its ability to return a small creature to the battlefield from your graveyard adds a layer of strategic depth to gameplay, ensuring you can maintain board presence.
Combo Potential: This card seamlessly integrates with sacrifice and aristocrat strategies, where you can exploit its revival ability. When paired with repeatable sacrifice outlets, Driver of the Dead helps to create a loop, rewarding you with an advantage every time a creature hits the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature removal is prevalent, the ability to recover key creatures with Driver of the Dead can be a game-changer. Its four-power also means it’s capable of being a threat on its own, making it a versatile pick for various constructed formats.
How to beat
Driver of the Dead is an intriguing creature card that can be both a threat and an opportunity in Magic: The Gathering matches. When this particular card is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, it allows a player to return another target creature card with converted mana cost 2 or less from their graveyard to the battlefield. This reanimation ability can be disruptive if not addressed promptly.
To effectively neutralize Driver of the Dead, one tactic is to utilize exile effects, preventing the card from hitting the graveyard and triggering its ability. Cards with exile effects, unlike the usual destroy spells, ensure that Driver of the Dead doesn’t get to utilize its resurrection power. Another method is graveyard manipulation—cards that exile cards from graveyards or shuffle graveyards back into the library can be very effective. This can prevent not only the return of the Driver of the Dead, but also any potential creatures it may aim to bring back.
By understanding the dynamics of the creature’s ability and preparing specific counters or strategies, players can minimize the impact of Driver of the Dead and maintain control of the game state. This approach marks the difference between a reactive and a proactive player in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Driver of the Dead MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored 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 Driver of the Dead 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
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Printings
The Driver of the Dead Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by James Ryman.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 99 | 2003 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 2 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 56 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 3 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 133 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 4 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 638 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 5 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | CN2-133 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Ryman |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Driver of the Dead has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Driver of the Dead card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-08-07 | If Driver of the Dead dies at the same time as a creature with mana value 2 or less, you can target that card and return it to the battlefield. |
| 2020-08-07 | If a card in a player's graveyard has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. |
| 2020-08-07 | If a creature card with mana value 2 or less becomes a copy of Driver of the Dead and dies, it can be the target of its own ability. |