Duty-Bound Dead MTG Card


Duty-Bound Dead excels in combat boosting with Exalted and low mana cost enhances deck efficiency. Its regeneration ability provides resilience, crucial for sustaining presence during complex strategies. However, its specific black mana need and solo attack reliance can restrict deck versatility and strategy.
Duty-Bound Dead - Magic 2013
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Skeleton
Abilities Exalted
Released2012-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2013
Set codeM13
Power 0
Toughness 2
Number92
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohannes Voss

Text of card

Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) : Regenerate Duty-Bound Dead. (The next time this creature would be destroyed this turn, it isn't. Instead tap it, remove all damage from it, and remove it from combat.)


Cards like Duty-Bound Dead

Duty-Bound Dead is a distinctive creature within Magic: The Gathering that players often evaluate against other low-cost creature cards. Like Duty-Bound Dead, Walking Corpse offers a straightforward approach, providing a solid 2/2 body for two mana. However, Duty-Bound Dead stands out with its exalted ability, enhancing the power of alone attackers, a boon that Walking Corpse lacks.

The comparison extends to cards such as Tormented Soul, which cannot be blocked and also costs one mana. This spectral creature shares the same cost with Duty-Bound Dead but diverts in strategy by focusing on evasion rather than bolstering an attacking creature’s power through exalted. Duty-Bound Dead’s additional ability to regenerate also equips it with resilience that evasive creatures like Tormented Soul may not inherently possess.

Duty-Bound Dead is often recognized for its strategic flexibility—contributing both early defensive stability and potential offensive power boosts in latter plays. Its balance of low cost, utility, and synergistic potential with other exalted cards makes it a card that, while it may not shine singularly bright, is valued for the role it can play in the right deck.

Walking Corpse - MTG Card versions
Tormented Soul - MTG Card versions
Walking Corpse - MTG Card versions
Tormented Soul - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Duty-Bound Dead offers a tactical edge through its Exalted ability, which can provide a significant advantage in combat without requiring additional cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of resource acceleration, its low casting cost improves mana efficiency, enabling you to deploy other threats or hold up mana for responses earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: While Duty-Bound Dead itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells by keeping mana open for counterplays while still threatening an enhanced attack the following turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The mechanics of Duty-Bound Dead may not involve discarding directly, but its exalted ability heavily relies on either solo attacking or defending which means you could be forced to commit resources, similar to discarding, in order to maximize its effectiveness. This could lead to compromising your board control for a single benefit.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires black mana to be cast, which can be restrictive. Decks not running black might not be able to harness its full potential, limiting its flexibility across multiple strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Duty-Bound Dead itself is low-cost, its regeneration ability has a relatively high cost in terms of mana efficiency. At one black mana and one colorless to regenerate, other creatures may offer cheaper or more impactful survivability options, making it a less enticing choice in mana-tight situations.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Duty-Bound Dead’s Exalted ability makes it naturally adaptable, as it can boost any attacking creature, making it a solid addition to decks geared toward aggressive single-creature strategies.

Combo Potential: Its regenerative capability allows it to hold the fort defensively while other cards in your deck prepare for your winning move. This resilience can be key in decks that are hinged on sustaining board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Given the number of high-powered creatures and removal spells in the current game state, Duty-Bound Dead can be a strategic play to safeguard your more valuable creatures or to ensure a consistent Exalted trigger.


How to beat

Confronting Duty-Bound Dead in a game of Magic: The Gathering requires a smart approach, considering its Exalted ability can turn it into a significant blocker when it stands alone. As a low-cost creature with decent toughness courtesy of Exalted, it may seem daunting to handle at first glance. Yet, its weakness lies in its lack of inherent power, making it vulnerable to an aggressive early game strategy. To efficiently counter Duty-Bound Dead, consider deploying creatures with higher power to pressure your opponent, compelling them to block with Duty-Bound Dead and thereby losing its Exalted benefit. Removal spells are also effective, especially those that don’t target specifics, like sweepers that can clear multiple threats at once.

Another strategy is to leverage evasion abilities such as flying or trample, which can bypass the potential fortified ground creature. Lastly, inciting exchanges that are not favorable to your opponent can also work. For example, forcing them to trade Duty-Bound Dead for a less valuable creature on your side can diminish their defense and leave them vulnerable. Remember, while this creature can look formidable with the right support, it’s not invincible. Proper pacing and the right moves can ensure Duty-Bound Dead doesn’t stand in the way of your victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Duty-Bound Dead MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013, 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 Duty-Bound Dead and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Duty-Bound Dead has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal