Summon Undead MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 151
2022-07-07 - Number 170
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Mill |
Text of card
You may mill three cards. Then return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. (To mill a card, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.)
The air itself shuddered at the wizard's words, and from the dark beyond, her call was answered.
Cards like Summon Undead
The Summon Undead card stands out in the lineup of reanimation spells in MTG. It’s akin to other cards such as Animate Dead, which also brings creatures back from the graveyard. Nonetheless, Summon Undead maintains its own unique flair by often requiring a higher mana investment but offering the additional versatility of pulling from multiple graveyards.
Another parallel can be drawn with Zombify. Both cards allow you to return a creature to the battlefield, but whereas Summon Undead offers more graveyard choices, Zombify limits its reach to your own graveyard and comes with a lower mana cost. Rise from the Grave is yet another similar spell that not only resurrects creatures but also turns them into Zombies, introducing a thematic twist to the mechanic.
To sum up, Summon Undead holds a solid position within the niche of reanimation spells in MTG. With its broader target selection and potential to shift the tide of a match, players often consider its cost a small price for the significant strategic advantage it brings to the game.
Cards similar to Summon Undead by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Summon Undead. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono Black Ponza | Pauper | 5° Tappa - Season 6 - Road to Paupergeddon Winter edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Summon Undead has the strategic benefit of bringing creatures back from the graveyard to the hand, enriching your tactical options and effectively increasing the number of resources at your disposal.
Resource Acceleration: By recovering key creatures with this spell, it sets the stage for more formidable plays in subsequent turns, thereby speeding up your in-game progression and potential for powerful moves.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Summon Undead can be cast at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action, preserving the element of surprise and providing flexibility in your strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To cast Summon Undead, you often need to pitch another card from your hand, which may put you at a card disadvantage. This trade-off can be particularly painful when your hand options are already scarce, affecting your gameplay negatively.
Specific Mana Cost: Summon Undead comes with a tailored mana cost that requires a particular combination of mana types. This specialized cost can restrict its integration into decks that don’t routinely generate that specific mana, potentially sidelining it in favor of more versatile spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the card’s efficiency, Summon Undead stands at a crossroads with a higher mana demand than some alternate choices. Considering the mana investment, players may find that this card’s output is not in proportion to its cost, leading them to opt for lower-cost alternatives offering similar or better utility.
Reasons to Include Summon Undead in Your Collection
Versatility: Summon Undead brings flexibility to your gameplay, capable of fitting into multiple deck archetypes. Consider it for decks that capitalize on graveyard mechanics or require a steady stream of creatures.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to reanimate creatures sets the stage for powerful combos. Whether you’re bringing back tactical creatures for repeat effects or high-powered monsters for a game finisher, its synergy with other cards is undeniable.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to thwart removal spells and board wipes by reusing your best creatures, Summon Undead proves itself as a strong contender in metas that favor long game strategies and creature-based decks.
How to Beat Summon Undead
Once your opponent casts Summon Undead, you’re facing an enemy with necromantic advantage. This card allows for a threatening creature return from the graveyard, crafting instant battlefield presence. It’s crucial to handle it with care to maintain your game’s integrity.
To disrupt this strategic maneuver, consider graveyard hate tactics. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can exile the target creature before its resurrection. Also, applying pressure on your adversary’s mana base can render Summon Undead’s higher casting cost a significant setback. Land destruction or counterspelling like Mana Leak can prevent the spell from resolving in the first place.
Further, having creatures with strong defensive capabilities or the ability to grant protection to your permanents, such as Mother of Runes, can nullify the impact of the resurrected threat. Finally, simply overextending on the board might not be the best approach against a deck wielding such potent reanimation spells. Instead, committing to a game plan of precise threat management and resilience will tip the scales back to your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Summon Undead MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, 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 Summon Undead 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
Printings
The Summon Undead Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by Dallas Williams.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dallas Williams | |
| 2 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 170 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dallas Williams |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Summon Undead has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Summon Undead card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-06-10 | If you have fewer than three cards in your library, you can't choose to mill any cards this way. |
| 2022-06-10 | You can return a creature card that you milled or one that was already in your graveyard. |
| 2022-06-10 | You return a creature card if there is one to return, even if you chose not to mill three cards. |