Mortis Dogs MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Dog
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	66
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chippy

Key Takeaways

Mortis Dogs can deal damage to players upon death, turning creature loss into an offensive play.
Its low casting cost accelerates early-game pressure, though it is mana-specific to black.
Instant-speed interactions can amplify Mortis Dogs’ death-triggered ability, catching opponents off-guard.

Text of card

Whenever Mortis Dogs attacks, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn. When Mortis Dogs is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, target player loses life equal to its power.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mortis Dogs provides a unique advantage upon its demise, as when it dies, you may have it deal damage to a player equal to its power. This not only mitigates the drawback of losing a creature but can also swing the game in your favor by reducing your opponent’s life total.

Resource Acceleration: Although Mortis Dogs doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the form of mana or tokens, its low casting cost enables a rapid deployment onto the battlefield, thus potentially accelerating the pressure you can apply to your opponent in the early stages of the game.

Instant Speed: While Mortis Dogs itself does not operate at instant speed, its death-triggered ability can work in tandem with instant-speed removal or sacrifice effects. This creates opportunities for unexpected plays, giving you a tactical edge by catching an adversary off guard with unexpected damage as a part of a broader strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mortis Dogs require the player to let go of potentially valuable cards to unleash their ability, rendering a setback if you’re already dealing with a depleted hand. This discard can hinder your strategic options, as each card in hand represents potential future plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise infusion of black mana to cast, thereby restricting its integration exclusively to black-themed decks or those that can reliably generate the needed mana hue, potentially constraining its overall deck compatibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its casting cost, it’s pivotal to analyze whether Mortis Dogs provide enough impact on the game’s state compared to other creatures or spells within the same mana range. Players may find that other options could deliver more immediate or versatile advantages to their game plan, potentially relegating Mortis Dogs to a less favored choice.

Reasons to Include Mortis Dogs in Your Collection

Versatility: Mortis Dogs offer a unique angle to black-based aggro or midrange decks. As a four-power creature under two mana, it can adapt to various play styles, delivering crucial blows to an opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: When Mortis Dogs perish, their ability to inflict loss of life equal to their power can be enhanced with power-boosting spells or equipment, reinforcing the impact they make when they leave the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature combat is common, Mortis Dogs can act as both an aggressive threat and a strategic obstacle. Their intimidating last gasp can deter blockers and influence combat decisions, aligning them well with the current pace of gameplay.

How to beat

Mortis Dogs is a unique creature in the ecosystem of Magic: The Gathering, presenting a challenge for opponents due to its last gasp damage ability. To navigate around the threat it poses, focus on neutralizing it without dealing damage. Counterspells are the most straightforward approach, ensuring it never hits the board in the first place. Enchantment-based removal like Pacifism effectively muzzles Mortis Dogs, preventing the activation of its ability while keeping it contained on the battlefield.

Strategic considerations also include leveraging graveyard manipulation. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can exile Mortis Dogs after it hits the graveyard, circumventing its potential to be recurred for more damage. Another method is to redirect or prevent the damage entirely, with spells such as Deflecting Palm or a well-timed healing card to offset the life loss. An opponent’s challenge can turn into your advantage with careful planning and the right sideboard cards.

Overall, the best tactics involve pre-emptive measures and circumventing the activation of its damaging ability, ensuring that Mortis Dogs is more bark than bite in your MTG matches.

Cards like Mortis Dogs

Mortis Dogs is an intriguing creature card that players may consider for their black-themed decks in Magic: The Gathering. When we line it up against other cards, Bone Shredder presents itself as another creature with a death trigger, offering the utility of creature destruction upon its exit. Unlike Mortis Dogs, however, Bone Shredder doesn’t provide the direct player damage that can often shift game momentum.

Another similar creature is Falkenrath Noble, which also thrives on the strategy of death-triggered abilities. While Mortis Dogs inflicts damage on an opponent when it dies based on its power, Falkenrath Noble takes a broader approach by affecting all opponents and gaining you life for any creature’s demise, not just its own. This gives it a more consistent albeit less aggressive damage output compared to the singular, potentially massive hit from Mortis Dogs.

Finally, considering the balance of cost, effect, and potential impact on a game, Mortis Dogs can be seen as a rewarding play for those looking to weave a strategy around creature sacrifice or intimidate opponents with the threat of significant damage upon death. Its uniqueness lies in the potential for a large burst of damage, elevating it in black decks that favor aggressive, death-associated tactics.

Cards similar to Mortis Dogs by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mortis Dogs MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Mortis Dogs and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mortis Dogs has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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