Strands of Undeath MTG Card


Grants sustained card flow, turning losses into hand replenishment opportunities, enhancing long game potential. Discourages enemy targeting, leading to board stability and effective resource conservation. Reanimation flexibility fosters creative play, while caveat of card discard demands judicious use.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature When Strands of Undeath comes into play, target player discards two cards. : Regenerate enchanted creature.

"Why limit yourself to mortal law when you can outlive those who enforce it?" —Czaric, Orzhov prelate


Cards like Strands of Undeath

Strands of Undeath stands as a unique spell within the realm of aura cards in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarities to cards such as Unholy Indenture, as both grant an avenue for reanimation upon the creature’s demise. Strands of Undeath offers the twist of card advantage, permitting the caster to draw two cards when it enters the battlefield. Unlike Unholy Indenture, it requires the discard of two cards, which may be a strategic advantage in graveyard-centric decks.

Examining other comparisons, Death’s Approach is another enchantment that weaves together the themes of decay and advantage. Though instead of reanimating or providing card flow, it presents a more removal-oriented approach by weakening opposing creatures based on the number of creatures in the controller’s graveyard. This is a stark contrast in utility when placed side by side with Strands of Undeath’s protective and card cycling benefits.

Overall, Strands of Undeath carves out its place in MTG as an enabler for decks that thrive on both shielding their important creatures and cycling through their deck swiftly to access crucial spells and graveyard synergies.

Unholy Indenture - MTG Card versions
Death's Approach - MTG Card versions
Unholy Indenture - MTG Card versions
Death's Approach - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Strands of Undeath by color, type and mana cost

Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Brink of Madness - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Strands of Undeath facilitates card flow by enabling the owner to return it from the graveyard to their hand when a creature is put into a graveyard from play. This reusable quality ensures a sustained card advantage over the course of the game, keeping your hand replenished.

Resource Acceleration: Equipping a creature with Strands of Undeath can deter opponents from targeting it with removal spells, effectively accelerating your resource preservation. The attached creature becomes a less attractive target, which can lead to a more stable board presence and resource management strategy.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Strands of Undeath can indirectly benefit from instant speed spells in your arsenal. By creating a threatening environment where any creature can become stronger and harder to kill, your opponents may hesitate to play spells on their turn, allowing you to capitalize on this delay with your own instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Strands of Undeath forces players to discard a card whenever it comes into play. This can be particularly taxing on your hand, especially when you’re playing a tight game where every card counts. It’s essential to weigh the benefit of the enchantment against the value of the cards you’re holding.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Strands of Undeath requires both black mana and generic mana, which means it’s exclusively suited for black or multicolor decks that can accommodate this. Players running decks without black mana won’t find this card useful, limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at a total of four mana, with two being black, it sits on the higher end of the mana curve for its effects. In the fast-paced landscape of modern play, a four-mana enchantment that doesn’t significantly impact the game immediately may not be the most mana-efficient play.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Strands of Undeath fits seamlessly into a variety of decks, particularly those centered around control or graveyard mechanics. Its ability to provide creature protection and card advantage makes it a flexible tool in many game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card allows for interesting combinations, such as reusing creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects or enabling discard strategies to set up powerful graveyard-based plays.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-present threat of removal in most metagames, Strands of Undeath can be a key component in safeguarding pivotal creatures, simultaneously disrupting opponents’ hands and preserving your board state.


How to beat

Commanding the battlefield against Strands of Undeath can be challenging in MTG due to its ability to turn an ordinary creature into a regenerating threat while refilling a player’s hand. To counter this enchantment, players should consider including versatile removal spells in their deck that can target both creatures and enchantments. Cards like Disenchant, that can remove Strands of Undeath directly, minimize the card advantage it can provide. Additionally, graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus can preemptively stop the regeneration capability by removing cards from the graveyard. Strategies to overpower the enchanted creature with removal spells like Doom Blade or board wipes should also be employed to ensure the creature doesn’t get multiple uses out of its newfound resilience. Considering removal cards that can bypass regeneration such as exile effects, will make sure the creature enhanced by Strands of Undeath is permanently dealt with, neutralizing potential threats and maintaining a balance in the battlefield. Keep the gameplay tight, prepare for the unease Strands of Undeath brings, and you’ll hold the upper hand against these dark filaments.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Strands of Undeath MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Double Masters 2022, 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 Strands of Undeath and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Strands of Undeath Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Dave Allsop.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 1082003NormalBlackDave Allsop
22022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 922015NormalBlackDave Allsop

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Strands of Undeath has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal