Persist MTG Card


Persist MTG enables strategic card advantage by reanimating creatures, offering players a sustained presence in the game. It allows for rapid resource acceleration and surprise instant speed maneuvers to gain a competitive edge. Despite its benefits, Persist MTG requires additional costs and conditions that may limit its versatility.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Return target nonlegendary creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.

In the tight-knit doun of Mistmeadow, death is less important than duty.


Cards like Persist

Persist is a unique mechanic in Magic: The Gathering, marking its presence among Undying and Unearth, which share similarities in terms of resurrection-themed effects. However, Persist, with its ability to bring monsters back from the graveyard, holds its distinctive charm. The likes of Undying, whose mechaninc only takes effect once, can’t keep up with Persist’s potential for indefinite revivals.

Alternatively, Unearth, despite its capacity to revive creatures briefly for one final showdown, lacks the constancy offered by Persist. When Persisted creatures return, they step onto the battlefield weaker but willing to fight as long as they can. The endurance factor inevitably creates a prolonged impact on gameplay compared to Unearth’s short-term recurrence.

An interesting comparison also surfaces with the mechanic known as Dredge. Despite both concentrating on exploiting the graveyard, Dredge is much more directed, funneling its power towards bringing back specific cards, in contrast to Persist’s more ubiquitous revival technique.

To sum it up, Persist plausibly finds itself holding its ground sensibly among resurrection mechanics in Magic: The Gathering, standing out for its consistent influence on the game’s dynamics, despite the returning creatures’ diminished strength.

Unearth - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Dredge - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Persist by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
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Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
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Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Hunger of the Nim - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Hunger of the Nim - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Persist. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Indomitable CreativityIndomitable Creativity ModernIndomitable CreativityModern Challenge 32 2024-05-10
CreativityCreativity ModernIndomitable CreativityAWESOME MODERN
Orzhov MidrangeOrzhov Midrange ModernOrzhov MidrangeModern Preliminary 2024-05-13 (1)
Rakdos ScamRakdos Scam ModernRakdos ScamModern Showcase Challenge 2024-05-11

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Persist MTG opens pathways towards game-changing card advantage. As persist allows creatures to return from the graveyard to the battlefield, there’s an anticipatory renewal of resources. It causes your card strength to grow exponentially, keeping you in the game longer.

Resource Acceleration: With persist, you can speed up the pace of the game and gain the upper hand almost instantly. As it allows for an instant addition to battlefield strength, it substantially accelerates your access to key resources and creates an advantage over your opponent.

Instant Speed: With the power of instant speed, persist adds additional intrigue and strategic depth to your gameplay. You can choose to let a creature die and bring it back with persist, invoking surprise in your adversaries. This unexpected comeback maneuver might throw your opponent off balance, giving you the winning edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Persist mechanic might seem advantageous as it brings creatures back to life. However, it requires you to discard a card each time, which can put a damper on your play if your hand is already running low.

Specific Mana Cost: This mechanic comes with a specific mana cost which is usually black. This might pose limitations in its utility, circling its use around certain decks and diminishing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bringing creatures back with Persist usually costs more mana compared to other revival mechanisms. This cost might seem bearable first but can pile up to a noteworthy amount, still often offering less efficiency in terms of card draw or resource generation.


Reasons to Include Persist in Your Collection

Versatility: Persist MTG is prominent for its adept aptitude to assimilate into a wide array of decks. As a mechanic, persist returns the creature to the battlefield, making it a remarkable addition for decks focusing on endurance and sustainability.

Combo Potential: The innate ability of persist to reanimate creatures establishes it as a boon for desks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield or death-trigger abilities. It works seamlessly with strategies aiming to exploit recurring creature traits or synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the evolving nature of the meta-game with a frequent tilt toward removal-heavy strategies, persist player’s ability to resurrect their creatures after death is a significant advantage. Also, in metas where control and mid-range decks are common, persist’s inherent resilience can make your strategies outlast the opponents.


How to beat

Persist is a unique mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that offers multiple usages for creatures within the game. It sets itself distinctly by making it possible for creature cards to return to the battlefield when they die, albeit with a -1/-1 counter. Thoughtseize, a compelling counter, forces your opponent to reveal their hand and discard a nonland card. It’s a great opener, allowing you to disrupt their play and plan accordingly.

In a similar manner, Path to Exile offers a direct challenge. It removes the threat of Persist creatures by exiling them completely, thus bypassing the Persist ability. However, it gifts your opponent an additional land, thus creating space for strategic plays.

Countering the Persist mechanic demands careful consideration of your opponent’s strategy. Cards like Relic of Progenitus or Rest in Peace are great control options for graveyard interference. Removing the creatures from the game after their death prevents them from persisting.

Following these guidelines, managing the Persist mechanic becomes significantly more straightforward, navigating your way through Magic: The Gathering skillfully and strategically.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving deeper into Persist in MTG can profoundly influence your gameplay, allowing creatures to make a comeback on the battlefield, ready to reclaim their glory. As we’ve explored, this mechanic offers advantages like card resilience and strategic edge, particularly in response to removal-heavy metas. However, remember to weigh the discard and mana costs alongside these benefits for optimum deck construction. Expand your tactical horizons by exploring other resurrection mechanics and control cards to counter Persist strategies effectively. Keep your collection versatile, and embrace the dance with death and reanimation that Persist invites. Forge an unyielding deck with our insights — navigate to BurnMana’s corner of the MTG multiverse for more knowledge and strategies.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Persist MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Persist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Persist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-06-19. Illustrated by Milivoj Ćeran.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 962015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 4001997NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3452015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran
42021-06-19Modern Horizons 2 PromosPMH2 96s2015NormalBlackMilivoj Ćeran

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Persist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal