False Demise MTG Card


False Demise provides a distinct advantage by resurrecting creatures, enhancing overall card value and utility. Board presence strength increases with False Demise, granting players a backup for pivotal creatures. The aura impacts gameplay by offering resilience against removal, crucial for enduring adversities.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

If enchanted creature is put into the graveyard, return that creature to play under your control as though it were just cast.

"Fool! Never believe they're dead until you see the body!" —General Varchild


Cards like False Demise

False Demise joins the ranks of aura cards in Magic: The Gathering that offer a second chance for creatures facing destruction. Much like the well-known card Unholy Indenture, False Demise allows a creature to return back to play under its owner’s control after it dies. However, Unholy Indenture adds a twist with its additional condition of granting control to you instead of the creature’s owner if it’s not already under your control, offering a possible shift in board power.

Another peer in this category is Supernatural Stamina. Although it serves a similar purpose by bringing creatures back after death, it stands out with its instant effect and temporary boost in power and toughness. This can be a crucial difference-maker during combat situations. Then we find Footsteps of the Goryo, which diverges by reanimating a creature only until the end of turn, designed for a brief but potentially game-altering impact within a combo or as a surprise element.

In conclusion, while evaluating these options, False Demise holds a valued position in the lineup of reanimation spells within Magic: The Gathering. Its straightforward and enduring effect provides a reliable safety net for creatures throughout the course of the game.

Unholy Indenture - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Footsteps of the Goryo - MTG Card versions
Unholy Indenture - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Footsteps of the Goryo - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: False Demise can create a scenario where you get an additional use from a creature once it’s destroyed, effectively letting you gain value from a single card twice. This can be pivotal when it comes to maintaining card advantage during pivotal moments in the game.

Resource Acceleration: By safeguarding your key creatures with False Demise, you can feel more secure in dedicating resources to developing your board without the fear of losing an important creature permanently. It allows for more aggressive plays knowing there’s a safety net in place.

Instant Speed: Although False Demise itself is an aura that’s cast at sorcery speed, its ability to return a creature to the battlefield can be crucial during opponent’s turns, especially against destruction-based removal spells. It ensures your board presence is resilient and versatile through various phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing False Demise requires having a creature in play to enchant, meaning if you’re facing a board wipe or are without creatures, it can be a dead card in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: False Demise costs one blue mana and two colorless, necessitating at least some investment in blue mana resources which could constrain deck-building options, especially in multicolored deck scenarios.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, False Demise may be regarded as a more costly choice for creature protection. Alternative spells offer similar effects or better versatility at a lower mana investment, providing a quicker response to threats on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include False Demise in Your Collection

Versatility: False Demise, as an aura card, has the intrinsic versatility to be included in decks that focus on creature protection or recursion strategies. It can easily fit into blue-based control or midrange decks, granting a second life to key creatures.

Combo Potential: With the ability to bring creatures back to the battlefield, it pairs well with enter-the-battlefield effects or sacrifice mechanics, opening up combo possibilities that can provide a tactical advantage over your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where removal spells are common, False Demise can be an excellent countermeasure. It keeps critical creatures in play longer, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy and gaining you value over the course of a game.


How to beat

False Demise is a nuanced aura in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that grants a second life to creatures it enchants. To effectively neutralize the resilience provided by False Demise, players should focus on leveraging enchantment removal spells or abilities. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize offer a straightforward solution by directly destroying the enchantment, thus preventing the creature from returning to the battlefield after death.

Counterspells like Cancel or Negate can also be pre-emptive measures, ensuring that False Demise never takes effect in the first place. For those preferring a more controlling approach, using cards that exile creatures, like Path to Exile, can bypass False Demise’s triggered ability. Since the creature is not dying but being exiled, the aura’s effect is rendered obsolete. Additionally, utilizing sacrifice effects can also force an opponent to send their creature to the graveyard and diminish the chances of False Demise being an obstacle. Thus, understanding and deploying these strategies are key to overcoming the subtle endurance offered by False Demise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase False Demise MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 False Demise and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The False Demise Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 1999-10-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-06-10AlliancesALL 27b1993NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
21996-06-10AlliancesALL 27a1993NormalBlackRandy Gallegos
31999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 801997NormalBlackPat Lewis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where False Demise has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal