Undying Malice MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants creatures a potent revival effect with a +1/+1 counter, enhancing board stability.
  2. Instant speed allows for unexpected plays and protects key creatures in a pinch.
  3. Flexible in black-oriented decks, Undying Malice synergizes well with death triggers.

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature gains "When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it."

Few take kindly to being put in their place, especially if their place is the grave.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Undying Malice can essentially grant you an additional use of a creature that would otherwise head to the graveyard, either through combat or removal. By allowing that creature to return to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter, you maintain board presence and possibly even upgrade a creature, thus providing a subtle but valuable form of card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Undying Malice isn’t a direct source of mana acceleration, it works as a resource accelerator by preserving your creatures. This can be seen as indirect resource acceleration since you’re effectively saving the mana you would have to spend to recast another creature from your hand, allowing you to allocate your mana elsewhere.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Undying Malice offers a dynamic surprise factor and flexibility, enabling you to respond immediately to the actions of your opponents. This swift capability enhances your strategic options, fostering an atmosphere where every move could change the tide of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Undying Malice asks for a card sacrifice when it triggers its revival effect. This can be problematic when your hand is already running thin, effectively forcing you to lose an additional resource to gain its benefits.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a black mana, Undying Malice may not seamlessly fit into multi-color deck strategies, potentially restricting its inclusion to black-focused or two-color decks that can reliably provide the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a two mana cost for an effect primarily used in aggressive decks aiming to maintain board presence, this card’s investment may be too steep compared to other low-cost creatures or spells that provide similarly aggressive advantages on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Undying Malice in Your Collection

Versatility: Undying Malice is a card that offers strategic flexibility in gameplay. It can be used to save key creatures from removal, or as a clever way to retrigger enter-the-battlefield effects, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of black-oriented decks.

Combo Potential: This card shows promise when combined with creatures with death triggers. By returning a creature to the battlefield with an extra +1/+1 counter, Undying Malice opens up avenues for combo plays that can swiftly turn the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature control is crucial, having Undying Malice in your arsenal ensures that your valuable creatures can make an impactful return. Its low mana cost also makes it easy to hold up as a defensive maneuver without sacrificing development on your own board, keeping you relevant in constantly shifting metas.


How to beat

Undying Malice is a noteworthy black instant card in MTG that provides a creature with a second lease on life. By granting undying until end of turn, it ensures that when the creature dies, it returns to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a +1/+1 counter. This effect can be especially frustrating for opponents attempting to clear the board. To counter this card effectively, consider using exile effects or spells that specify the creature can’t be regenerated. Cards like Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone bypass the undying mechanic by not sending the creature to the graveyard in the first place.

Moreover, graveyard hate mechanics like those from Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus can also be effective after the creature has been targeted by Undying Malice. They remove the creature from the graveyard before the undying trigger can resolve. Paying attention to timing and understanding the stack is critical. By interrupting the undying sequence or circumventing it entirely, an MTG player can neutralize the advantages that Undying Malice provides, maintaining control over the game’s pace and board state.


BurnMana Recommendations

If optimizing your MTG deck strategy is top of mind, consider the compelling dynamics that Undying Malice brings to the table. This card serves as a key tool for maintaining board presence and leveraging creature abilities in black-focused or versatile two-color decks. Evaluate the pros and cons of including this card in your set, and understand its synergies and counters to unleash its full potential in gameplay. For those keen to explore further, delve into the depths of strategy and discover how Undying Malice can turn a dire situation to your advantage. Ready to harness the power of resurrection and take control of the battlefield? Join us to learn more and elevate your MTG experience.


Cards like Undying Malice

Undying Malice is an intriguing tool for creature preservation in Magic: The Gathering. This spell resonates with cards such as Supernatural Stamina, which also offers a creature a second life after being destroyed. Both can be vital for maintaining board presence, yet Undying Malice has a slight edge by allowing the creature to return with an additional +1/+1 counter, potentially turning the tide of a match.

Another analogous card is Malakir Rebirth. Like Undying Malice, it brings a creature back from the brink of death. While Malakir Rebirth requires an additional life payment and serves as a land in a pinch, Undying Malice’s ability to beef up a creature can provide a more direct combat advantage. Unearth is also a member of this comparison, offering a temporary resurrection at low cost. Though Unearth’s effect is fleeting, its ability to upset the rhythm of the game cannot be overlooked, whereas Undying Malice’s impact is permanent.

Reviewing these similarities and unique twists solidifies Undying Malice’s place within Magic: The Gathering as a strategic choice for players looking to fortify their creatures and create lasting effects on the battlefield.

Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - Amonkhet (AKH)
Unearth - Urza's Legacy (ULG)

Cards similar to Undying Malice 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
Marsh Gas - MTG Card versions
Gravebind - MTG Card versions
Misinformation - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Tutor - MTG Card versions
Dredge - 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
Fade from Memory - MTG Card versions
Duh - MTG Card versions
Aesthetic Consultation - MTG Card versions
Stop That - MTG Card versions
Disembowel - MTG Card versions
Surgical Extraction - MTG Card versions
Howl from Beyond - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Dark Ritual - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Sacrifice - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Darkness - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Marsh Gas - The Dark (DRK)
Gravebind - Ice Age (ICE)
Misinformation - Alliances (ALL)
Vampiric Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Dredge - Invasion (INV)
Coffin Purge - Odyssey (ODY)
Defile - Modern Horizons 1 Timeshifts (H1R)
March of Wretched Sorrow - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Fatal Push - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - The List (PLST)
Fade from Memory - Onslaught (ONS)
Duh - Unhinged (UNH)
Aesthetic Consultation - Unhinged (UNH)
Stop That - Unhinged (UNH)
Disembowel - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Surgical Extraction - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Undying Malice MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Undying Malice and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Undying Malice Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 1342015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 4012015normalblackIgor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Undying Malice has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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