Forsaken Drifters MTG Card


Milling four cards boosts graveyard strategies, improving the potential for future plays and combos. Self-milling risk aside, Forsaken Drifters’ death-trigger aids decks focusing on instant speed graveyard plays. Despite a higher mana cost, its ability to fill graveyards makes it a potentially valuable inclusion in specific decks.
Forsaken Drifters - Born of the Gods
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Abilities Mill
Released2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set nameBorn of the Gods
Set codeBNG
Power 4
Toughness 2
Number72
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMin Yum

Text of card

When Forsaken Drifters dies, put the top four cards of your library into your graveyard.

It is a terrible thing when the path of the Returned leads them back to the Underworld.


Cards like Forsaken Drifters

Forsaken Drifters finds its place amid the vast array of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to cards like Returned Centaur in that both play a role in stocking the graveyard. Forsaken Drifters allows a player to put the top four cards from their library into their graveyard upon death, which can be a boon for strategies that capitalize on a well-stocked graveyard.

In a similar discussion, Balustrade Spy comes to mind. Though it doesn’t let you choose when to activate its ability like Forsaken Drifters inevitably does upon meeting its demise, Balustrade Spy’s ability triggers upon entering the battlefield, potentially filling the graveyard more immediately. While these two handle the graveyard differently, both synergize with ‘reanimator’ or delve strategies that thrive on high graveyard counts.

Overall, when evaluating the unique benefits these creatures offer to graveyard-centric decks in Magic: The Gathering, Forsaken Drifters can be a valuable card, especially for those looking to control when they stock their graveyard. With smart play, it can be a pivotal asset in the intricate dance of death and reanimation that typifies this style of play.

Returned Centaur - MTG Card versions
Balustrade Spy - MTG Card versions
Returned Centaur - MTG Card versions
Balustrade Spy - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Forsaken Drifters by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
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Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Akuta, Born of Ash - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Akuta, Born of Ash - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Forsaken Drifters brings card advantage through its graveyard filling ability. When it dies, it mills four cards into your graveyard, potentially setting up future plays and synergies.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana, the ability to mill cards like “Creatures or Lands” can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by enabling delve or threshold mechanics.

Instant Speed: While Forsaken Drifters itself isn’t an instant, it allows you to play at instant speed by stocking your graveyard quickly. This can be crucial for strategies relying on cards with flashback or other abilities that you can activate from the graveyard during either player’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Forsaken Drifters demands that when it dies, you have to put the top four cards of your library into your graveyard. This self-milling could unwittingly discard crucial spells or creatures you would prefer to draw during crucial moments of gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black mana and generic mana, this card fits primarily into black-centered or graveyard-focused decks. Its specific mana cost can be challenging for multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary black mana available when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a 4/2 creature, Forsaken Drifters might not provide the best value per mana spent, especially when there are more potent creatures or impactful cards available at the same or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Forsaken Drifters offers a unique blend of graveyard-filling and creature presence, making it easy to include in various decks that capitalize on large graveyards like those in reanimator or delve strategies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to self-mill, this card pairs well with abilities that trigger upon creatures entering the graveyard, setting up powerful synergies that can shift the tide of gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where graveyard manipulation is key, Forsaken Drifters becomes a potent asset, enabling strategies that require a stocked graveyard to function efficiently and outmaneuver opponents.


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How to beat

Forsaken Drifters represents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield with its sizable body and graveyard synergies. As a player facing off against this creature, your best strategy is to lean on instant-speed removal. By employing spells that can eliminate it on the spot, you minimize the impact of its ability. Consider spells like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization, which can dispatch the Drifters before their death-trigger effect becomes an issue. It’s also wise to limit the effectiveness of any graveyard interactions they might enable.

Controlling the board is another effective approach. Board wipes that clear multiple threats can handle the Drifters efficiently. This strategy is particularly useful as it bypasses the death-triggered ability, keeping your opponent’s graveyard bereft of additional creature cards that could fuel their strategy. Wrath of God or Damnation are perfect examples of powerful spells suited for this task.

Avoiding specific combat situations can also be key. Since Forsaken Drifters isn’t known for its speed, faster decks could take advantage and pressure the opponent early on. Employing creatures with flying or other evasion abilities can also circumvent the Drifters, hitting your opponent where they’re vulnerable while they set up their board.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forsaken Drifters MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Forsaken Drifters and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Forsaken Drifters has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal