Funeral March MTG Card

Provides control over the game by dictating opponent’s board presence, leveraging tactical superiority. Instant speed play allows for dynamic strategy and complex gameplay during an opponent’s turn. May limit deck versatility with its specific black mana cost and high resource demands.

Homelands (HML)
1995-10-01 - Number 48

Fifth Edition (5ED)
1997-03-24 - Number 164

Funeral March - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Masters Edition II (ME2)
2008-09-22 - Number 91

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Text of card

When target creature leaves play, that creature's controller sacrifices a creature he or she controls. Ignore this effect if that player controls no creatures.

"This party is such fun—but it's a shame to mourn just one." —Irini Sengir

Cards like Funeral March

In the nuanced world of MtG, every card has its ensemble of comparisons. Funeral March is a card that resides in the same darkened alleyway as other removal spells like Doom Blade and Go for the Throat. Although Doom Blade is celebrated for its cost-efficient approach to creature removal, it pales in offering the unique drawback that Funeral March serves up. The March requires a creature to be in play and doesn’t just aim to remove—it cripples your opponent by sending a key piece of their army to the graveyard only if it’s nonblack.

Go for the Throat, much like Funeral March, carries that restriction—albeit targeting nonartifact creatures, presenting a precision removal for virtually the same casting cost. The March’s enchantment nature, however, opens up different avenues for gameplay, particularly in decks that capitalize on enchantment synergies. Moving beyond direct comparisons, there’s Diabolic Edict, invoking the power of choice in the hands of your opponent, often leading to sacrum games where tactical plays reign supreme. Unlike Funeral March, Edict’s immediate effect can be a double-edged sword, bypassing targeting restrictions but sometimes lacking the enduring board presence of an enchantment.

Exploring the depths of creature control options, Funeral March positions itself as a card for those who seek a strategic, if conditional, battlefield influence. Its uniqueness in MtG’s extensive library of cards is evident in the added dimension it brings to the game of strategic anticipation and planning.

Cards similar to Funeral March by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Funeral March excels at providing you with a way to control the flow of the game by removing a creature from play. By doing so, it can effectively diminish your opponent’s board presence, giving you a tactical edge.

Resource Acceleration: Through its ability to potentially alter the state of the battlefield, Funeral March can be indirectly associated with accelerating your resources. By removing a key piece of your opponent’s strategy, you may gain the upper hand and the opportunity to deploy your resources more effectively.

Instant Speed: The versatility of playing Funeral March at instant speed cannot be overstated. It enables you to act with precision during your opponent’s turn, waiting for the most opportune moment to disrupt their strategy without preemptively revealing your plan. This strategic depth adds a layer of complexity to your gameplay, enhancing your ability to react and adapt to an ever-changing game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Funeral March requires a player to discard a card when engaging its abilities, posing a strategic disadvantage during the game. This demand for an additional card can be particularly taxing when your hand is already running thin, potentially leading to a compromised position on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: With its black mana cost, Funeral March is tailored for decks that are heavily skewed towards or include black mana in their color scheme. This specificity can be restrictive, limiting the card’s versatility and its integration into a diverse array of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluated against other cards that provide similar benefits, Funeral March’s mana cost might be considered on the higher end. Such a cost can impact its playability, especially when faster-paced strategies or lower-cost alternatives are available and could achieve comparable effects with less resource investment.

Reasons to Include Funeral March in Your Collection

Versatility: Funeral March is not just a creature removal but also a method to disrupt graveyard strategies. It can be inserted into various deck archetypes that anticipate creature-heavy strategies or need to control the board state.

Combo Potential: This card acts as a fantastic enabler for decks that thrive on death triggers or benefit from the removal of problematic creatures. Its ability to target any creature adds a layer of strategy to your gameplay, paving the way for intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players are frequently using creature-based strategies to secure a win, Funeral March serves as a valuable asset. It’s particularly effective in formats where creatures often end up in the graveyard, making it a timely inclusion in many collections.

How to beat

Funeral March is a particular card that can pose quite a challenge on the battlefield. It’s a card that takes advantage of creatures dying by creating a detrimental effect for the creature’s controller. This sets it apart from other cards that are more straightforward in their approach to removing threats from the battlefield.

While confronting the march, there are several strategies to consider. Prioritize maintaining board presence while minimizing losses. This means playing cards that can replace themselves or generate additional value upon being destroyed. Counterspells also provide an effective defense, preventing Funeral March from resolving in the first place. Additionally, consider the importance of graveyard management. Cards that can exile from graveyards or shuffle creatures back into your library can limit the impact of Funeral March’s effect, ensuring that the march towards defeat is thwarted.

To summarize, adept maneuvering around Funeral March involves strategic playstyle adjustments, careful selection of creatures, and utilizing responses that render its effects negligible. Emphasize on resilience and adaptability, and you’ll stand a strong chance against this daunting enchantment. This approach not only helps to beat Funeral March but also hones skills that are fundamentally essential in MTG play.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Funeral March MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Fifth Edition, 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 Funeral March and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Funeral March Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1995-10-01	Homelands	HML	48	1993	Normal	Black	Melissa A. Benson
2	1997-03-24	Fifth Edition	5ED	164	1997	Normal	White	John Coulthart
3	2008-09-22	Masters Edition II	ME2	91	1997	Normal	Black	John Coulthart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Funeral March has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal