Yoke of the Damned MTG Card
2009-02-06 - Number 57
2012-09-07 - Number 68
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature When a creature is put into a graveyard from play, destroy enchanted creature.
The demon's yoke is part leash, part noose.
Cards like Yoke of the Damned
Yoke of the Damned reveals its unique place within Magic: The Gathering’s array of removal spells. It’s interesting to look at it alongside other black removal cards, such as Doom Blade or Go for the Throat. Doom Blade stands out with its immediate creature destruction for a low cost but cannot target black creatures. Yoke of the Damned, in contrast, demands a death trigger to activate, offering a delayed yet inevitable demise for any creature without color restriction.
Another card worth mentioning is Murder, a straightforward spell that eliminates a target creature for three mana at instant speed. While it offers a more immediate and unrestricted solution, Yoke of the Damned can set up strategic plays, triggering with board wipes or in creature-heavy matchups. Dark Banishing is also similar in its removal capabilities; however, it avoids the nonblack condition seen with Doom Blade but doesn’t allow the flexibility of Yoke of the Damned’s death trigger approach.
Each of these cards has its merit and utility, and Yoke of the Damned finds its niche for players who can manipulate the battlefield to their advantage, ensuring the removal takes place at a potentially most opportunistic moment. This aspect can make it a valuable tool in the right deck strategy.
Cards similar to Yoke of the Damned by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When cast, Yoke of the Damned functions as a removal spell, effectively dealing with a problematic creature on the board. This can potentially contribute to card advantage, as one card trades for an opponent’s possibly more valuable card, tipping the balance in your favor during a game.
Resource Acceleration: Unlike direct removal spells that require immediate mana investment, Yoke of the Damned can be set as a deterrent on the field, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere. It triggers once a creature you control is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, which can align with your strategy to execute more game actions with available mana.
Instant Speed: Despite being an enchantment, the triggered ability of Yoke of the Damned operates at instant speed. Once in place, the next creature death instantly triggers its effect, destroying a target creature an opponent controls. This means that it can disrupt your opponent’s plans at a critical moment, without the need to reserve mana as you would for an instant, making it a stealthier form of board control.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Yoke of the Damned doesn’t ask for a card to be discarded as part of its casting, players must find alternative ways to trigger its effect which can be less predictable and more resource-intensive to execute.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires one black mana, which restricts it to black-inclusive decks and can disrupt the mana curve in multicolored builds when trying to meet its casting demands.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though its initial cost might seem affordable, Yoke of the Damned needs a creature to die to trigger its ability, which might require extra steps and resources, potentially slowing down your game plan when faster removal options are available.
Reasons to Include Yoke of the Damned in Your Collection
Versatility: Yoke of the Damned can serve as a useful control tool in a variety of black decks. Its ability to destroy a creature when another creature dies makes it flexible for both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: This removal spell pairs well with cards that allow you to sacrifice your own creatures for value or with effects that force opponents to sacrifice creatures, creating a controlled board state while eliminating key threats from the opposing side.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames dominated by creature-based strategies, having efficient removal spells is crucial. Yoke of the Damned becomes a handy piece of interruption against decks that rely on committing creatures to the board, therefore remaining relevant in various competitive scenes.
How to beat
Yoke of the Damned is a removal spell that uniquely targets creatures by marking them for destruction upon their controller’s next creature death. It’s a spell that can force tough decisions and complicate board states in the game. Imagine it as a ticking time bomb placed on a formidable creature, creating a strategic puzzle for its controller who must navigate the game carefully to avoid unintended casualties. Yoke of the Damned presents an indirect threat, distinguishing it from straightforward removal spells that instantly dispatch creatures without delay. Its deferred effect can be both a challenge and an opportunity depending on the situation.
To effectively outmaneuver Yoke of the Damned, players can employ several strategies. Sacrificial tactics, for instance, using lesser creatures as pawns to trigger the enchantment’s effect safely, can be particularly effective. This approach minimizes losses by maintaining control of which creature Yoke of the Damned ultimately condemns. Additionally, spells that protect from targeted abilities or remove enchantments entirely, like Disenchant or Naturalize, can effortlessly neutralize the yoke’s looming threat by preemptively removing it from the battlefield.
Overall, while Yoke of the Damned may alter the pace and tactics within a match, understanding and foreseeing its potential impact, paired with a solid strategy, can turn what seems like a disadvantage into a surmountable challenge. By staying one step ahead of the yoke’s influence, players can assert control over the game’s outcome.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Yoke of the Damned MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari, 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 Yoke of the Damned and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Yoke of the Damned Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2012-09-07. Illustrated by Paul Bonner.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-02-06 | Conflux | CON | 57 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 2 | 2012-09-07 | Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari | DDJ | 68 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Yoke of the Damned has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |