Necratog MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 76
1997-08-13 - Number js76
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Atog |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Remove the top creature card in your graveyard from the game: +2/+2 until end of turn
The necratog can always dig up a meal.
Cards like Necratog
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Necratog stands as a classic creature with a unique spin on graveyard interaction. It shares its core functionality with creatures such as Nantuko Husk, which allow you to sacrifice other creatures for a benefit. However, Necratog distinguishes itself by exclusively feeding on the graveyard, growing in power for each card you exile from your own graveyard.
Looking to Ooze creatures like Bloodthrone Vampire offers a comparison. While the Vampire also gets stronger by sacrificing creatures, it doesn’t tap into the power of graveyard resources. On the flip side, the Ooze Garden card exiles creatures to create Ooze tokens, a different approach that generates board presence rather than bolstering one creature’s attack strength. Additionally, Varolz, the Scar-Striped offers a similar mechanic, bestowing power and toughness from creature cards in the graveyard to those on the battlefield, yet without the self-milling synergy that Necratog presents.
Taking stock of the landscape, it’s evident that while there are other cards with similar sacrificial mechanisms, Necratog’s particular requirement of self-milling to ramp up its offensive capacity solidifies its niche within the MTG universe, blending both aggressive and tactical play styles.
Cards similar to Necratog by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Necratog’s ability to leverage graveyard resources gives players an edge by effectively turning discarded or destroyed creature cards into a potent offense. This can often shift the balance in a game where every card counts.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, the Necratog can quickly grow in power, enabling a faster potential win condition. By converting excess land drops or unused creature cards into offensive force, the card offers an alternative form of acceleration towards game closure.
Instant Speed: The power increase from its ability can be used at instant speed, catching opponents off-guard. This flexibility lets players wait until the last possible moment before deciding whether to invest resources into the Necratog, maintaining an element of surprise and tactical depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Necratog demands a continual fuel of cards to discard, which can deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options as the game proceeds. This can be particularly taxing if you’re unable to maintain a substantial card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Necratog’s mana cost necessitates one black and two generic mana, which makes it less flexible in multi-color decks where mana consistency could be an issue. Decks not centered around the black mana may find it challenging to cast Necratog consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a three mana creature, Necratog’s base stats and abilities may not compare favorably against other cards with similar costs. Its need for a steady stream of cards to discard can make it a less than ideal choice in a tightly contested game where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Necratog in Your Collection
Versatility: Necratog presents the inherent flexibility needed in decks that capitalize on graveyard mechanics. Its ability to grow stronger by consuming cards from your graveyard allows it to adapt to various in-game scenarios, making it a powerful choice for strategies focused on resource manipulation.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in combination with self-mill strategies or setups that generate a high number of expendable creatures and cards. It synergizes with decks that are centered around sacrificing elements for greater gains, paving the way for decisive, game-ending plays.
Meta-Relevance: With the constant shift in the competitive landscape, having a card like Necratog can offer a significant edge. In a meta where graveyard interaction is key, Necratog’s ability to exploit these dynamics turns it into a formidable asset against a variety of popular deck archetypes.
How to beat
Necratog, a distinctive creature card in Magic: The Gathering, stands out with its ability to grow stronger by feeding on the graveyard. This mechanic presents a challenge but can be turned into a weakness if tackled correctly. To combat Necratog, the prime strategy is to control graveyard populations. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can strip your graveyard of fodder, starving the Necratog and limiting its power.
Another approach is to use exile effects judiciously. Cards that exile individual cards from graveyards, such as Scavenging Ooze or Tormod’s Crypt, are ideal for keeping the Necratog in check. Additionally, directing removal spells or abilities that don’t require placing creatures in the graveyard, like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, prevents feeding the Necratog while getting rid of threats.
Lastly, since Necratog’s power boosts are temporary, playing strategically might mean allowing it to become momentarily powerful but setting up a situation where it can be dealt with on your terms. For instance, holding onto a board wipe or damage-dealing spell until after it has exalted its power. Employing these tactics will minimize the Necratog’s impact and could turn its own strengths into a liability.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Necratog MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Necratog 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 Necratog Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 1997-08-13. Illustrated by Bryan Talbot.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 76 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Bryan Talbot | |
| 2 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | js76 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Bryan Talbot |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Necratog has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Necratog card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-04-01 | If an effect or rule puts two or more cards into the same graveyard at the same time, the owner of those cards may arrange them in any order. |
| 2008-04-01 | Players may not rearrange the cards in their graveyards. This is a little-known rule because new cards that care about graveyard order haven’t been printed in years. |
| 2008-04-01 | Say you’re the owner of both a permanent and an Aura that’s attached to it. If both the permanent and the Aura are destroyed at the same time (by Akroma’s Vengeance, for example), you decide the order they’re put into your graveyard. If just the enchanted permanent is destroyed, it’s put into your graveyard first. Then, after state-based actions are checked, the Aura (which is no longer attached to anything) is put into your graveyard on top of it. |
| 2008-04-01 | The last thing that happens to a resolving instant or sorcery spell is that it’s put into its owner’s graveyard. —Example: You cast Wrath of God. All creatures on the battlefield are destroyed. You arrange all the cards put into your graveyard this way in any order you want. The other players in the game do the same to the cards that are put into their graveyards. Then you put Wrath of God into your graveyard, on top of the other cards. |
| 2008-04-01 | The “top” card of your graveyard is the card that was put there most recently. |