Grave Upheaval MTG Card


Grave Upheaval ensures card advantage by reanimating creatures and ramping mana with an additional land. It accelerates resources by allowing immediate use of reanimated creatures, bolstering board presence. Grave Upheaval’s sorcery speed belies its strategic impact, enabling tempo control despite its higher cost.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Basic landcycling,Cycling,Landcycling

Text of card

Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. It gains haste. Basic landcycling (, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)


Cards like Grave Upheaval

Grave Upheaval is an interesting option for those looking to play around with their graveyard in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives are the numerous other reanimation spells available to the discerning necromancer. Unearth is a relatively low-cost card that brings creatures back from the dead, albeit only until the end of the turn and without any mana ramp like Grave Upheaval grants.

Zombify serves a similar purpose, allowing players to return a cherished creature to play from the graveyard. Though it lacks the additional value of providing a basic land onto the battlefield tapped, as Grave Upheaval does. Rise from the Grave is another comparison point, not only reanimating any creature from any graveyard but also adding the Zombie creature type to it upon its return.

Each of these cards offers a unique angle on the classic reanimate strategy. Despite stiff competition, Grave Upheaval claims its niche by giving an extra land as a cushion to expand your mana base, providing a subtle yet powerful edge in longer games where resource advantage counts.

Unearth - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Grave Upheaval by color, type and mana cost

Plague Spores - MTG Card versions
Toil // Trouble - MTG Card versions
Morgue Burst - MTG Card versions
Wake the Dragon - MTG Card versions
Plague Spores - MTG Card versions
Toil // Trouble - MTG Card versions
Morgue Burst - MTG Card versions
Wake the Dragon - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grave Upheaval doesn’t just bring a creature back from the graveyard to the battlefield; it also provides an additional land card onto the battlefield tapped. This double-feature acts as a formidable card advantage, letting players reanimate a powerful creature while subtly ramping up their mana resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card offers a unique type of resource acceleration. Instead of generating mana, Grave Upheaval allows for immediate use of a returned creature, which can be crucial in later stages of the game. It aids in developing board presence, tipping the scales by reintroducing powerful threats that can turn the tide of battle.

Instant Speed: Though Grave Upheaval is a sorcery, its potential impact on the game is akin to that of instant-speed plays. It may not be cast on an opponent’s turn, but the ability to play a land card from your hand tapped adds a layer of strategic depth, permitting versatile plays and greater control over the tempo of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Grave Upheaval allows you to put a creature card from your graveyard onto the battlefield, it comes at a cost beyond mana. If you’re in a position where your hand is already depleted, not having a discard outlet could hinder the card’s effectiveness and potentially slow down your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Grave Upheaval demands specific mana, requiring both black and generic. This mana arrangement can sometimes be cumbersome, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing or in situations where your mana resources are limited or have been disrupted by your opponent’s strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a total cost of six mana, this card can be quite a weighty investment. In the current meta, where the pace of play can be quite fast, having a six-mana card in your hand may not be the most efficient use of resources when other lower-cost alternatives could be played to regain battlefield presence more promptly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Grave Upheaval is not limited to just a single archetype. As a card that can pull creatures from the graveyard and give them haste, it’s a valuable addition to any deck that thrives on reanimating large threats or quickly turning the tide in combat.

Combo Potential: Its ability to both resurrect and accelerate creatures makes Grave Upheaval a key piece in strategies aiming to exploit enter-the-battlefield effects or surprise opponents with an unexpected, swift attacker out of the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where the graveyard is a resource, this card gains extra utility. Grave Upheaval can be a game-changer, especially if you’re facing decks that aren’t prepared to deal with an immediate and potent threat returning from the graveyard.


How to beat

Grave Upheaval is a powerful card known for its ability to turn the tide of a game by returning a creature from the graveyard to the battlefield and giving it haste. This MTG card offers an edge by reanimating key creatures that can immediately impact the board state. However, it can be countered effectively. One method is to apply graveyard hate strategies, such as using cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus to remove creatures before they can be targeted by Grave Upheaval. Having instant-speed removal at the ready ensures that even if a creature is reanimated and given haste, it can be dealt with before it causes too much havoc.

Another tactic is to use counterspells to prevent Grave Upheaval from resolving. Timing is crucial, and having the right counter in hand when your opponent is reaching that pivotal six mana to cast Grave Upheaval can be game-changing. If the creature does hit the board, enchantments like Pacifism can neutralize the threat without having to physically remove it from the battlefield. In essence, being prepared with the right answers and timing your responses effectively can nullify the advantages Grave Upheaval presents, keeping you firmly in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring MTG’s depth through cards like Grave Upheaval allows you to experience the strategic dimensions of gameplay. Whether it’s the satisfying act of reanimating a powerhouse creature or cleverly expanding your mana base, understanding and mastering the nuances of each card can be a game-changer. We encourage all players to integrate versatile cards like Grave Upheaval into their arsenals, to adapt and overcome in various gameplay scenarios. If you’re keen on refining your deck-building skills and learning innovative strategies, delve deeper with us. Expand your MTG knowledge and let’s unlock the full potential of your collection together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grave Upheaval MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2016 and Treasure Chest, 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 Upheaval and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grave Upheaval Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-11-11 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Vincent Proce.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-11Commander 2016C16 312015NormalBlackVincent Proce
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 412015NormalBlackVincent Proce

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grave Upheaval has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal