Omen of the Dead MTG Card


Omen of the Dead - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Scry, Flash
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Number110
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byPiotr Dura

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient graveyard recursion grants strategic creature plays, bolstering your deck’s resilience and adaptability.
  2. Acts as a repeated resource accelerator, getting the most out of every creature card.
  3. Instant-speed casting provides surprise and control over the flow of the game.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash When Omen of the Dead enters the battlefield, return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. , Sacrifice Omen of the Dead: Scry 2.

"My time will come, when life's frantic striving will fade into the boundless quiet of death."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Omen of the Dead shines when it comes to retrieving key creatures from your graveyard. This sets you up to orchestrate your plays more strategically, ensuring that you have the pieces you need when you need them. It essentially acts as a draw mechanism specifically tailored for creatures which can be pivotal in a well-crafted deck.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to recurrently make use of creatures, Omen of the Dead also serves as a form of resource acceleration. You gain more utility out of a single card, which can be seen as a way to stretch your resources further for prolonged efficiency over the course of the game.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Omen of the Dead at instant speed equips you with the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves. You can bide your time and choose the most opportune moment to bring a creature back, perhaps at the end of your opponent’s turn, to maximize surprise and momentum on your side of the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Omen of the Dead requires an available creature card in your graveyard to activate its main ability, pressuring you to have a stocked graveyard, which can be challenging early in the game or against graveyard disruption strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a specific mana requirement that includes black mana, which can be restrictive and demands a place in predominantly black or two-color decks that can consistently provide black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Omen of the Dead is an inexpensive spell, its cost to benefit ratio might be considered high for its effect. In a format where tempo is crucial, other cards could provide more immediate and versatile board impact for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Omen of the Dead brings flexible options for deck builders, fitting perfectly in black-centered decks that thrive on creature recursion.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders with sacrifice strategies, letting you bring creatures back for repeatable effects or as fodder for various combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature removal is common, Omen of the Dead stands out by giving you a way to consistently recover key creatures and maintain board presence.


How to Beat Omen of the Dead

Omen of the Dead is a common yet potent card that can certainly influence the state of play in Magic: The Gathering. Its main appeal lies in its ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, providing a recurring advantage. Omen’s versatility is further enhanced by its enchantment type, granting the possibility of multiple uses thanks to its sacrifice mechanic that can scry 2.

To effectively counter Omen of the Dead, players should focus on strategies that limit graveyard interactions. Employing cards that exile cards from graveyards prevents the Omen from reclaiming its fallen comrades. Graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void can efficiently neutralize its effect. Alternatively, enchantment removal spells like Disenchant can remove Omen of the Dead from the battlefield before its benefit can be fully realized.

Understanding the value of Omen of the Dead within graveyard-centric decks is crucial. Still, with the right counters in place, one can diminish its impact, maintaining a tactical edge during gameplay. Remember, removing key components of an opponent’s strategy can often lead to victory, and dealing with cards like Omen of the Dead is no different.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the strategic depths of MTG, it’s evident that certain cards like Omen of the Dead can be game-changers, offering significant tactical advantages through creature recursion and deck resilience. As you look to refine your gameplay and construct a deck poised for victory, considering how cards like Omen of the Dead can complement your strategy is pivotal. Characterized by its ability to retrieve creatures at instant speed and the flexibility it brings to the table, it’s a strong contender for inclusion in any black-centered strategy. To dive deeper into the synergies and deck-building opportunities Omen of the Dead offers, continue your journey with us and discover the full potential of your MTG arsenal.


Cards like Omen of the Dead

Omen of the Dead pulls weight in any Magic: The Gathering strategy geared towards recursive playability. Its closest comparison might be to the card Disentomb, which also serves the purpose of returning a creature card from the graveyard to its owner’s hand. Omen of the Dead has an added advantage of carrying the enchantment tag, allowing it to be flashed back later, providing extended utility over time.

Gravedigger is another relative in the realm of creature retrieval. This creature brings with it a body on the battlefield in addition to its function. While Gravedigger offers immediate board presence, Omen of the Dead stands out with its lower casting cost and potential for repeated activation. Eternal Witness also shares thematic ties, offering the possibility to retrieve any card type from the graveyard, but at an often higher cost and without the repeatable nature of Omen.

When examining these counterparts alongside Omen of the Dead, this particular enchantment shines through as a more flexible and efficient option for recurring creatures, highlighting its value as a tactical piece in graveyard-centric decks.

Disentomb - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Disentomb - Magic 2010 (M10)
Gravedigger - Portal (POR)
Eternal Witness - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Omen of the Dead MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Omen of the Dead and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Omen of the Dead has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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