Crowded Crypt MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 17
2021-09-24 - Number 55
2002-06-24 - Number 93976
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage through massive token production, enhancing board presence and versatility in gameplay.
- Provides instant speed response to threats, turning potential losses into an instant undead army.
- Demands careful hand and mana management to fully capitalize on its potential and offset higher casting cost.
Text of card
: Add . Whenever a creature you control dies, put a corpse counter on Crowded Crypt. , , Sacrifice Crowded Crypt: Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with decayed for each corpse counter on Crowded Crypt. (A creature with decayed can't block. When it attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Crowded Crypt excels by generating a multitude of creature tokens. This translates into significant card advantage as each token can be an effective blocker, attacker, or resource for various abilities, maintaining pressure and board presence.
Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a formidable engine for resource acceleration. As creatures you control die, they contribute to the Crypt’s growing store of corpse counters. When the time is ripe, these can be converted into a swarm of Zombie tokens, rapidly advancing your board state and potential for overwhelming your opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Crowded Crypt at instant speed provides a tactical edge. You can respond to board wipes or removals by converting your soon-to-be lost creatures into an undead army, thereby preserving and potentially expanding your offensive capabilities even during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Crowded Crypt necessitates discarding another card to be activated. This can be a potential drawback during gameplay, especially in scenarios where your hand is already depleted, and you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana combination to cast, necessitating both black and generic mana. This requirement might limit the card’s flexibility as it fits primarily into decks that can consistently produce the necessary mana early enough to make an impact.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that’s on the higher end for its abilities, Crowded Crypt competes with various other options in the same mana range. Players often evaluate the cost-to-benefit ratio carefully, as there are alternate cards that could enact a similar effect or provide greater value for the same or less mana commitment.
Reasons to Include Crowded Crypt in Your Collection
Versatility: Crowded Crypt offers numerous options for a wide variety of deck archetypes. As an enchantment that accumulates value over time, it can be a key piece in decks that focus on creature strategies or graveyard play.
Combo Potential: This card creates multiple token creatures that can synergize with sac outlets or effects that trigger on creature deaths. Its ability to generate a swarm of tokens can be a linchpin in powerful combo finishes.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies prevail, Crowded Crypt can be an essential card. Its potential to amass an army of tokens makes it an impactful play against numerous popular deck styles.
How to beat
The Crowded Crypt is a dynamic card in Magic: The Gathering that challenges players with its unique ability to create a legion of zombie tokens. Tackling this card head-on requires strategic planning and a keen understanding of removal options within the game. An effective method to suppress the power of Crowded Crypt is to use graveyard disruption techniques. Cards such as Leyline of the Void can prevent cards from hitting the graveyard entirely, disrupting the token generation mechanism of Crowded Crypt.
Additionally, board wipes prove to be extremely valuable against a field swarming with zombies. Wrath of God and Damnation allow players to clear the board regardless of how many tokens have accumulated. Another angle to consider is to target the enchantment directly; cards like Disenchant or Naturalize offer a direct solution to remove the Crowded Crypt before its effect becomes overwhelming.
It’s essential to recognize the need for prompt action when dealing with Crowded Crypt, as allowing it to reside on the battlefield for an extended period can let the situation spiral out of control. Therefore, having a versatile removal suite in your deck could be the key to outmaneuvering opponents who utilize the deceptive strength of Crowded Crypt.
BurnMana Recommendations
Crowded Crypt can be a game-changer in your MTG deck, providing a robust card advantage through its ability to create a legion of undead forces. Utilizing creature deaths to build up an overwhelming force brings a strategic edge to MTG gameplay. If you want to leverage Crowded Crypt’s potential and explore various synergies within your deck, particularly in graveyard-centered themes, we invite you to delve deeper. Uncover powerful combinations and strategic insights that can turn the tide of battle in your favor. Ready to dominate your opponents with an undead army? Join our community to learn more and elevate your MTG experience.
Cards like Crowded Crypt
Crowded Crypt stands out as a unique player in the realm of creature token generators within Magic: The Gathering. With its specific focus on creating numerous 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens, it draws parallels to cards such as Open the Graves. However, Crowded Crypt’s potential for token generation is tied to the number of creature cards in your graveyard, making it a powerful tool in self-mill or graveyard-centric strategies.
Comparably, Endless Ranks of the Dead is another card that synergizes well with decks packed with Zombies. While it provides a steady stream of Zombie tokens during each upkeep, it lacks the explosive one-time effect that Crowded Crypt offers. Conversely, Army of the Damned is another spell worth mentioning, as it floods the battlefield with a swarm of 2/2 Zombies with its initial cast and flashback ability, albeit at a much higher mana cost.
Assessing these alternatives, Crowded Crypt secures its position in Black-based token strategies, especially when used in tandem with sacrifice or death-triggered mechanics. It allows for an adaptable and strategic game plan, thriving in decks that are built around the graveyard as a resource.
Cards similar to Crowded Crypt by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Crowded Crypt MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Midnight Hunt Commander, 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 Crowded Crypt and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Crowded Crypt Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2021-09-24. Illustrated by Jarel Threat.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 93976 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jarel Threat | ||
| 2 | 2021-09-24 | Midnight Hunt Commander | MIC | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jarel Threat | |
| 3 | 2021-09-24 | Midnight Hunt Commander | MIC | 55 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jarel Threat |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Crowded Crypt has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crowded Crypt card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | Decayed does not create any attacking requirements. You may choose not to attack with a creature that has decayed. |
| 2021-09-24 | Decayed does not grant haste. Creatures with decayed that enter the battlefield during your turn may not attack until your next turn. |
| 2021-09-24 | Decayed represents a static ability and a triggered ability. “Decayed” means “This creature can't block” and “When this creature attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.” |
| 2021-09-24 | Once a creature with decayed attacks, it will be sacrificed at end of combat, even if it no longer has decayed at that time. |
