Grim Initiate MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Warrior |
| Abilities | Amass,First strike |
| Released | 2019-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | War of the Spark |
| Set code | WAR |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 130 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jason Felix |
Text of card
First strike When Grim Initiate dies, amass Zombies 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
Beneath each gleaming mineral shell rots a once-proud warrior of Amonkhet.
Cards like Grim Initiate
Grim Initiate finds its place in the arsenal of early-game creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with other one-mana red creatures, such as Fervent Champion. Both serve aggressive strategies, but Grim Initiate offers a unique advantage with its afterlife-like ability, leaving behind a token to persist on the battlefield. Fervent Champion, however, brings immediate value through equipment synergy and a first strike ability.
Monastery Swiftspear can also be seen as a peer, being another one-drop with prowess, intensifying its threat level each time you play a noncreature spell. The Swiftspear might offer a higher damage potential but lacks the resilience provided by Grim Initiate’s amass ability. Another comparable card, Tin Street Dodger, shares the low mana cost but trades defensive capabilities for its evasiveness and boasts the ability to be unblockable under certain conditions.
Considering these comparisons, Grim Initiate holds a specific role in decks that benefit from sacrificial mechanics and board presence, ensuring its valued spot among one-mana creatures in red’s diverse magic casting repertoire.
Cards similar to Grim Initiate by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Grim Initiate. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mardu Sacrifice | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
| Mardu Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 | |
 | Rakdos Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
 | R | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 64 2023-12-10 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grim Initiate may seem like a modest inclusion in your deck, but it plays a crucial role in maintaining card presence on the board. Upon its death, it leaves behind a 1/1 Zombie Army creature token with lifelink, essentially giving you two creatures in one card.
Resource Acceleration: While Grim Initiate itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the conventional sense, it’s a low-cost creature that can be easily slotted into aggressive red decks. This allows for quick deployment of threats and efficient use of mana in the early game stages, keeping the pressure on your opponent.
Instant Speed: Grim Initiate might not have abilities that operate at instant speed, but its first strike capability allows it to excel in combat, often acting as a deterrent for opponents considering an attack. Moreover, Grim Initiate’s ability to create a Zombie Army token can instantly bolster your defenses, unexpectedly tipping the scales in combat scenarios.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Grim Initiate doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, its synergistic strategies often have you sacrificing cards or permanents, which might deplete your hand and board presence if not carefully managed.
Specific Mana Cost: Grim Initiate demands a red mana to cast, anchoring it firmly in red or multicolored decks, which constrains its versatility across the spectrum of MTG strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though costing only one red mana seems efficient, it’s important to consider the opportunity cost; other one-mana drops may offer immediate impact or align better with your deck’s strategy.
Reasons to Include Grim Initiate in Your Collection
Versatility: Grim Initiate can be easily included in a variety of aggressive decks due to its low cost and first strike ability, which allows it to serve as an effective early-game defender or attacker.
Combo Potential: When it dies, Grim Initiate’s Amass 1 ability offers unique synergies with strategies that benefit from having Zombie tokens or leveraging creature death for additional effects.
Meta-Relevance: With a meta that favors aggressive and creature-based strategies, Grim Initiate’s resilience with its afterlife token makes it a persistent threat that aligns well with current deck archetypes.
How to beat Grim Initiate
Grim Initiate is a versatile card often found in aggressive red decks within Magic: The Gathering, particularly valued for its first strike ability and its tenacity through the ‘amass’ mechanic which leaves behind a Zombie Army token after its demise. Overcoming this persistent threat requires strategic moves and an understanding of its role within the battlefield.
Board control spells or effects that can bypass the first strike advantage are key. Sweepers like Cry of the Carnarium can be effective as they not only deal with Grim Initiate but also negate the amass benefit by exiling the card. Single-target removals with exile effects, such as Declaration in Stone, provide a clean answer as well. Additionally, considering Grim Initiate’s one toughness, cheap ping effects can remove it efficiently before it gets to leverage its first strike capability in combat.
Playing against Grim Initiate involves preparing for both its immediate impact and its aftermath. Ensuring your removal can handle multiple threats at once or has exile effects will keep the board clear and maintain the tempo in your favor. Though it may be a small creature, planning ahead for the value it brings to the game can make all the difference.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grim Initiate MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Initiate 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grim Initiate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grim Initiate card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | Army is a new creature type. It’s possible to control a nontoken Army (perhaps a creature with the changeling ability) and, through combinations of other cards, it’s possible to control multiple Army tokens. When instructed to amass, you may put +1/+1 counters on any of your Army creatures, and you may choose a different one each time. |
| 2019-05-03 | If you don’t control an Army, the Zombie Army token that you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters. |