Walking Corpse MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 126
2012-07-13 - Number 116
2014-07-18 - Number 278
2016-04-08 - Number 10
2018-07-13 - Number 126
2019-07-12 - Number 327
2019-11-07 - Number 819
2020-07-03 - Number 128
2020-09-26 - Number M19-126
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Cards like Walking Corpse
The Walking Corpse steps into the arena as a straightforward creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering a simple yet effective way to fill the board with zombies. Analyzing its parallels, we see the likes of Dregscape Zombie, also a 2/2 creature with no abilities, but with unearth, giving it a potential one-time bonus effect post-death. Unlike this nuanced ability, Walking Corpse relies on nothing more than its base stats — resilience in its simplicity.
Similarly, Gutterbones enters the comparison as another two-cost 2/1 zombie. The main contrast here is its recursion ability, allowing it to rise back from the graveyard to your hand, albeit with specific conditions. This additional feature gives Gutterbones a higher potential upside compared to our straightforward undead friend, Walking Corpse, which lacks any form of comeback mechanic.
In essence, while Walking Corpse doesn’t boast any special features, its steadiness as a zombie creature card ensures its place in decks based on pure aggression or tribal synergies. It’s a reliable piece that serves certain gameplay strategies without the complexity of additional effects or conditions.
Cards similar to Walking Corpse by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Walking Corpse may not directly provide card draw, its presence in a deck can contribute to strategies focused on graveyard synergy. Its type as a zombie is beneficial in setups that exploit the resurrection of creatures from the graveyard, indirectly offering card advantage by recycling assets.
Resource Acceleration: Walking Corpse is a cost-effective creature that can be played early in the game. This two-mana creature slots seamlessly into a curve, enabling a swift establishment of board presence which can lead to a greater resource impact as the match progresses.
Instant Speed: Although Walking Corpse is a sorcery-speed card, its relevance comes from how effectively it can support decks with instant speed interaction. While not an instant itself, it demands little mana investment, allowing players to retain mana for instant speed removal, counterspells, or combat tricks elsewhere in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This creature card does not have an inherent discard requirement, adding value for decks utilizing graveyard strategies. However, without additional discard outlets or mechanics, it doesn’t directly contribute to such strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Walking Corpse comes with a specific mana cost requirement of one black mana and one generic mana, potentially restricting its seamless inclusion in multi-colored decks that do not prioritize black mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering it is a simple 2/2 creature with no abilities, Walking Corpse’s mana cost is on par with many other two-mana creatures. However, in a game where efficiency can be critical, there are alternatives offering additional benefits such as lifelink, deathtouch, or flying for a similar cost.
Reasons to Include Walking Corpse in Your Collection
Versatility: Walking Corpse stands out as an efficient creature for any black deck. It’s simplicity makes it easy to slot into various deck archetypes, from aggressive zombie tribal decks to those that require a steady stream of creatures for sacrifice and other synergies.
Combo Potential: As a zombie, Walking Corpse seamlessly integrates with cards that benefit from zombie-type synergies. It can bolster the strength of other zombie creatures or work in tandem with cards like “Death Baron” to create a tough battlefield presence.
Meta-Relevance: Walking Corpse holds value in a meta that favors quick, aggressive plays. Its low casting cost allows you to maintain tempo and pressure on your opponent while setting up for more powerful plays in the mid to late game.
How to beat
Walking Corpse stands as a standard creature card commonly used in MTG decks that focus on zombie synergies or as an early game presence. Its simplistic nature, being a 2/2 creature for two mana, makes it approachable yet manageable. To counteract this zombie’s impact on the board, players can employ several strategies.
First and foremost, creatures with toughness greater than two can wall off Walking Corpse effectively, preventing it from dealing damage through combat. Removal spells are also an excellent way to dispatch it; even basic ones like Shock or Fatal Push can easily take it down due to its modest stats. Additionally, since Walking Corpse doesn’t possess any intrinsic abilities that would complicate its removal, the card offers a straightforward target for spells or abilities that could exile it from the game or force a discard before it hits the battlefield, disrupting the opponent’s creature flow.
Enhancements that prevent creature damage or grant your creatures indestructibility for a turn can nullify this zombie’s combat relevance. Strategic blocking and instant-speed spells to alter combat outcomes are key when facing down Walking Corpse. Therefore, while it may be an efficient creature for its cost, Walking Corpse is easily outclassed and controlled with basic defensive measures and tactics in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Walking Corpse MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Magic 2013, 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 Walking Corpse 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 Walking Corpse Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 126 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 2 | 2012-07-13 | Magic 2013 | M13 | 116 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 3 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 278 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 4 | 2016-04-08 | Welcome Deck 2016 | W16 | 10 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 5 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 126 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 6 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 327 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 7 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 819 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 8 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 128 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 9 | The List | PLST | M19-126 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Walking Corpse 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 |