Grave Defiler MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Released | 2001-06-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Apocalypse |
| Set code | APC |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 40 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Tony Szczudlo |
Text of card
When Grave Defiler comes into play, reveal the top four cards of your library. Put all Zombie cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library. o1o B: Regenerate Grave Defiler.
Cards like Grave Defiler
Grave Defiler offers a unique angle to deck strategies centered around creature recovery in MTG. It brings to mind cards like Gravedigger, as both share the ability to return creatures from the graveyard to your hand. Yet Grave Defiler nudges ahead with its appealing synergy in zombie decks, allowing players a glimpse at their next few cards and pulling forth additional zombie allies.
Another kin in its category is Cemetery Reaper providing a static boost to your zombie contingent and exiling cards from opponents’ graveyards to create more zombies. While not as direct in reanimation as Grave Defiler, the Reaper solidifies a zombie tribal strategy. Corpse Connoisseur stands out as well, allowing the search and disposal of any creature card into the graveyard, priming for a later revival – an essential tactic for combo-driven grave-based decks.
In essence, when examining their roles in grave-centric strategies and tribal support, Grave Defiler can be a valuable asset for its ability to combine graveyard interaction with tribal reinforcement, affecting the board state with each undead ally unearthed from the deck’s depths.
Cards similar to Grave Defiler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grave Defiler presents a notable upside when it comes to bolstering your hand. Upon entering the battlefield, this creature permits you to seek out Apocalypse creature cards in your graveyard and reveal them, instantly adding them to your grip. This act of selective retrieval not only increases your card count but also enriches your strategic potential in mid to late game scenarios.
Resource Acceleration: Resource-wise, the Grave Defiler shines by enabling a streamlined approach to your mana expenditure. Thanks to its morbid resurrection abilities, you can deploy undead legions at a potentially lower investment than their initial casting cost. This efficient use of mana preserves resources for countering opponents’ moves or furthering your own board state advancement.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Grave Defiler works in seamless harmony with flash spells and abilities that can set the stage for its arrival. By synchronizing its entry to the battlefield with these surprise elements, you can effectively time the reclamation of fallen creatures in your graveyard, aligning them for a swift and unexpected comeback.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Grave Defiler’s ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand hinges on discarding a card. This condition can be counterproductive when your hand is already running thin on valuable cards, forcing tough decisions on resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a specific combination of mana: two generic and two black. This mana need narrows down its compatibility, slotting primarily into black-centered or heavy black-influenced decks, potentially excluding it from more color-diverse deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For an investment of four mana, Grave Defiler’s impact on the game may not align with its cost, especially when compared to other cards within the same mana range that could potentially have an immediate and more substantial effect on the board state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Grave Defiler’s ability to search for and play creatures from your graveyard means it can be adapted to various deck types, particularly those that capitalize on the graveyard as a resource.
Combo Potential: This card opens up several combo routes, acting as a facilitator for graveyard synergies. Its ability can seamlessly integrate into reanimator or zombie tribal strategies, maximizing the impact of each graveyard play.
Meta-Relevance: With the constant evolution of the competitive scene, a card like Grave Defiler remains relevant in formats where your graveyard acts as an extension of your hand, offering strategic depth against control and tempo decks.
How to beat
Grave Defiler is a unique creature card known for its ability to regenerate and to let a player reveal cards from their own graveyard, selecting creature cards and putting them into their hand. When facing Grave Defiler, the best strategy is to inhibit its regeneration ability or to limit creature cards in the graveyard. Graveyard hate cards such as Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace are highly effective at keeping graveyards clean, thus nullifying the Defiler’s potent ability.
Additionally, the use of instant-speed removal, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can efficiently remove Grave Defiler before its regeneration can be activated. Cards that exile upon death also bypass regeneration, making them invaluable in this scenario. It’s essential to manage your removal spells wisely and anticipate the Defiler’s entry onto the battlefield to maintain control. Utilizing these strategies will help in neutering Grave Defiler’s impact on the game, ensuring that your opponent can’t capitalize on their graveyard resources.
By understanding the dynamics of your opponent’s graveyard-centric strategies and having the right countermeasures in place, you can effectively disrupt their plans and pave the way to victory against a deck that includes the challenging Grave Defiler card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grave Defiler MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Grave Defiler and other MTG cards:
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- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grave Defiler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |