Dying to Serve MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Whenever you discard one or more cards, create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token. This ability triggers only once each turn.
"I used to have hired hands, but I discovered they make better waitstaff with the rest of the body attached." —Olivia Voldaren
Cards like Dying to Serve
Dying to Serve is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that captivates players’ strategic interests. It bears some resemblance to other tokens generators like Anointed Procession, which doubles the number of tokens created by your effects. Yet, Dying to Serve introduces a flavor-specific constraint – it requires you to have discarded a card this turn to trigger, bridging the gap between resource management and token generation.
Parallel to this, from a synergistic standpoint, cards like Waste Not offer benefits from discarding mechanics as well, although it focuses on opponents’ discards, providing a range of potential advantages from extra cards to additional mana or zombies. Then, we have Liliana’s Mastery, which though not connected to discarding, does empower your zombie army with a static bonus and creates zombies outright upon casting.
In summing up, Dying to Serve stands its ground within the variety of token-generating enchantments available in Magic: The Gathering. With its particular prerequisites and the potential for constructing an overwhelming horde of tokens, this card can be a game-changer in decks built around discarding strategies.
Cards similar to Dying to Serve by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dying to Serve facilitates card cycling, letting you discard and then draw, which can be crucial for finding key pieces of your strategy. The ability to transform discarded cards into token creatures also means you maintain board presence while refreshing your hand.
Resource Acceleration: This enchantment potentially creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token at each of your end steps. This steady stream of tokens can be a significant boon, bolstering your forces without spending additional mana, allowing you to invest resources elsewhere.
Instant Speed: While Dying to Serve itself isn’t at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells and abilities that trigger discarding. This can lead to surprising shifts in board state as you turn end-of-turn discards into unexpected new tokens, ready to attack or block as the game progresses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dying to Serve comes with a condition that necessitates you to discard a card to create a token, which could strain your hand if you don’t have the necessary resources.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana combination to cast—black and white—which may not be easily splashed into decks without these colors, hence restricting its overall flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, one black and one white, Dying to Serve may be considered quite pricey for its ability, especially when compared to other cards that can generate tokens at a lower cost or offer additional benefits.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Dying to Serve thrives in environments that make use of discard and draw mechanics. Its ability to create a horde of Zombie tokens provides a multipurpose advantage in both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card is a powerhouse when paired with effects that require you to discard, or effects that trigger when creatures enter the battlefield. The synergy with madness decks or those that capitalize on token generation is particularly potent.
Meta-Relevance: Building a deck that centers around constant draw and discard can position Dying to Serve as a key piece in outpacing your competition. This makes it a strong contender in a meta where resource manipulation and creature swarm strategies are prevalent.
How to beat
Dying to Serve is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, challenging players to outsmart its creature-creating mechanism. Unlike cards with straightforward removal requirements, Dying to Serve thrives on a player’s hand size, providing a steady stream of Zombie tokens when you discard cards. To effectively counteract the growing undead army, dedicated graveyard interaction spells can prove invaluable. By incorporating targeted removal options such as Scavenging Ooze, you are not only controlling the opponent’s battlefield but also diminishing their resource pool.
Understanding the synergy between Dying to Serve and its host deck is crucial for a successful counter-strategy. Resource denial, through hand disruption spells, can cripple the effectiveness of this powerful enchantment before it even hits the field. Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek can preemptively strip this card from an opponent’s grip, rendering their game plan null. Moreover, employing enchantment-eliminating spells such as Disenchant or Mortify in your deck grants you the upper hand, allowing you to remove Dying to Serve directly and stalling the production of its Undead tokens.
In essence, overcoming Dying to Serve relies on a two-fold approach of proactive disruption and immediate enchantment removal. By finely tuning your deck with these strategic elements, you can ensure that the threat of an ever-growing Zombie army is nothing more than a mere inconvenience.
BurnMana Recommendations
For those delving into the strategic depths of MTG, the allure of Dying to Serve in a savvy card draw and discard deck cannot be overstated. It’s an enchantment that rewards the astute player, turning each discard into a potential undead threat against opponents. Recognizing its strengths and limitations is key to wielding its power effectively on the battlefield. If you’re prepared to harness the synergy between discard mechanics and token generation, or you’re curious about intensifying your deck’s offensive prowess, Dying to Serve might just become your go-to card. Dive deeper with us and discover how to optimize your gameplay with this enchantment. Learn more and expand your strategic horizons.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dying to Serve MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Dying to Serve and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Dying to Serve Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 95341 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | ||
2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 109 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
3 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 370 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
4 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 32 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Steven Belledin | ||
5 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 376 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dying to Serve has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |