Paragon of Open Graves MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Skeleton Warrior
Released	2014-07-18
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2015
Set code	M15
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	111
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Min Yum

Key Takeaways

Paragon of Open Graves is key for sustained board presence by recurring creatures.
Instant speed reanimation gives tactical advantage in responding to opponents.
Demands careful hand management due to its discard activation requirement.

Text of card

Other black creatures you control get +1/+1. , : Another target black creature you control gains deathtouch until end of turn. (Any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Paragon of Open Graves enhances card utility by bringing creatures back from the graveyard to the battlefield. This ability is vital in maintaining a strong board presence, especially in longer games where resources can become thin.

Resource Acceleration: Its Undying mechanic can be strategically leveraged, essentially allowing the card to serve as two creatures for the price of one. This can ramp up your board state quickly, providing additional defenses or bolstering your attack without extra mana investment.

Instant Speed: Its ability to reanimate creatures can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions or end-of-turn plays. This tactical advantage keeps adversaries on their toes, unsure when your once-dead creatures will return to the fray.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The mechanics of Paragon of Open Graves involves a discard as part of its ability activation. This can be a setback when your hand is already depleted or the cards you hold are vital for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: It demands black mana exclusively for casting, which could restrict its integration into multi-colored decks that may not always have the necessary mana available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the requirement of three black mana and one colorless, this card comes into play at a point where those resources may potentially be put to better use, either by deploying multiple lower-cost creatures or by setting up other strategic plays.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Paragon of Open Graves offers a unique degree of flexibility, fitting well into black decks that capitalize on creature sacrifice and zombie tribal themes. Its ability to strengthen other creatures makes it a solid addition, seamlessly integrating into various strategic frameworks.

Combo Potential: With its ability to give other zombies deathtouch, this card serves as an excellent catalyst for combos, especially in decks that focus on creature elimination strategies. It complements mechanics that benefit from creatures dying, such as morbid and exploit.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, having cards that are adaptive to shifting metas is crucial. Paragon of Open Graves remains relevant due to its inherent synergy with widely used undead archetypes and as a counter to decks that rely heavily on creature strengths.

How to beat Paragon of Open Graves

The Paragon of Open Graves is an intriguing card that can present a challenge on the battlefield. This fearsome creature buffs your undead minions and can turn the tide of battle if left unchecked. To successfully navigate against this threat, understanding and disrupting its synergy is key. One effective strategy is to employ removal cards that can target Paragon directly before its effect becomes overwhelming.

Cards with exile effects are particularly potent as they can permanently remove Paragon from the game, preventing any graveyard-based recursion. Counterspells are also instrumental when dealing with this card; stopping it from hitting the field can save you from its powerful buffs. Additionally, board wipes can reset the playing field even if multiple zombies have benefitted from the Paragon’s influence. Considering its mana cost, quick aggression can also be a viable tactic, aiming to win the game before your opponent can fully utilize the Paragon’s abilities.

Tackling Paragon of Open Graves is all about timing and efficiently managing your resources. Keep the pressure on, have answers ready, and this formidable card will lose its grip over the match.

Cards like Paragon of Open Graves

Reflecting on Magic: The Gathering’s array of creatures that revitalize your board, Paragon of Open Graves has a notable parallel in corpse traders like Drudge Sentinel. They both share the ability to toughen up in the face of danger, with Paragon offering a formidable boast through its stat-boosting ability when a creature an opponent controls dies. It’s a unique twist that contrasts with the Sentinel’s singular focus on self-preservation.

Exploring deeper into the strategic echelons, we find Endless Cockroaches, another creature that brings resilience to the table but with a distinct return-to-hand mechanic upon death. Paragon of Open Graves requires more strategic setup to optimize its potential, emphasizing proactive board impact rather than the Cockroaches’ guarantee of perseverance. Meanwhile, Butcher of Malakir stands as a higher curve family member, dictating terms by forcing sacrifices while echoing the Paragon’s reactive strength, expanding the dynamics of creature death in your favor.

An appraisal of these cards illuminates the strategic canvas available to players. The Paragon of Open Graves stands out, leveraging its synergistic potential in a deck that capitalizes on each opposing creature’s demise, whereas other similar creatures offer simpler, less conditional resilience.

Cards similar to Paragon of Open Graves by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Paragon of Open Graves MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 Paragon of Open Graves and other MTG cards: