Grateful Apparition MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Flying,Proliferate
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Proactively fosters card advantage by proliferating counters on creatures and Planeswalkers when it deals combat damage.
  2. Enables resource acceleration in counter-focused decks, optimizing card interactions and advancing overall game plans.
  3. Though mana-specific and with a high-cost-to-stats ratio, its proliferate ability adds strategic value to appropriate decks.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Grateful Apparition deals combat damage to a player or planeswalker, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grateful Apparition’s proliferate ability when it deals combat damage to a player can effectively increase the number of counters on your permanents, such as Planeswalkers and creatures with +1/+1 counters. This can compound your onboard advantages and can be seen as an indirect way of drawing into more resources by bolstering what’s already in play.

Resource Acceleration: In decks built to utilize +1/+1 counters or loyalty counters, Grateful Apparition accelerates your game plan by giving an additional boost each time it connects with your opponent. This acceleration allows you to make your creatures bigger or utilize Planeswalker abilities sooner than you would be able to otherwise.

Instant Speed: Although Grateful Apparition doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, its ability to proliferate benefits from other instant-speed interactions. For example, playing instant-speed spells that add counters before damage is dealt can set the stage for an impactful proliferation, effectively interacting with the state of the board at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The nature of proliferate effects like the one from Grateful Apparition demands a strategic setup, often necessitating the discard of other cards to build synergies. Without other valuable counters on the field to proliferate, its ability might be less impactful, forcing players to sometimes discard cards that could be more immediately useful in a pinch.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked behind a white and colorless mana cost means that Grateful Apparition is inherently confined to decks that can produce these mana types. As a result, its inclusion might be restrictive or necessitate a more complex mana base, which could impact the overall consistency of the deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Grateful Apparition seems reasonable at first glance. However, its low starting stats paired with its reliance on synergy to be effective can render it a pricier investment when more immediately impactful two-mana creatures or utility spells are available for players to maximize their early game presence.


Reasons to Include Grateful Apparition in Your Collection

Versatility: Grateful Apparition’s ability to proliferate by dealing combat damage to a player makes it a seamless fit across various decks, especially those centered around +1/+1 counters or loyalty counters on planeswalkers.

Combo Potential: This spirit adds layers of synergy in strategies that multiply counters, setting up the potential for explosively increasing the power of your board with each successful attack.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where incremental advantage matters, Grateful Apparition can keep you one step ahead by consistently bolstering your forces, making it a worthwhile inclusion in your collection during such metagames.


How to Beat Grateful Apparition

Grateful Apparition is a unique creature in MTG that can quickly become a thorn in any opponent’s side due to its ability to proliferate – empowering your other cards with each successful attack. Despite its potential, overcoming this flying threat is possible with strategic plays. Key to dismantling Grateful Apparition’s advantage is to prevent it from connecting with a player. Employing flying blockers such as Healer’s Hawk, or cards with reach like Kraul Harpooner, can keep it grounded.

Another effective tactic is to use spot removals like Fatal Push or Shock, which can dispatch Grateful Apparition efficiently. Board wipes are also an option; a well-timed Cry of the Carnarium can clear the battlefield of this threat and others. The use of enchantments like Pacifism to neutralize its attacking capability without needing to remove it from play can also disrupt your opponent’s proliferate strategy. By employing these methods, players can mitigate the benefits that Grateful Apparition provides and maintain control over the match’s tempo.

Being proactive and keeping a watchful eye for the moment Grateful Apparition hits the board will ensure you’re ready to counter its proliferating presence, thus maintaining balance in the game and leading you towards victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic enhancement of your MTG decks pivots significantly on the inclusion of niche cards like the Grateful Apparition. Its ability to amplify the potency of your counters can be an incremental edge that leads to victory. Integrating this card effectively requires a thoughtful approach to creating synergy within your deck. Tailoring your deck to the Apparition’s strengths can transform it from a mere creature to a cornerstone of your strategy. If you’re intrigued by the idea of evolving your gameplay with well-placed counter manipulations, we encourage you to dive deeper with us. Together, let’s refine your deck-building skills and uncover the full potential of the Grateful Apparition in your MTG collection.


Cards like Grateful Apparition

Grateful Apparition is a unique creature in the realm of proliferate mechanics within Magic: The Gathering. It offers a distinct parallel to Thrummingbird, a card that also carries the proliferate ability. Both serve a similar purpose, enabling players to add additional counters of any kind to their permanents, which is a powerful strategy. However, Grateful Apparition allows for this effect with any damage to a player, unlike Thrummingbird which requires combat damage specifically.

Another card worthy of mention is the Skyship Plunderer. While it offers a related ability to adding extra counters, it’s limited to adding just one more counter when it deals combat damage to a player. This is more restrictive compared to the potentially unlimited proliferate ability of Grateful Apparition. Contentious Plan is a sorcery that proliferates as well but lacks the recurring usage and versatility of a creature like Grateful Apparition.

Overall, Grateful Apparition earns its place in decks that favor counter manipulation strategies. Its capacity to trigger proliferate repeatedly and through any form of damage makes it a formidable card for players looking to maximize the impact of their counters in Magic: The Gathering.

Thrummingbird - MTG Card versions
Skyship Plunderer - MTG Card versions
Contentious Plan - MTG Card versions
Thrummingbird - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Skyship Plunderer - Aether Revolt (AER)
Contentious Plan - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Grateful Apparition by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
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Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grateful Apparition MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and New Capenna Commander, 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 Grateful Apparition and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grateful Apparition Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Izzy.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 172015normalblackIzzy
22022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2022015normalblackIzzy
32023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 732015normalblackIzzy
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 8242015normalblackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grateful Apparition has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grateful Apparition card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2023-02-04 An ability that triggers "Whenever you proliferate" triggers even if you chose no permanents or players while doing so.
2023-02-04 If a permanent ever has both +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it at the same time, they're removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
2023-02-04 If a player or permanent has more than one kind of counter on it, and you choose for it to get additional counters, it must get one of each kind of counter it already has. You can't have it get just one kind of counter it already has and not the others.
2023-02-04 Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it's too late for anyone to respond.
2023-02-04 To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can choose any player who has a counter, including opponents. You can't choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
2023-02-04 You don't have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since "any number" includes zero, you don't have to choose any permanents at all, and you don't have to choose any players at all.

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