Mausoleum Turnkey MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 94
2016-08-26 - Number 142
2020-07-17 - Number 255
2024-01-12 - Number 84
2024-02-23 - Number 116
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Ogre Rogue |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Mausoleum Turnkey comes into play, return target creature card of an opponent's choice from your graveyard to your hand.
When he reaches for his key ring, you should be running for the exit.
Cards like Mausoleum Turnkey
Mausoleum Turnkey is a rather unique creature in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out among the crowd due to its interaction with the graveyard—upon entry, it brings a creature card back to your hand from the graveyard. This ability puts it in line with cards like Gravedigger, which also returns a creature to its owner’s hand, but Mausoleum Turnkey does so at a lower mana cost. Gravedigger, however, doesn’t bring the same level of board presence.
Disturbed Burial is another card that shares the resurrection theme but offers repeated use through its buyback ability. While this repeatable function is strong, Mausoleum Turnkey offers immediate impact on the board, quitting the need for a sustained mana investment. Balancing the costs is crucial when considering deck efficiency and resource allocation in a tight match.
Analyzing the suite of options for graveyard retrieval, Mausoleum Turnkey emerges as a nimble and efficient choice for players who value immediate board presence and cost-effectiveness, affording players the opportunity to recover key creatures and maintain game momentum.
Cards similar to Mausoleum Turnkey by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mausoleum Turnkey is designed for those moments where board presence and hand size could mean the difference between victory and defeat. When it enters the battlefield, you get to bring a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, effectively replenishing your resources and keeping your opponents on their toes with the unexpected.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, the value of Mausoleum Turnkey lies in its ability to accelerate your strategic plans. By retrieving key pieces from your graveyard, you are often setting the stage for future turns, aligning your resources for a critical play or combo that could sway the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: This creature may not have instant speed itself, but it plays well with decks that operate at instant speed. Its enter-the-battlefield ability can be timed perfectly after a board wipe or at the end of an opponent’s turn if you have flicker or reanimation spells. Mausoleum Turnkey meshes with the strategy of playing on your opponent’s end step, keeping your options flexible while still advancing your game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Mausoleum Turnkey has an enticing enters-the-battlefield ability, it necessitates that another card in your hand be discarded. This potentially leads to a loss of crucial resources, especially in tight game situations where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck building can sometimes be a puzzle, and Mausoleum Turnkey demands a specific color combination of black mana to cast. This restricts its adaptability and might not align with the manabase of all deck strategies, particularly in multicolor formats where mana flexibility is paramount.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost amounting to four mana, Mausoleum Turnkey asks for a significant investment in the early to mid-game phase. Given its power and toughness, other creatures or spells within the same cost bracket could potentially provide greater immediate impact or longer-term advantages on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mausoleum Turnkey is a flexible addition, fitting neatly into black-centered decks with its ability to return creature cards from the graveyard to your hand. Regardless of the deck theme—be it reanimator, control, or midrange—Mausoleum Turnkey can provide strategic value.
Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergy with mechanics that capitalize on creature cards entering or leaving the battlefield. It paves the way for powerful interactions in decks that utilize sacrifice or reanimation strategies, making it a linchpin for crafting intricate combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where player’s graveyards are frequently filled with high-value targets, the ability to retrieve a creature when Mausoleum Turnkey enters the battlefield can disrupt opponents’ plans, while giving you a significant advantage—making it a pertinent choice in numerous meta environments.
How to beat
Mausoleum Turnkey is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering players a chance to reclaim creatures from the graveyard. This rogue card stands out with its enter-the-battlefield ability that allows you to return a creature card with an opponent’s choice from your graveyard to your hand. This effect is slightly restrictive since your opponent has some level of control over your options.
To overcome Mausoleum Turnkey, it is crucial to manage your graveyard effectively. Consider using graveyard hate cards such as Grafdigger’s Cage or Tormod’s Crypt to prevent the Turnkey from offering substantial value to your opponent. Additionally, keeping your graveyard lean with only high-value targets or leveraging instant-speed removal to disrupt your opponent’s plans can turn the tides. As the Turnkey is a creature itself, you can utilize creature removal spells or abilities to ensure it never gets to trigger its notorious ability.
Ultimately, defeating a card like Mausoleum Turnkey comes down to aligning your deck with tools that can either limit graveyard options or deal with the threat directly. Tactical plays and graveyard strategy are key in mitigating the impact of this MTG card, ensuring you maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mausoleum Turnkey MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 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 Mausoleum Turnkey 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 Mausoleum Turnkey Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Darrell Riche.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 94 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Darrell Riche | |
| 2 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 142 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Darrell Riche | |
| 3 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 255 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Darrell Riche | |
| 4 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 84 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Darrell Riche | |
| 5 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 116 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Darrell Riche |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mausoleum Turnkey has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |