Grand Ossuary MTG Card
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Plane — Ravnica |
| Released | 2018-12-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Planechase Anthology Planes |
| Set code | OPCA |
| Number | 31 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Planar |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kekai Kotaki |
Text of card
Whenever a creature dies, its controller distributes a number of +1/+1 counters equal to its power among any number of target creatures he or she controls. Whenever you roll {Chaos}, each player exiles all creatures he or she controls and puts X 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield, where X is the total power of the creatures he or she exiled this way. Then planeswalk.
Cards like Grand Ossuary
Grand Ossuary is a notable addition to the array of enchantment cards in Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison to cards like Doubling Season, which is iconic for its ability to double the number of counters and tokens you generate. While Grand Ossuary doesn’t have the doubling effect, it introduces a new angle by rewarding players for each creature that dies during their turn. This creates dynamic gameplay, as players can strategize around sacrificing their own creatures for a larger benefit.
Analogous to Grand Ossuary is the card Death’s Presence. Both enchantments capture the essence of utilizing creature deaths to accumulate an advantage. However, Death’s Presence focuses solely on transferring power in the form of +1/+1 counters to another creature you control, whereas Grand Ossuary broadens its scope to reward creature deaths more generally. Moreover, while Grand Ossuary is beneficial in any deck that leverages creature deaths, Death’s Presence requires a more specific creature-centric strategy.
Ultimately, in the realm of creature-focused enchantments, Grand Ossuary shines as a card that opens up diverse strategic pathways and enhances decks focused on sacrificing creatures or creature combat to gain incremental value over the course of a game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grand Ossuary shines in its ability to stack up card advantage. Drawing additional cards each turn soars your chances of getting the perfect response or threat needed to dominate the game.
Resource Acceleration: When it comes to pacing, this card is a powerhouse. It’s a resource acceleration workhorse that enables you to employ your heavy hitters earlier than usual, giving you a significant upper hand in the battle for board control.
Instant Speed: The magic of Grand Ossuary is further amplified by its instant speed capability. This not only makes for dynamic game play but also provides flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves swiftly, giving you strategic edge when it matters most.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Grand Ossuary card demands a card discard, potentially depleting your hand, which could be detrimental during critical game-turns. Strategic hand management becomes essential to mitigate this downside.
Specific Mana Cost: Its activation cost includes both generic and colored mana, necessitating a well-tuned mana base to consistently exploit its abilities. Compatibility with multi-color decks could be challenging, restricting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Grand Ossuary’s effectiveness is assessed against its mana investment. With a high cost to get it into play, it competes with other permanents or impactful spells which might offer more immediate board presence or advantages.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Grand Ossuary offers enchantment-based synergy that complements a variety of deck builds. Being a flexible card, it can enhance strategies revolving around tokens or creature death, making it an adaptable choice for various playstyles.
Combo Potential: The ability of Grand Ossuary to grant bonuses from creatures dying makes it an excellent complement to combos that involve sacrificing your own creatures for value. It fits seamlessly into decks that capitalize on death triggers for both offensive and defensive tactics.
Meta-Relevance: As decks that thrive on the graveyard and sacrifice mechanics continue to hold their ground, a card like Grand Ossuary remains relevant. Its inclusion can strengthen your deck’s performance against prevalent strategies, keeping you competitive in changing meta landscapes.
How to beat
The Grand Ossuary in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique combination of strategic depth and potential board impact that players must carefully navigate. When looking to triumph over this powerful card, recognize that it thrives in environments with numerous creatures, especially when they are heading to the graveyard. Therefore, restraining the number of creature deaths is a pivotal approach. Cards that grant indestructible status or those that can exile creatures instead of destroying them are noticeably effective, as they limit Grand Ossuary’s ability to capitalize on carnage.
Consider including spells that restrict creature abilities or prevent your opponent from sacrificing creatures as a way to stifle Grand Ossuary’s influence. Counterspells also serve as an essential tool in your arsenal, allowing you to stop this potent card before it even hits the board. Additionally, being proactive about removing enchantments can serve as a reliable bulwark against the myriad of challenges that Grand Ossuary throws at players. Strategic gameplay, combined with a mindful selection of cards, can transform a daunting opposition into a manageable one.
In short, the key to conquering Grand Ossuary lies in predictive play, controlling the board state, and having the right answers at the critical moment. By taking these steps, your path to victory becomes clearer, even when facing the might of such a formidable card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grand Ossuary MTG card by a specific set like Planechase Anthology Planes, 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 Grand Ossuary and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana 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
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grand Ossuary card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-06-01 | Any target that is illegal when the first ability resolves won’t get any +1/+1 counters. Those counters are essentially lost; you won’t get to put them on another creature. |
| 2012-06-01 | For the chaos ability, the total power of the creatures a player exiled is the total power of those creatures as they last existed on the battlefield, including any bonuses from +1/+1 counters, Auras, Equipment, and other applicable effects. |
| 2012-06-01 | You choose the number of target creatures and declare how you are distributing the counters as you put the first ability on the stack. Each target must receive at least one +1/+1 counter. |