Undead Servant MTG Card
2015-07-17 - Number 124
2019-07-12 - Number 118
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Undead Servant enters the battlefield, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield for each card named Undead Servant in your graveyard.
"Get up. You're not finished yet." —Liliana Vess
Cards like Undead Servant
Undead Servant injects strategy into deck building in MTG with the idea of multiplying value through creatures in the graveyard. Comparable to other cards that thrive on the undead, like Stitcher’s Apprentice, Undead Servant benefits from having numerous copies in the graveyard to create a sprawling army of tokens. While Stitcher’s Apprentice focusses on a single creature at a time, Undead Servant has the potential for a wider impact with each cast.
Delving further, we see Gravecrawler offering a relentless threat that can be summoned from the graveyard as long as you control another Zombie. Unlike Gravecrawler, Undead Servant doesn’t make its return to the battlefield but fortifies your army with 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens instead. Meanwhile, Skaab Goliath provides a more substantial one-shot impact by requiring you to exile two creatures from your graveyard but rewards you with a beefy creature with additional abilities which Undead Servant lacks.
In essence, while each of these cards brings a different edge to a Zombie-themed deck, the ability of Undead Servant to produce multiple tokens makes it a strong option in a self-milling or graveyard-centric gameplay, creating substantial board presence and value in longer games.
Cards similar to Undead Servant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Undead Servant shines by producing multiple 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens when it enters the battlefield, correlating with the number of copies in the graveyard. This generates a significant advantage, bolstering your army with each cast.
Resource Acceleration: While Undead Servant itself does not directly provide mana or resource acceleration, its synergistic nature with graveyard mechanics can lead to accelerated gameplay. Integrating with self-mill strategies or discard effects enriches your graveyard, speedily amassing a host of Zombies to overrun opponents.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Undead Servant can complement instant-speed interactions. The Zombies it creates enable surprise blocks or become fodder for instant-speed sacrifice effects, turning the tide of a match in your favor without warning.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Undead Servant often requires you to have a copy of it in your graveyard to maximize its potential. This could force premature discards, hindering your hand’s flexibility.
Specific Mana Cost: Undead Servant demands both generic and black mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks, potentially restricting its inclusion only to mono-black or decks with a heavy black presence.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Undead Servant competes with other impactful cards in the same cost bracket. Without an established graveyard presence, you might find its impact on the game limited, considering the investment.
Reasons to Include Undead Servant in Your Collection
Versatility: Undead Servant shines in decks that focus on creature recursion and sacrifice strategies. Its ability to generate multiple bodies makes it a valuable asset in decks that need fodder for various effects or simply seek to outnumber opponents with creatures.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that care about the number of creatures entering the graveyard or the battlefield, Undead Servant can become a significant part of an engine that generates value or ends games. Think of the synergies with cards like “Gravecrawler” for recurring zombie themes, or with “Altar of Dementia” for a potent mill strategy.
Meta-Relevance: If zombies are particularly relevant or there’s a prevalence of strategies that can take advantage of repeatable creature effects, then incorporating Undead Servant into your deck could give you an edge. It’s especially good in metas where attrition and resource grinding overshadow quick wins.
How to beat
Undead Servant is a card that makes its presence felt with an interesting mechanic in the realm of MTG. It comes to play in multiples, where each copy beyond the first becomes incrementally more beneficial, as they bring accompanying 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens. This inherent strength, rooted in its alliance with graveyard strategy, can be somewhat deceptive as it convinces players to heavily invest in a single card type.
To counteract this strategy, effective graveyard disruption is key. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can eliminate the accumulated Undead Servants before they can inundate the board. Similarly, playing with instant-speed removal or board wipes such as Wrath of God can handle the generated tokens, keeping the battlefield clear. Exile effects are especially potent against strategies reliant on recursion, ensuring that those servants stay in their graves for good.
By leveraging disruption and maintaining board control, a strategic player can mitigate the impact of Undead Servant and turn the tide. Don’t be fooled by the potential snowballing power of the undead; with the right tools, you can keep the horde in check and press the advantage in this strategic card game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Undead Servant MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Core Set 2020, 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 Undead Servant 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
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Printings
The Undead Servant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by James Zapata.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 124 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Zapata | |
| 2 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Zapata |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Undead Servant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Undead Servant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-07-12 | Count the number of Undead Servants in your graveyard as the ability resolves to determine how many tokens to put onto the battlefield. If Undead Servant dies in response to its own triggered ability and is in your graveyard as that ability resolves, it will count toward the number of Zombies you get. |