Mourning MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2000-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Invasion |
| Set code | INV |
| Number | 111 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Terese Nielsen |
Text of card
Enchanted creature gets -2/-0. oo B Return Mourning to its owner's hand.
Barrin waited for the nausea to pass or for Urza to say something else. He waited in vain.
Cards like Mourning
The Mourning card offers a unique presence in the realm of enchant creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It shares a thematic connection with cards like Dead Weight and Mire’s Grasp, which all aim to diminish the power and utility of targeted creatures. Unlike these options, Mourning takes a slightly different approach by potentially locking a creature out of combat entirely with its cumulative upkeep cost.
Diving further into utility and mana costs, Mourning finds itself compared against enchantments such as Paralyze, which also limits a creature’s effectiveness but requires a one-time mana fee from the opposition to free their creature. Despite similarities, the incremental tax of Mourning can prove more taxing over time. A contestant for a slot in control decks, Claustrophobia immobilizes a creature upon entering but lacks the additional cost that Mourning imposes turn after turn.
When reflecting on the strategic implications and deck compatibility, Mourning adds a nuanced tool for players wanting continued hindrance over their opponent’s creatures. Thus, within its niche category, Mourning stands out as an enchantment that can progressively weaken an adversary’s options during a match.
Cards similar to Mourning by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gaining the upper hand in a match often hinges on how many options you have at your disposal. The Mourning card helps you maintain that edge by allowing you to exchange it from your hand or graveyard for fresh opportunities from your library, ensuring your plays remain versatile and your hand, stocked.
Resource Acceleration: Mourning facilitates quicker progression through your deck’s strategy. By placing it onto a creature, you effectively set a timer on that creature’s demise, which can lead to a swift and smooth shift in board state. Once the enchanted creature perishes, you’re one step closer to accessing the mana or other resources necessary to implement your game plan.
Instant Speed: Flexibility during gameplay is vital, and the ability to act at instant speed means you aren’t locked into your main phase to deploy your Mourning. Whether during a lull in the combat or in the final moments before your opponent concludes their turn, reacting at the most opportune time can disrupt their strategy and turn the tide in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mourning demands that you discard a card as part of its casting cost, which could put you at a disadvantage by depleting your hand, particularly if you are struggling to maintain card advantage on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise combination of black and generic mana, potentially restricting its integration into multi-colored decks that may not consistently generate the necessary mana types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mourning’s mana value might be considered steep for its enchantment effect, especially when measured against other options that could disrupt the opponent’s game plan more directly and for less investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mourning excels in its ability to adapt to various decks, functioning superbly as a flexible piece in control strategies as well as in enchantment-centric builds. Its ability to bog down fast-paced opponents makes it a valuable asset across multiple playstyles.
Combo Potential: For decks that capitalize on sacrificing permanents or benefit from death triggers, Mourning provides an avenue to exploit these synergies. Its inclusion can seamlessly integrate into and enhance intricate combo chains, solidifying its place in combo-oriented collections.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where creature-based strategies predominate, the consistent hindrance provided by Mourning could tilt matches in your favor. It’s not only a tactical response to prevalent trends but also an enduring card that adapts as the meta evolves over time.
How to beat
The Mourning card presents an interesting challenge in MTG gameplay, requiring a tailored strategy to overcome. Although not as well-known as enchantments like Pacifism, Mourning still impacts the board by weakening potentially predatory creatures. One key element to facing this card is the use of enchantment removal spells. Cards like Naturalize allow players to directly dispose of problematic enchantments, including Mourning, thereby liberating their creatures from its debuffs.
Another viable tactic involves deploying creatures that can benefit from being in the graveyard. Since Mourning forces creatures into the graveyard once their power is reduced to zero, using creatures with abilities like Undying or Persist can actually strengthen your position, turning a disadvantage into an unexpected benefit. This strategy also correlates with decks that thrive on graveyard synergy, capitalizing on the dynamics of creatures moving in and out of play.
Considering these approaches, it’s apparent that Mourning, while restrictive, can be mitigated or even exploited with the right strategy and card choices. By integrating the mentioned methods into your MTG arsenal, you’ll be well-equipped to face any opponent wielding Mourning. This positions players for success and attests to the deep strategic layers that MTG is celebrated for.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mourning MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Mourning 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mourning has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mourning card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If attached to an opponent’s creature, only you can activate the ability to return it. |