Presumed Dead MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Suspect |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Number | 100 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Matt Forsyth |
Text of card
Until end of turn, target creature gets +2/+0 and gains "When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control and suspect it." (A suspected creature has menace and can't block.)
"Corpses are pulled from the undercity canals every day. They'll assume one's mine."
Cards like Presumed Dead
Presumed Dead offers players a nuanced take on creature reanimation in Magic: The Gathering. Players might draw parallels with other resurrection cards such as Unearth, which similarly brings creatures back into play. Nonetheless, Presumed Dead adds a layer of strategy by permitting a permanent to return transformed under a new guise. Unearth strictly returns the creature to its original state for a turn, without the transformation element or longevity past one turn that Presumed Dead provides.
Further comparisons can be drawn with the spell Exhume, recognized for its ability to reanimate creatures for both players. This universal effect contrasts with Presumed Dead, which solely focuses on the controller’s advantage. Moreover, while Exhume might return more powerful creatures, Presumed Dead’s transformation offers a unique approach to subterfuge and surprise. Another card, Zombify, shares the concept of reviving creatures, but at a higher mana cost and without transforming them, showcasing the subtlety and potential deceptive playstyle Presumed Dead fosters.
Considering these aspects, Presumed Dead stands out in the realm of MTG as a clever and flexible tool for players seeking to utilize their graveyard with an element of surprise and adaptation that traditional reanimation spells do not provide.
Cards similar to Presumed Dead by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Presumed Dead serves as a multifaceted tool, boasting the ability to bring back an important creature from your graveyard. This opens up strategic depth in gameplay, providing not only the advantage of the resurrected creature but the potential for synergistic interactions with your deck’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: In addition to resurrecting a creature, Presumed Dead may contribute to your mana resources. By returning a creature to the battlefield under certain conditions, it can trigger abilities that produce additional mana or provide cost reductions, subtly shifting the tempo in your favor.
Instant Speed: The capacity to act at instant speed confers considerable tactical leverage, allowing you to respond to opponents’ moves with precision. With Presumed Dead at your disposal, you maintain the element of surprise, reviving creatures at the most opportune moment — be it during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Within the gameplay of MTG, Presumed Dead has a pre-requisite that might be less than ideal for some strategies. The card requires you to discard another card, which can put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already running thin. This may compel you to make difficult decisions about resource management and card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With Presumed Dead, you’re locked into a specific mana cost that includes black mana. This requirement restricts the card to decks that can produce black mana reliably, potentially limiting its versatility across various archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The efficiency of any card is key to its success in MTG gameplay, and when you compare Presumed Dead to other options, its mana cost might seem steep. There are cards that might provide greater value or more immediate impact for the same, if not lower, mana investment—a factor that can weigh against choosing Presumed Dead for your deck.
Reasons to Include Presumed Dead in Your Collection
Versatility: Presumed Dead can be a key card in decks that utilize graveyard strategies, fitting seamlessly into zombie or reanimator archetypes. Its ability to return a creature from the graveyard to the battlefield adds resilience and adaptability to your game plan.
Combo Potential: This card opens up interactions with self-mill strategies and combos well with cards that benefit from death triggers or resurrection mechanics, making it a strategic choice for synergy-driven decks.
Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting dynamics of the MTG metagame, Presumed Dead offers a counter to graveyard hate tactics. Its inclusion in your collection ensures you have a response to prevalent removal spells and creature-based strategies.
How to Beat Presumed Dead
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, an understanding of how to navigate against particular cards can mark the difference between victory and defeat. Presumed Dead, while not overly complex, does have its peculiarities that make it a unique challenge to confront. This card’s ability to bring a creature back from the graveyard tapped and encased in an aura that repeats this process if the creature dies again showcases its resilience.
The key to overcoming the persistent effect of Presumed Dead lies in exiling effects or enchantment removal, which directly target the aura or the creature it’s attached to. Cards like Scavenger Grounds can remove the creature from the game entirely when it hits the graveyard, thereby preventing Presumed Dead from recurring its effect. Alternatively, enchantment-focused removal such as Disenchant can strip the aura away, thus interrupting the cycle. Efficient graveyard management and keen awareness of your removal options can effectively neutralize the advantage Presumed Dead offers to your opponent.
While not the most formidable card to face, Presumed Dead requires a mindful approach. By employing precise removal tools and strategic planning, you can mitigate its impact and maintain control over the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Presumed Dead MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Presumed Dead 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Presumed Dead has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |