Grim Flayer MTG Card
2016-07-22 - Number 184s
2016-07-22 - Number 184
2022-07-08 - Number 380
2022-07-08 - Number 502
2022-07-08 - Number 222
2023-03-21 - Number 234
2002-06-24 - Number 102305
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Delirium,Surveil,Trample |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Trample Whenever Grim Flayer deals combat damage to a player, surveil 3. (Look at the top three cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.) Delirium — Grim Flayer gets +2/+2 as long as there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.
Cards like Grim Flayer
Grim Flayer stands out as a formidable creature within Magic: The Gathering’s landscape of two-cost powerhouses. Weighing its merits against comparable cards, Tarmogoyf swiftly comes to mind. Both cards boast efficiency in terms of mana cost and the potential to grow stronger as the game progresses. However, while Tarmogoyf’s power and toughness are contingent on the variety of card types in all graveyards, Grim Flayer takes a more proactive approach. Its ability to delve through the top of your library, shaping your draws and graveyard, gives it added flexibility on the battlefield.
Tireless Tracker is another relative worthy of mention. It doesn’t directly buff its stats like Grim Flayer, but it can become a formidable threat by accumulating clues and thus +1/+1 counters. Tracker offers a different kind of resource advantage and board presence as games go long. Lastly, Scavenging Ooze operates within a similar vein, manipulating the graveyard to its advantage. It can disrupt opponent strategies while incrementally growing stronger, but lacks the deck-manipulation finesse that Grim Flayer provides.
In terms of utility and effectiveness across multiple game scenarios, Grim Flayer successfully finds its niche, giving players a strategic edge through graveyard synergy and deck manipulation, all while being a threatening creature in combat.
Cards similar to Grim Flayer by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Grim Flayer. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Sultai Midrange | Modern | Sultai Midrange | Modern Preliminary 2024-04-16 |
 | Sultai Tempo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 08 2024 | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
| Four-color Mill | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 11 2024 | |
 | Golgari Midrange | Modern | Golgari Scam | Modern $10K Trial - SCG CON Philadelphia - Friday - 4:00 pm (Silver) |
 | BG | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-03 | |
 | Sultai Reanimator | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
 | Jund Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 06 2024 | |
| Jund Control | Modern | Jund | Modern $10K Trial - SCG CON Hartford - Saturday - 4:00 pm (Silver) |
| Golgari Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grim Flayer excels at filtering draws by putting the right cards into your hand. Through its triggered ability, after dealing combat damage to a player, you get to look at the top three cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest back on top in any order. This selection process ensures you draw into more useful cards, keeping you ahead in the game.
Resource Acceleration: The graveyard setup with Grim Flayer is a strategic advantage, paving the way for powerful delve cards or enabling other graveyard synergies. By stocking your graveyard, Grim Flayer can essentially reduce the costs of future spells or empower them, accelerating your resources indirectly and setting the stage for a stronger mid-to-late game.
Instant Speed: While Grim Flayer itself is not an instant, its ability to manipulate the deck can have an immediate effect during combat, essentially giving you instant-speed quality decisions about your next draws. The right setup can allow you to find instant-speed answers or threats more efficiently, greatly benefiting your game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Grim Flayer enables you to filter your deck by putting unwanted cards into your graveyard, the necessity to discard can work against you if you’re holding a hand of valuable cards you’d prefer to keep.
Specific Mana Cost: Grim Flayer demands both green and black mana, making it less versatile for decks that cannot reliably produce both types of mana early in the game. This can be a barrier in multicolored decks where mana consistency is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Grim Flayer has strong abilities, its cost of two mana, one of which must be green and another black, can be steep early on when you might need to establish your mana base or play other utility cards. In some cases, a two-mana creature with less stringent mana requirements might be a more efficient play.
Reasons to Include Grim Flayer in Your Collection
Versatility: Grim Flayer excels in a diversity of decks, especially ones that utilize the graveyard. Its role as an early-game threat and a tool for deck filtering makes it a valuable addition to any collection looking to strengthen their creature line-up.
Combo Potential: This card works wonders with synergistic strategies, enabling delirium swiftly which can unlock the full power of various graveyard-based combos. It’s capable not only of hitting the opponent but also setting up the top of your deck for future plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s ripe with creature-based strategies, Grim Flayer can outclass many other two-drops. Its potential to grow as a threat while refining your subsequent draws keeps it relevant across multiple formats and gaming scenarios.
How to Beat Grim Flayer
Grim Flayer is a powerhouse on the battlefield, well-regarded for its ability to filter your library and grow stronger with delirium. As a 2/2 creature that potentially becomes a 4/4, it can quickly turn the tide of a game. But with the right strategy, it’s possible to outmaneuver this card and maintain control of the match.
An effective method to counter Grim Flayer is through the use of instant-speed removal spells that can be cast before it deals combat damage. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch the Flayer before its ability triggers. Additionally, playing cards that can exile Grim Flayer upon death, such as Scavenging Ooze, can prevent graveyard synergy and hamper your opponent’s strategy. Furthermore, incorporating creatures that can block Grim Flayer and survive — thanks to having toughness greater than four — denies Grim Flayer the chance to deal damage and sift through your opponent’s deck. Moreover, enchantments like Rest in Peace can neutralize the graveyard setup that Grim Flayer thrives on, turning it into nothing more than a simple creature without its formidable abilities.
While Grim Flayer can be intimidating with its potential for card advantage and damage output, a deck that’s prepared with targeted removal, exile effects, and graveyard hate can effectively nullify its threat and keep you in a strong position during gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grim Flayer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Eldritch Moon Promos, 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 Grim Flayer 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
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Printings
The Grim Flayer Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 102305 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | ||
| 2 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon Promos | PEMN | 184s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 3 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon | EMN | 184 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 4 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 380 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 502 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 6 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 222 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | |
| 7 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 234 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grim Flayer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |