Necromantic Thirst MTG Card


Enables consistent card draw when an enchanted creature deals combat damage, offering strategic depth. Instant speed potential allows for combat phase surprises, complementing flexible strategies. Versatile in graveyard-centric decks, Necromantic Thirst recycles vital cards and sustains momentum.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature Whenever enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.


Cards like Necromantic Thirst

Necromantic Thirst is an aura with unique qualities that resonate with players looking for recurring card advantage in Magic the Gathering. Its kinship can be drawn with cards like Curiosity, which also allows for card draw when the enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player. However, Necromantic Thirst adds an intriguing layer by returning any creature card from your graveyard to your hand, broadening its utility past drawing cards.

Another relative in effects is the card Deathreap Ritual, which offers a consistent method of card advantage in decks that find themselves in the longer, grinding games. Whereas Necromantic Thirst is focused on a single creature, Deathreap Ritual potentially provides card draw every turn, yet without the benefit of directly retrieving cards from the graveyard. Then there’s Tamiyo’s Journal, providing both a card draw engine and a way to search the library, but lacking the on-attack trigger that makes cards like Necromantic Thirst compelling during combat scenarios.

To sum up, Necromantic Thirst serves a niche yet vital role in decks that capitalize on both creature-based offenses and strategic graveyard retrieval. It fits snugly within Magic the Gathering strategies that focus on incremental advantage and creature synergy.

Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Deathreap Ritual - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo's Journal - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Deathreap Ritual - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo's Journal - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Necromantic Thirst 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
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
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
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Necromantic Thirst grants you the potential to continuously draw cards whenever the enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player. This ability can significantly enhance your hand resources, giving you an edge over your opponent with more options and strategic depth.

Resource Acceleration: While Necromantic Thirst doesn’t directly create mana or tokens, the drawn cards can lead to resources that accelerate your gameplay. Accessing more cards can translate into more land plays or opportunities to cast impactful spells sooner than your opponent.

Instant Speed: Although Necromantic Thirst is cast at sorcery speed, the ability to draw cards from it activates at combat damage which can concur with instant speed interactions. This means you can potentially draw into instant speed spells during the combat phase and play them within the same turn, keeping the tempo up and maintaining strategic flexibility.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Necromantic Thirst grants you the ability to draw cards, it comes with the price of having to discard whenever you cast it. This can be quite taxing if your hand is already depleting or if you want to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a mix of one black mana alongside two generic mana, this card is strictly aligned with the black mana archetype. This cost restricts its flexibility, disallowing its inclusion in decks that do not run black mana or that are heavy on other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana to cast, Necromantic Thirst can be seen as an expensive investment for the card draw effect it offers—especially when compared to other options within the game that might provide similar benefits for less mana or offer additional utility.


Reasons to Include Necromantic Thirst in Your Collection

Versatility: Necromantic Thirst offers a flexible aura that can turn any creature into a resource-recycling tool. It’s an asset for decks that exploit graveyard mechanics, supporting strategies that hinge on creature sacrifice or graveyard manipulation.

Combo Potential: With the ability to potentially return any card from your graveyard to your hand when the enchanted creature deals combat damage, it opens up possibilities for recurring powerful spells or creatures. It partners well with evasive creatures, ensuring regular card return.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creatures are regularly trading blows, having a resilient edge is invaluable. Necromantic Thirst can help regain pivotal pieces lost earlier in the game, maintaining a steady flow of resources against attrition-based decks.


How to beat

Necromantic Thirst is a unique aura card within the vast pool of Magic: The Gathering spells. As a magic resource, its primary ability allows the controller to gain card advantage whenever the enchanted creature deals damage to a player. This can be particularly challenging for opponents as it cements a continuous draw mechanic, giving the controlling player more options and potential answers as the game progresses.

To combat the advantages Necromantic Thirst provides, players should consider removing the host creature or the enchantment itself. Spells that offer targeted removal, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, can strip the enchantment and halt the card draw. On the creature front, tactically leveraging kill spells like Doom Blade or using broader removal like Wrath of God can effectively neutralize the threat. Additionally, instant-speed interaction is vital. Acting during the controller’s turn before they can benefit from the enchantment is a keen strategy.

Ultimately, while Necromantic Thirst can be a thorn in one’s side, a well-prepared deck with a variety of disruption tools can mitigate its impact. By understanding the enchantment’s mechanics and maintaining a rounded arsenal of countermeasures, players can ensure that their opponent’s thirst for dominance remains unquenched.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Necromantic Thirst MTG card by a specific set like Salvat 2005 and Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Necromantic Thirst and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Necromantic Thirst Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-08-22 and 2014-06-06. Illustrated by Brandon Kitkouski.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F442003NormalWhiteBrandon Kitkouski
22005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 972003NormalBlackBrandon Kitkouski
32014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1192003NormalBlackBrandon Kitkouski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Necromantic Thirst has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2005-10-01 The target is chosen just after any creatures dealt lethal damage at the same time that the enchanted creature dealt damage have been put into the graveyard. That might include the enchanted creature itself, if it had trample and was blocked, for example.