Morkrut Banshee MTG Card

Its entry effect offers card advantage by neutralizing an opponent’s creature, improving your board state. The Morbid trigger enhances decks focusing on creature deaths, adding a layer of strategy. Although powerful, it requires careful mana base management and a creature death to maximize value.

Innistrad (ISD)
2011-09-30 - Number 110

Conspiracy (CNS)
2014-06-06 - Number 118

Commander 2014 (C14)
2014-11-07 - Number 149

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 99

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 121

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Spirit
Abilities	Morbid
Power	4
Toughness	4

Text of card

Morbid — When Morkrut Banshee enters the battlefield, if a creature died this turn, target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn.

"Let go your grudges, or risk wandering the bogs forever in a murderous rage." —Hildin, priest of Avacyn

Cards like Morkrut Banshee

Morkrut Banshee presents an interesting choice for decks focusing on removal effects in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels other creatures such as Skinrender in its ability to impact the board upon entering the battlefield. Skinrender, however, offers a more targeted approach by placing three -1/-1 counters on a single creature, giving players precise control over the outcome. Morkrut Banshee, in contrast, requires a Morbid trigger to deliver its effect, which can hit a broader range of targets but with the caveat of a death prerequisite.

Comparatively, Shriekmaw is another creature with a similar entry effect, having the Evoke mechanic which allows it to be cast for a lesser cost at the expense of sacrificing it. It’s a versatile option, providing either a cheaper removal spell or a creature presence. Unlike Morkrut Banshee, Shriekmaw’s effect is not dependent on another creature’s death but is restricted to nonartifact, nonblack creatures.

Analyzing Morkrut Banshee alongside these similar options, it stands out due to its potential for sweeping impact under the right conditions. Its Morbid ability, though conditional, can turn the tide of a game if effectively timed, making it a card worth considering for players who like strategic depth and timing in their gameplay.

Cards similar to Morkrut Banshee by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Morkrut Banshee provides a distinct benefit by enabling removal of an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield. This can often lead to a two-for-one situation where you gain a creature while your opponent loses one, tipping the scales to your favor and improving your position in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Although Morkrut Banshee itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its Morbid ability—activating when a creature died this turn—can be a strategic enabler in decks that capitalize on creature deaths. This aligns with strategies such as sacrifice for value or recurring creatures from the graveyard, indirectly accelerating your game plan through synergistic board states.

Instant Speed: While the banshee is not an instant, its Morbid trigger works well with instant speed removal spells already present in your deck. By timing the death of creatures on the opponent’s turn with an instant, you can deploy Morkrut Banshee with its Morbid trigger on your own turn, thereby maximizing your tactical advantage and catching opponents off-guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Morkrut Banshee requires a morbid trigger, meaning a creature must have died this turn for you to reap its benefit. Without the demise of another creature, you miss out on its added value and are left with a vanilla creature.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two black mana symbols, it can be challenging to cast in a multi-colored deck. This cost necessitates a firm commitment to black mana sources and can potentially strain your deck’s mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at a total of five mana, Morkrut Banshee’s cost is a touch on the high side, especially when compared to other creatures with similar effects. For decks aiming at a lower curve, its mana cost can be prohibitive and slow down your game play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Morkrut Banshee offers a flexible role in various deck types, particularly those centered around sacrifice mechanics or leveraging creatures dying. Its creature type also makes it a good fit for tribal strategies involving Spirits or Zombies.

Combo Potential: The morbid ability to give a -4/-4 debuff to a target creature can be strategically paired with cards that capitalize on creature deaths or use such removals to pave the way for game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-centric decks are consistently popular, Morkrut Banshee’s ability can act as a potent piece of removal, impacting the board state significantly in certain metagames where resilience and removal play key roles.

How to Beat Morkrut Banshee

Morkrut Banshee emerges from the shadows of the graveyard, bringing with it a potent ability that can severely weaken the opposing battlefield. This card is known for its Morbid ability, which can only be activated if a creature died the turn you cast Morkrut Banshee. When this trigger occurs, it allows the caster to give a target creature -4/-4 until the end of the turn, potentially clearing a path through the opponent’s defenses.

Therefore, the key to outmaneuvering Morkrut Banshee lies in timing and board management. Keeping creature deaths to a minimum on the turn you expect the Banshee to appear can nullify its impact. Additionally, counterspell strategies can halt the banshee’s shriek before it ever takes hold. Being smart about when to play your creatures and holding onto instant-speed removal or counter magic until after the banshee hits the battlefield can turn this feared spirit into little more than a whisper.

Every MTG player knows that foreseeing your opponent’s moves and minimizing their advantages can lead to victory. By effectively managing the board and using the right spells at the right time, the threat posed by Morkrut Banshee can be substantially mitigated or better yet, turned into an advantage for a well-prepared player.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Morkrut Banshee MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Conspiracy, 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 Morkrut Banshee and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Morkrut Banshee Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-09-30	Innistrad	ISD	110	2003	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
2	2014-06-06	Conspiracy	CNS	118	2003	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
3	2014-11-07	Commander 2014	C14	149	2015	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
4	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM	99	2015	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
5	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	121	2015	Normal	Black	Jodie Muir

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Morkrut Banshee has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-08-07	If there are no other creatures on the battlefield when the morbid ability triggers, the ability must target Morkrut Banshee itself.
2020-08-07	Morkrut Banshee's morbid ability triggers only once, not once for each creature that has died this turn. If no creatures have died by the time it enters the battlefield, its ability won't trigger at all.