Macabre Waltz MTG Card
2006-05-05 - Number 47
2015-07-17 - Number 107
2016-04-08 - Number 121
2018-07-13 - Number 108
2019-11-07 - Number 704
2020-07-17 - Number 252
2023-03-21 - Number 121
2024-01-12 - Number 82
2020-09-26 - Number SOI-121
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Return up to two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand, then discard a card.
"All dead move to the hollow rhythm of necromancy." —Savra
Cards like Macabre Waltz
Macabre Waltz serves as an interesting piece in the puzzle of graveyard interaction within Magic: The Gathering. It finds its peers in cards like Disentomb, which also brings back creatures from the graveyard directly to your hand. However, Macabre Waltz requires the player to discard a card in addition to its primary effect, setting it apart with that extra twist in resource management.
Moving to a card with a slightly different focus, we have Call to the Netherworld. This card shares its revival theme with Macabre Waltz but is more restrictive, only targeting black creatures. Nevertheless, it has the added benefit of being a free cast if it’s discarded from your hand, something that Macabre Waltz cannot boast. Then there is Footsteps of the Goryo, a sorcery that similarly returns creatures from the graveyard to play but with the caveat that they are sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step, offering a brief but potent opportunity.
Comparative analysis reveals that Macabre Waltz positions itself uniquely amongst graveyard recovery spells, with a balanced disadvantage in its discard requirement paired with the flexible advantage of regaining multiple creatures, making it a versatile choice in dealing with creature recurrences.
Cards similar to Macabre Waltz by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Macabre Waltz can overturn card disadvantage by returning two creatures from your graveyard to your hand. This process ensures that you maintain hand presence, pivotal for outlasting opponents in longer duels where resource attrition becomes key.
Resource Acceleration: Although Macabre Waltz doesn’t directly increase mana resources, it effectively accelerates your board state by retrieving valuable creatures. This allows you to rebuild quickly after board wipes or unexpected removals, ensuring you can keep up or surpass your opponent’s pace of play.
Instant Speed: Macabre Waltz is designed as a sorcery, mandating strategic planning for its use within your main phases. While it doesn’t offer the flexibility of instant speed, this encourages well-timed plays that can set you up for subsequent turns, contributing to a nuanced level of strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in the grim dance of the Macabre Waltz requires the sacrifice of another card, which could put you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re already dealing with a scarce hand.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting of this spell demands a precise combination of mana, making it exclusive to decks that run black mana. It might not fit smoothly into decks that have a more diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating two mana for the return of only two creatures from the graveyard to hand can be unfavorable when set against other options in your deck. There are cards with lower costs or that offer additional benefits, so Macabre Waltz might not always be the most mana-efficient choice.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Macabre Waltz offers flexibility in black-centric or multicolor decks, allowing players to retrieve key creatures from their graveyard, ensuring that their pivotal pieces can be reused for added value over the course of the game.
Combo Potential: This card has significant combo potential, synergizing with cards that gain benefits from being cast multiple times or have enter the battlefield effects, making it a staple in strategies that revolve around recurring creature-based effects or graveyard interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that is heavily influenced by creature removal, Macabre Waltz stands out by offering a cost-effective way to reclaim lost resources, keeping your hand fueled with threats and maintaining pressure against your opponents.
How to beat
Macabre Waltz is a unique card within Magic: The Gathering that allows players to return creatures from their graveyard to their hand, with the cost of discarding a card. Understandably, this can be an irritating hurdle if the opposing player succeeds in reusing powerful creatures. To counter this, it’s advisable to target the player’s graveyard. Cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can completely nullify the effects of Macabre Waltz by removing creatures from the game instead of letting them go back to the player’s hand.
Furthermore, proactive discard strategies can also dismantle the plans involving Macabre Waltz. If you force your opponent to discard their key creatures before they get the chance to use Macabre Waltz, the card’s utility becomes severely limited. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress are excellent for disrupting an opponent’s planned moves.
Tactics that emphasize speed and aggression can also outpace the slower recovery mechanism of Macabre Waltz. By putting pressure on your opponent early in the game, you could potentially win before they even get a chance to capitalize on their graveyard’s resources. In essence, understanding and attacking the strategy behind Macabre Waltz is vital to ensure your victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Macabre Waltz MTG card by a specific set like Dissension and Magic Origins, 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 Macabre Waltz 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 Macabre Waltz Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-05-05 | Dissension | DIS | 47 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | |
| 2 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 107 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | |
| 3 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 4 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 108 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 704 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 6 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 252 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 7 | The List | PLST | SOI-121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Willian Murai | ||
| 8 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Willian Murai | |
| 9 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 82 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Wolfe Connelly |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Macabre Waltz has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Macabre Waltz card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | If you have no other cards in hand, you’ll have to discard one of the creature cards you return to your hand. |
| 2018-07-13 | You may cast Macabre Waltz targeting one or zero creature cards. You’ll still discard a card, even if you target no creature cards. |