Graveshifter MTG Card


Graveshifter excels in recycling creatures, giving your MTG strategy a reusable edge. It requires careful play, with a specific mana cost and potential hand depletion. Graveshifter’s versatility makes it a worthy addition to creature-focused MTG decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Shapeshifter
Abilities Changeling
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Changeling (This card is every creature type.) When Graveshifter enters the battlefield, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.

"Why throw away a perfectly good identity?"


Cards like Graveshifter

Graveshifter in Magic: The Gathering brings versatility to decks capitalizing on creature recursion. Its resemblance to the Changeling ability and built-in Creature return, echoes the utility found in cards like Gravedigger. Both cards allow players to retrieve a creature from the graveyard to their hand. However, Graveshifter’s Changeling trait permits it to be considered every creature type, opening synergy possibilities with various tribal decks.

Another card worth comparing is Eternal Witness. While not a creature type-focused card, Eternal Witness provides a wider range of targets by allowing any card to be returned from the graveyard, not just creatures. This contributes to broader application across multiple game strategies. Moreover, Cadaver Imp shares similar functionalities with Graveshifter, providing creature return to hand, though it lacks the universal adaptability granted by the Changeling trait.

Analyzing Graveshifter alongside its counterparts, we observe how it finds a niche within MTG’s creature-recovering mechanics. Its Changeling versatility coupled with the built-in effect of returning creatures from the graveyard renders it a multifaceted asset for many decks, adding depth to the gameplay and illustrating its distinctive place in the overarching strategy of creature resurgence.

Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Cadaver Imp - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Cadaver Imp - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Graveshifter 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
Cabal Surgeon - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Gixian Puppeteer - 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
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
Cabal Surgeon - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Gixian Puppeteer - 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

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Graveshifter. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Graveshifter provides you with the flexibility of reusing creatures from your graveyard, essentially doubling the value of your most strategic creatures throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: By returning a creature to your hand, Graveshifter sets the stage for potentially powerful plays in subsequent turns, ultimately accelerating your resource deployment on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Though Graveshifter itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it enables instant-speed plays by recovering creatures with flash or those that can create instant-speed effects, thus adding a layer of surprise and strategic depth to your game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Graveshifter requires a strategic hand management, as its casting entails discarding another card. This can potentially deplete your valuable hand resources, making it less than ideal when you’re already behind in card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Graveshifter comes with a black color mana cost, which might restrict its integration exclusively to black or multicolor decks that can accommodate its mana requirements, potentially reducing its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two black mana, Graveshifter comes at a higher cost compared to other creature recursion options available in MTG. This may cause slower gameplay and put you at a tempo disadvantage, especially if you are facing a fast-paced opponent.


Reasons to Include Graveshifter in Your Collection

Versatility: Graveshifter is not only a creature but also a recursion tool. Its ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand ensures that it can be valuable in various deck archetypes, particularly ones that rely on creature synergies or require repeatable resources.

Combo Potential: With the ability to bring creatures back from the graveyard, Graveshifter works well in combo decks looking to reassemble parts that may have been disrupted. It’s a creature that essentially carries a built-in Regrowth effect for creatures, opening up multiple tactical opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: Given its inherent resilience and utility in recurring key creatures, Graveshifter proves to be impactful in metas where creature-based strategies prevail. It can repeatedly leverage your creatures’ enter-the-battlefield effects or simply return high-value targets to your hand for re-use.


How to beat

Graveshifter, a card that beckons the dead back to the battlefield, presents a unique challenge. When utilized effectively, it can tilt the balance of the game by reintroducing key creatures from the graveyard. This can be particularly daunting if the opponent has several powerful creatures ready to be recycled. To counter Graveshifter’s ability, graveyard management becomes crucial.

Considering this, it’s essential to have strategies in place that can exiling cards from the graveyard, like Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void. These cards can disrupt the Graveshifter’s potential to reuse those assets. Moreover, countering Graveshifter when it’s cast can be an effective measure. Cards like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto can prevent it from resolving and its effect from taking place.

Direct removal once Graveshifter hits the battlefield isn’t always the best option, as it can be recast through other graveyard shenanigans. Therefore, controlling the graveyard itself is often a more permanent solution. By doing so, you undermine Graveshifter’s utility, keeping the field of play and the course of the game within your control.


BurnMana Recommendations

Graveshifter exemplifies the strategic complexity that makes MTG engaging. Its ability to retrieve creatures from your graveyard is invaluable for decks prioritizing resilience and combo execution. While it presents challenges, such as its mana cost and card discard requirement, its benefits can be far-reaching in the right deck. Understanding its potential and limitations is key to maximizing its impact in gameplay. Continue your journey in the MTG realm, discovering advanced tactics and augmenting your collection with versatile cards like Graveshifter. Enhance your deck-building skills and gameplay strategies with us and ensure your next duel showcases not just your collection but your mastery of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Graveshifter MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Graveshifter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Graveshifter Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by Jakub Kasper.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 942015NormalBlackJakub Kasper
22021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 3342015NormalBlackJakub Kasper
32023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2512015NormalBlackJakub Kasper
42024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 1982015NormalBlackJakub Kasper

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Graveshifter has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal