Songs of the Damned MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Transforms graveyards into a resource, turning creature losses into a formidable mana pool for black mana spells.
  2. Excels in reanimator or combo decks, setting up for high-impact plays and boosting mana dramatically.
  3. The card’s instant speed allows for flexible, strategic play, potentially surprising opponents with unexpected moves.

Text of card

Add o B to your mana pool for each creature in your graveyard.

Not wind, but the breath of the dead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Songs of the Damned is a compelling choice for decks that rely on a high creature count, especially those that operate from the graveyard. By converting each creature card in your graveyard into a single black mana, this card effectively transforms losses into potential gains, subtly shifting the tide of a match by utilizing resources often overlooked by opponents.

Resource Acceleration: This card stands out for its ability to massively boost your mana pool in a single turn. It shines in combo or reanimator decks where the graveyard is frequently stocked with creature cards. With the right setup, it can lead to explosive turns where you can cast high-cost spells much earlier than usual, accelerating your game plan dramatically.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Songs of the Damned allows for significant strategic depth. You have the flexibility to either respond to an opponent’s move or end their turn with a sudden influx of mana, ready to execute powerful plays. This reactive potential can catch opponents off guard and turn the tables when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For the full potential of Songs of the Damned to be utilized, your graveyard needs to be well-stocked with creatures. This often means you’ll have to strategically discard or mill creatures, which could deplete valuable resources in your hand or library.

Specific Mana Cost: Songs of the Damned requires black mana to cast. This can be restrictive as it limits the card’s inclusion to mainly mono-black or black-inclusive multicolor decks, not fitting well in decks that cannot produce black mana efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite only costing one black mana, the effectiveness of Songs of the Damned is directly proportional to the number of creature cards in your graveyard. It can be considered as having a high ‘invisible mana cost’ because of the setup needed before it becomes significantly impactful.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Songs of the Damned is an asset in decks that capitalize on the graveyard. It easily slots into strategies that involve creature cycling or self-mill, making it a flexible inclusion for various builds focused on maximizing the potential of the graveyard.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with other cards that leverage a populated graveyard, such as cycling creatures, dredge mechanics, or reanimator spells. The burst of black mana it provides can be the linchpin in executing combo finishes, or simply for casting that crucial, game-changing spell ahead of schedule.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where graveyard strategies are prevalent, Songs of the Damned not only complements your deck’s theme but also serves as an efficient response to other decks that may inadvertently fill your graveyard for you. Its ability to enhance your mana resources in response to such interactions makes it a card worth considering for its tactical adaptability.


How to Beat

Songs of the Damned is a potent piece in the array of mana acceleration spells available in Magic the Gathering. This card shines brightest in decks that are centered around a large number of creatures in the graveyard, making it a pivotal tactic for powering out big plays or enabling a combo finish. To effectively counter this, disruption is key. You’ll want to consider graveyard control strategies such as employing cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze that can remove creatures from the graveyard before your opponent gets a chance to capitalize on their numbers.

Control decks that utilize counterspells also stand a decent chance by directly countering Songs of the Damned as it’s played. Timing is critical, and understanding when to hold up mana for a possible countering opportunity can swing the momentum in your favor. Lastly, proactive hand disruption through spells like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can preemptively remove Songs of the Damned from your opponent’s hand, severing their potential for a grave-based surge of mana before it can even manifest.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring MTG strategies is akin to solving an intricate puzzle, and incorporating Songs of the Damned into your deck could be that missing piece you need. Whether you’re looking to maximize grave-based strategies or accelerate your gameplay, this card offers a unique opportunity to convert dormant resources into dynamic power. Analyze your deck’s creature count and consider the synergy with your graveyard, allowing Songs of the Damned to potentially provide you with the mana boost for that game-winning move. Curious about integrating this card into your arsenal? Visit us to discover more insights and tips to harness its full potential in your next MTG showdown.


Cards like Songs of the Damned

Songs of the Damned is an iconic card within MTG that finds its niche in decks focusing on a high graveyard creature count. Its ability to generate a burst of black mana equivalent to the number of creatures in your graveyard offers a powerful spike in resources. Comparatively, we can look at Dark Ritual, which provides a fixed amount of three black mana for a single mana cost. Although it lacks the scaling potential of Songs of the Damned, Dark Ritual offers a more immediate boost without setup.

Analogous in concept to Songs of the Damned is Cabal Ritual. While it grants just two black mana upfront, it can surge up to five if you have threshold – seven or more cards in your graveyard. Indeed, it’s less dependent on creatures and more on general graveyard population. Moreover, Crypt of Agadeem is a land card that can also accumulate mana based on creature cards in your graveyard, but its effect requires activation and scales over time unlike the immediate impact Songs of the Damned provides.

Ultimately, each of these cards carries unique prerequisites and benefits. Still, Songs of the Damned stands out in decks designed to stockpile creatures in the graveyard, transforming a seemingly dormant pile into potent mana in one fell swoop.

Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Cabal Ritual - MTG Card versions
Crypt of Agadeem - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Cabal Ritual - Torment (TOR)
Crypt of Agadeem - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Songs of the Damned by color, type and mana cost

Howl from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Sacrifice - MTG Card versions
Darkness - MTG Card versions
Touch of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Deathlace - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Vendetta - MTG Card versions
Coffin Purge - MTG Card versions
Defile - MTG Card versions
March of Wretched Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Fatal Push - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Surgical Extraction - MTG Card versions
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Dark Ritual - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Sacrifice - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Darkness - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Touch of Darkness - Legends (LEG)
Marsh Gas - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Deathlace - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Gravebind - Ice Age (ICE)
Misinformation - Alliances (ALL)
Vampiric Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Dredge - Invasion (INV)
Vendetta - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Coffin Purge - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Defile - Modern Horizons 1 Timeshifts (H1R)
March of Wretched Sorrow - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Fatal Push - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Surgical Extraction - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Fade from Memory - Onslaught (ONS)
Duh - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Songs of the Damned MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition II, 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 Songs of the Damned and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Songs of the Damned Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 1601993normalblackPete Venters
22008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1101997normalblackPete Venters
32018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 1152015normalblackRobbie Trevino

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Songs of the Damned has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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