Master of Death MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Zombie Wizard |
Abilities | Surveil |
Power | 3 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Master of Death enters the battlefield, surveil 2. At the beginning of your upkeep, if Master of Death is in your graveyard, you may pay 1 life. If you do, return it to your hand.
Cards like Master of Death
Master of Death stands out in the realm of creature cards with its unique blend of utility and resilience. This card invites comparison to other persisting creatures, such as Bloodghast which also boasts the ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield. However, Master of Death adds the versatile twist of deciding whether to return it at the cost of paying one life during your upkeep, versus Bloodghast’s condition of landfall.
Prized Amalgam is another creature that echoes this return-from-graveyard theme, automatically resurrecting whenever another creature makes the same journey from graveyard to battlefield. Although Prized Amalgam’s return is not optional and lacks the direct control provided by Master of Death, it requires no life payment. Squee, Goblin Nabob also deserves mention, with its ability to return to hand from the graveyard, ensuring its continual presence. Yet it still falls short of the immediate board impact Master of Death offers when it reenters the battlefield.
Analyzing these comparisons, Master of Death carves its niche with a balance of control and persistence, making it an intriguing choice for decks looking to leverage graveyard strategies. Its inherent flexibility tends to augment its value among creature cards capable of making recurring appearances during a game.
Cards similar to Master of Death by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Master of Death. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Counter Vine | Vintage | Counter Vine | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Master of Death offers a strategic edge by allowing you to selectively retrieve it from your graveyard to your hand each turn. This recurring mechanism ensures a consistent flow of options for players, greatly enhancing your hand’s resources over the course of a match.
Resource Acceleration: By returning to your hand repeatedly, Master of Death acts as a catalyst for graveyard-based synergies, fueling your engine for an accelerated gameplay. This enables more efficient execution of your strategy by effectively reusing the same card multiple times.
Instant Speed: While the card itself doesn’t inherently operate at instant speed, its synergies often interact with spells and abilities that do. This creates dynamic opportunities during gameplay to respond to opponents’ actions, by leveraging the graveyard as an extension of your hand at critical moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Master of Death demands that you discard a card if you wish to resurrect it from your graveyard. This can be a strategic setback if you’re already dealing with a depleted hand, making the revival ability less appealing.
Specific Mana Cost: To cast Master of Death, your deck needs both blue and black mana. This requirement potentially narrows compatibility, primarily impacting players who do not run a blue-black combination or a multicolored mana base in their decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two specific colors, Master of Death’s initial deployment may compete with other pivotal cards at the same cost point. In many scenarios, players might prefer laying down a game-changing creature or enabler that impacts the board immediately rather than setting up future graveyard plays.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Master of Death serves as a flexible piece in graveyard-centric decks or as recurring threat management. Its ability to return to your hand each upkeep ensures you always have an asset ready for various strategic plays.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in combos that capitalize on the concept of death and rebirth, such as those involving sacrifice outlets or graveyard synergies. It works remarkably well with cards that benefit from, or trigger upon, creatures entering the graveyard or battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard strategies proliferate, Master of Death retains its value. The meta often dictates a need for adaptable creatures capable of multiple roles, and this card’s persistent board presence makes it a stalwart addition against an array of opposing tactics.
How to beat
Master of Death brings a unique persistence to the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. As a card that offers players the ability to return it from the graveyard to their hand each upkeep at the cost of just one life, it can be daunting to face off against. It creates a recurring threat that demands a more nuanced strategy than simply removing it from play.
To effectively counter Master of Death, consider using exile effects or graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void. These cards prevent Master of Death from tracing its path back to a player’s hand. Additionally, employing counterspells can be an effective preventive measure, ensuring that Master of Death never hits the field in the first place.
Moreover, redirecting the game’s focus away from the graveyard and towards immediate threats can reduce Master of Death’s impact. Ultimately, while Master of Death offers a resilient challenge, strategic card choices and targeted removals can mitigate its influence on the game and keep your opposition’s advantage in check.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastery of Death can prove to be a true gem in the right MTG deck configuration. With its potential to resurrect from the graveyard, this card promises to keep your options open and your opponents on their toes. Building a deck that capitalizes on such graveyard manipulation can greatly advance your gameplay. If your deck thrives on intricate strategies involving the graveyard, incorporating Master of Death can be a game-changer. Unlock new levels of synergy and dominate the battlefield with strategic resurrection plays. Let us guide you through integrating this powerhouse into your arsenal and refining your strategy for commanding wins.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Master of Death MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Master of Death 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 Master of Death Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by John Stanko.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 91335 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Stanko | ||
2 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 465 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Stanko | |
3 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Stanko | |
4 | 2021-06-19 | Modern Horizons 2 Promos | PMH2 | 205s | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Stanko | |
5 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 216 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Stanko |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Master of Death has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Penny | Legal |