Returned Centaur MTG Card

Strategic milling from Returned Centaur aids graveyard-based plays, setting up for larger strategies. Requires black mana deck commitment, but its mill effect justifies the inclusion in the right build. Despite the potential for card disadvantage, its defensive prowess and combo potential are notable.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Centaur
Abilities Mill
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Returned Centaur enters the battlefield, target player puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

Driven away by his living kin, he wanders mourning through the wilderness, seeking the dead city of Asphodel.

Cards like Returned Centaur

Returned Centaur is a unique creature card that players often compare to other graveyard-utilizing creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When looking for a similar zombie creature, Sibsig Host comes to mind. Both these four-mana cost creatures are quite comparable – Sibsig Host mills three cards when it enters the battlefield, just one card less than Returned Centaur. However, the difference is found in their toughness, where Returned Centaur benefits from one additional point, providing marginally better durability in battle.

Another card to consider is Balustrade Spy. Although technically not a Centaur, it shares the milling feature upon entering the battlefield. What sets Balustrade Spy apart is its flying ability, offering a significant evasion advantage. Yet, it does not guarantee a fixed number of cards to mill and might, in certain cases, have a lesser impact than Returned Centaur’s consistent four-card mill.

Weighing the pros and cons of these graveyard-mechanic cards in gameplay, Returned Centaur holds its ground with reliable milling and decent combat presence, making it a solid choice for players who value the combination of board presence and strategy that involves utilizing their own graveyard.

Sibsig Host - MTG Card versions
Balustrade Spy - MTG Card versions
Sibsig Host - MTG Card versions
Balustrade Spy - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Returned Centaur comes with a mill effect, which can be a strategic play in MTG. Upon entering the battlefield, it sends the top four cards of your library into the graveyard. This can set up future plays, giving you access to powerful graveyard interactions and paving the way for reanimation strategies or threshold bonuses.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, Returned Centaur’s ability to populate the graveyard can be indirectly advantageous. It accelerates your strategy by helping meet conditions for Delve or other grave-based mechanics, effectively reducing the cost of spells that benefit from a stocked graveyard.

Instant Speed: Though it may not have instant speed itself, the mill effect it generates when cast can be crucial in response to opponents’ graveyard shuffles or in anticipation of your instant-speed graveyard retrieval spells. This preemptive setup allows you to be one step ahead when you pass the turn, essentially adding a layer of depth and surprise to your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Returned Centaur mandates that a player discards a card upon entering the battlefield. This can lead to card disadvantage, significantly if your hand is already depleted or the cards in hand are vital for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Reserved for black mana-specific decks, the Returned Centaur might not seamlessly fit into multi-color decks, limiting its versatility. Needing two black mana means it requires a firm commitment to that color, which could be restrictive during deck-building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two black mana, the Returned Centaur’s impact on the game may not correspond well with its cost, especially when other creatures or spells at a similar cost threshold offer greater value or have more impactful abilities.

Reasons to Include Returned Centaur in Your Collection

Versatility: Returned Centaur’s role as a 2/4 creature with a significant mill effect allows it to serve multiple purposes within your deck. Not only does it provide a decent defensive body to thwart attackers, but it also helps fill graveyards, an action beneficial for strategies revolving around graveyard synergies.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to mill four cards from the top of a player’s library into their graveyard makes it a fantastic enabler for any deck that capitalizes on graveyard interactions or threshold mechanics. It aligns perfectly with cards and abilities that activate or enhance when certain types of cards are present in a graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, Returned Centaur gains additional value. Its ability to fuel your own graveyard while disrupting your opponent’s deck composition can be a sly avenue to gaining the upper hand in matches that rely on intricate combos or reanimation tactics.

How to beat

The Returned Centaur is an intriguing creature card in MTG that brings much to the table in terms of graveyard tactics. Its ability when entering the battlefield to force a player to put the top four cards of their library into their graveyard can be a double-edged sword. To navigate against it, consider playing cards that benefit from a stocked graveyard. Utilize the presence of the Returned Centaur to your advantage. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can instantly exile an opponent’s graveyard, negating the utility of the Centaur’s ability for graveyard-based strategies.

In the realm of instant-speed interactions, keeping removal ready can ensure the Centaur’s impact is minimal. Cards like Murder or Path to Exile can dispatch it before its effect takes a significant toll on your strategy. Additionally, be mindful of the battlefield; don’t overextend if you suspect a Returned Centaur might be waiting in the wings. Playing a graveyard-hate card such as Rest in Peace could also nullify the Centaur’s strategy, keeping your library safe while disrupting your opponent’s game plan.

To summarize, defeating the Returned Centaur lies in utilizing graveyard synergies to your favor, reacting quickly to its presence, and incorporating graveyard disruption to curb your opponent’s advances.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Returned Centaur MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Magic Origins, 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 Returned Centaur and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Returned Centaur Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-27TherosTHS 1032003NormalBlackLucas Graciano
22015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 1162015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7542015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
42020-09-26The ListPLST ORI-1162015NormalBlackLucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Returned Centaur has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal