Necropolis Fiend MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 82s
2014-09-26 - Number 82
2015-01-23 - Number 1
2002-06-24 - Number 55729
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 9 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Demon |
| Abilities | Delve,Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for .) Flying , , Exile X cards from your graveyard: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn.
Cards like Necropolis Fiend
Delving into the roster of Magic: The Gathering creatures, Necropolis Fiend stands out as a unique delve card, offering considerable power for potentially less mana. This black creature can be looked at in conjunction with cards like Gurmag Angler, which also harnesses delve but trades off Necropolis Fiend’s life-draining ability for a cheaper mana cost.
Tombstalker is another creature that emerges in this comparison. Both creatures demand a substantial amount of black mana and are able to reduce their casting cost through delve. However, Tombstalker forgoes the additional removal ability, focusing instead on flying to dominate the battlefield. Additionally, it could be compared to creatures like Rakshasa’s Secret for the aspect of graveyard interaction, albeit serving a supportive role with a different mechanic than pure aggression.
When considering the value that Necropolis Fiend brings to a game, it’s important to weigh its utility and synergy with decks centered around graveyard resources. It might not have Gurmag Angler’s reputation for cost-effectiveness or Tombstalker’s sheer force, but its capacity to disrupt the opponent’s creatures while influencing the board state carves a niche role for Necropolis Fiend within Magic: The Gathering’s pantheon of cards.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Necropolis Fiend. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Esper Control | Modern | Esper Control | Grand Open Qualifier Prague 2024 |
 | Four-color Mill | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 11 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Necropolis Fiend’s delve ability allows you to effectively use cards from your graveyard to help cast it, turning potential dead resources into a tangible threat on the board. This can offer a form of card advantage as you’re utilizing cards from all zones of play.
Resource Acceleration: Delve acts as a resource acceleration mechanic, enabling you to potentially cast Necropolis Fiend for less mana and earlier in the game than its nominal mana cost would suggest. This economizes your mana resources, giving you the flexibility to deploy other spells alongside it.
Instant Speed: While the card itself isn’t an instant, Necropolis Fiend’s activated ability to pay X and tap it to exile X cards from an opponent’s graveyard and give target creature -X/-X until end of turn can be utilized at instant speed. This provides real-time adaptability, allowing you to strategically diminish your opponent’s creatures during their turn or in response to actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Necropolis Fiend requires the exile of X cards from your graveyard to activate its ability. This can be a significant downside, especially if your strategy relies on graveyard synergy or if your graveyard resources are depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a specific mana cost that includes two black mana symbols, potentially restricting smooth incorporation into multicolor decks that may have less consistent access to black mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of 7 mana, including 5 generic and 2 black, Necropolis Fiend can be quite mana-intensive. In formats where the pace is quicker, having such a high-cost card could hinder the deck’s speed and efficiency.
Reasons to Include Necropolis Fiend in Your Collection
Versatility: Necropolis Fiend offers a dynamic role in decks that capitalize on graveyard mechanics. With Delve allowing you to play it using cards from your graveyard, it can be a strategic addition to any deck focused on utilizing its graveyard as a resource.
Combo Potential: This creature can seamlessly integrate into combos that revolve around life loss and creature control, acting as both a sizable threat and removal tool wrapped into one card. Its ability to exile cards from the opponent’s graveyard can disrupt their plans and fuel its own power.
Meta-Relevance: The ability to control the board is always crucial, and Necropolis Fiend excels in metas where creatures are key to victory. As gameplay shifts and graveyard-based strategies become more prevalent, having Necropolis Fiend at the ready can give you an edge against other creature-heavy decks.
How to beat
Necropolis Fiend demands attention as a formidable flying creature with the ability to decimate opponent’s creatures through its delve and x-cost abilities. Unlike other cards that can require elaborate strategies to overcome, facing a Necropolis Fiend can be simplified with a few tactics. Managing your graveyard is pivotal, as the Fiend’s power feeds off the number of cards within it. Therefore, cards like Tormod’s Crypt offer a swift response to exile a graveyard, cutting off the fuel for its ability.
Control spells also play a critical role. Counterspells like Cancel ensure Necropolis Fiend never touches the battlefield, preventing the need to deal with it directly. Should the Fiend already be in play, enchantments like Pacifism render it harmless by preventing it from attacking or using its ability, offering a cost-effective solution. Similarly, bounce spells such as Unsummon can return Necropolis Fiend to the owner’s hand, disrupting the opponent’s mana investment and tempo, and giving you time to fortify your board presence.
Overall, the key to beating Necropolis Fiend lies in proactive graveyard management, effective use of control spells, and timely disruption, fostering an environment where this powerful creature can be kept in check.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Necropolis Fiend MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir Promos, 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 Necropolis Fiend 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 Necropolis Fiend Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2015-01-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 55729 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | ||
| 2 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir Promos | PKTK | 82s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Seb McKinnon | |
| 3 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 82 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Seb McKinnon | |
| 4 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged Clash Pack | CP2 | 1 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Necropolis Fiend has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Necropolis Fiend card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | Because delve isn’t an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs. |
| 2014-09-20 | Delve doesn’t change a spell’s mana cost or converted mana cost. For example, Dead Drop’s converted mana cost is 10 even if you exiled three cards to cast it. |
| 2014-09-20 | The rules for delve have changed slightly since it was last in an expansion. Previously, delve reduced the cost to cast a spell. Under the current rules, you exile cards from your graveyard at the same time you pay the spell’s cost. Exiling a card this way is simply another way to pay that cost. |
| 2014-09-20 | You can’t exile cards to pay for the colored mana requirements of a spell with delve. |
| 2014-09-20 | You can’t exile more cards than the generic mana requirement of a spell with delve. For example, you can’t exile more than nine cards from your graveyard to cast Dead Drop. |