Tombstone Stairwell MTG Card


Tombstone Stairwell - Mirage
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeWorld Enchantment
Abilities Cumulative upkeep
Released1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set nameMirage
Set codeMIR
Number149
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDom!

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates a rapid influx of tokens, exploiting graveyards for substantial board presence each turn.
  2. Diverse combinations possible with triggers from creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.
  3. Mana and strategy specific, best suited for decks focused on graveyard synergy and black mana.

Text of card

Cumulative upkeep o1o B During each upkeep, each player puts into play a Tombspawn token for each summon card in his or her graveyard. Treat these tokens as 2/2 black creatures that are unaffected by summoning sickness and count as Zombies. At end of any turn or if Tombstone Stairwell leaves play, bury all of these tokens.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tombstone Stairwell offers considerable card advantage in the right deck setup. This enchantment transforms each creature in all graveyards into potential temporary tokens, effectively multiplying the creatures you can use during each turn. If you’re playing a deck that thrives on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield, Tombstone Stairwell can turn the tide by overwhelming opponents with a relentless tide of creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While not providing direct mana acceleration, Tombstone Stairwell enhances resource acceleration by leveraging the graveyard as an asset. It can rapidly populate the board with tokens, which, depending on your deck’s synergies, may be converted into various other resources, potentially catalyzing powerful combos or setting the stage for decisive moves.

Instant Speed: While Tombstone Stairwell itself isn’t an instant, the tokens it creates at the beginning of each upkeep are a product of a cumulative upkeep trigger. This means you effectively gain instant-speed blockers which can appear unexpectedly from the graveyard, surprise attacking during your turn or fortifying your defenses on your opponent’s. Additionally, it allows you to maximize the use of your graveyard as a resource every turn cycle, making it an unpredictable and flexible asset in many game scenarios.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tombstone Stairwell necessitates a particular setup to achieve its full potential, relying on having creatures in the graveyard to produce value. This can be less effective if graveyard interaction is not a main component of your deck strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Tombstone Stairwell’s casting cost includes two black mana symbols, which can be restrictive for multicolored decks. This may limit the card’s inclusion only to decks with a strong black mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s total mana cost is four, with a recurring cumulative upkeep cost that can drain resources quickly. This can be challenging to maintain, especially in a game where mana efficiency is crucial to outpacing opponents.


Reasons to Include Tombstone Stairwell in Your Collection

Versatility: Tombstone Stairwell is a powerful addition as it thrives in various decks, particularly those centered around sacrifice effects or graveyard synergy. Its ability to create a swath of creatures each turn can adapt to offensive and defensive strategies alike.

Combo Potential: The card holds immense combo potential, interacting seamlessly with abilities that trigger upon creatures dying or entering the battlefield. This can lead to explosive turns where death triggers accumulate for significant advantage.

Meta-Relevance: With tombstone Stairwell, players can capitalize on the value it provides in a meta that may lean towards graveyard-based strategies or where board presence is crucial. This enchantment can shift the tide of games, making every creature in each graveyard an asset to leverage.


How to beat

Tombstone Stairwell, a unique enchantment from Magic the Gathering, can be quite the game-changer with its ability to bring back creatures from the grave during each upkeep. This card creates a host of Tombspawn tokens that can overwhelm opponents quickly. However, conquering this card is not out of reach. Targeted enchantment removal spells like Disenchant, Naturalize, or Return to Nature can dismantle the stairwell before it becomes too threatening. Board wipes that clean out tokens each turn, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can also mitigate the Tombspawn onslaught effectively.

Savvy players also employ graveyard hate strategies using cards like Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt to ensure the stairwell has a less significant impact. Using instant speed removal allows players to react during the upkeep, limiting the Tombspawn’s time on the field. Timing is crucial, and understanding when to disrupt the Tombstone Stairwell’s synergy can mean the difference between victory and defeat. By keeping pressure on and managing resources well, players can navigate around the pitfalls that Tombstone Stairwell presents.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG’s strategic depth requires a keen understanding of synergy and timing, particularly with complex cards like Tombstone Stairwell. As you refine your decks, consider the flexibility and surprise element this enchantment adds to your arsenal. Are you ready to harness the power of your graveyard, turning it into a resource that can outmaneuver your opponents at every turn? Join us for a deep dive into strategies that optimize Tombstone Stairwell, explore new deck ideas, and enhance your gameplay. Let’s turn each match into a riveting challenge with wise deck-building and sharp play tactics. Learn more and embrace the full potential of your MTG collection with BurnMana.


Cards like Tombstone Stairwell

Tombstone Stairwell stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an innovative enchantment card that can dramatically alter the state of the game. When compared to other zombie-generating cards like Endless Ranks of the Dead, which steadily builds your undead army, Tombstone Stairwell provides a more instantaneous influx of zombie tokens but only during combat phases and with a fleeting lifespan. This key difference ensures a burst of power but requires a different strategic approach.

Army of the Damned is another relative in this domain, offering a one-time surge of zombies, though without the recurring effect of Tombstone Stairwell. The latter allows for repeated swarming opportunities each turn, whereas Army of the Damned’s zombies stick around, potentially giving you staying power on the battlefield. Lastly, we look at Open the Graves, generating zombies whenever your non-token creatures die, offering a resilient and less mana-demanding alternative to the temporary yet explosive effect of Tombstone Stairwell.

While each of these cards present unique advantages, Tombstone Stairwell’s unique combination of a potentially immense yet ephemeral army, along with its temporary Tome Scour element, can be harnessed for some massive game-turning moments, catering to players who favor surprise tactics and rapid shifts in board control.

Endless Ranks of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Army of the Damned - MTG Card versions
Open the Graves - MTG Card versions
Endless Ranks of the Dead - Innistrad (ISD)
Army of the Damned - Innistrad (ISD)
Open the Graves - Core Set 2019 Promos (PM19)

Cards similar to Tombstone Stairwell by color, type and mana cost

Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Erebos, Bleak-Hearted - MTG Card versions
Night of Souls' Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Measure of Wickedness - MTG Card versions
Pestilence - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Lich - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Cursed Land - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Nether Void - Legends (LEG)
Breeding Pit - The List (PLST)
Greed - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Feast of the Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Koskun Falls - Homelands (HML)
Diabolic Servitude - Urza's Saga (USG)
Vampiric Embrace - Urza's Saga (USG)
Brink of Madness - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Death Pit Offering - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Tainted Aether - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Patriarch's Desire - Odyssey (ODY)
Last Laugh - Torment (TOR)
Court of Ambition - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nightmare Shepherd - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Erebos, Bleak-Hearted - Commander Masters (CMM)
Night of Souls' Betrayal - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Measure of Wickedness - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tombstone Stairwell MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Tombstone Stairwell and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tombstone Stairwell has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tombstone Stairwell card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 All the tokens are put onto the battlefield simultaneously.
2004-10-04 Both the cumulative upkeep and the triggered ability trigger at the beginning of upkeep, so you can choose what order they resolve.
2004-10-04 Does not put the Zombies onto the battlefield if this card is not still on the battlefield when its ability resolves.
2004-10-04 If something changes the names of the tokens, then the “at end of turn” ability will still destroy them.
2004-10-04 You control the triggered ability, but each player controls the token creature they put onto the battlefield due to the ability’s effect.
2008-10-01 This has the supertype world. When a world permanent enters the battlefield, any world permanents that were already on the battlefield are put into their owners’ graveyards. This is a state-based action called the “world rule.” The new world permanent stays on the battlefield. If two world permanents enter the battlefield at the same time, they’re both put into their owners’ graveyards.

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