Young Necromancer MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 110
2021-08-26 - Number 406
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Warlock |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Young Necromancer enters the battlefield, you may exile two cards from your graveyard. When you do, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
"Who needs imaginary friends when you've got dead ones?"
Cards like Young Necromancer
The Young Necromancer emerges as a potent option for graveyard manipulation in Magic: The Gathering. Drawing parallels with other creature cards such as Animate Dead, both invigorate the battlefield by resurrecting fallen creatures. However, the Young Necromancer allows you to reanimate directly onto the battlefield, in contrast to Animate Dead which attaches as an Aura. This distinction can be crucial in dodging removal spells that target enchantments.
Another peer in the realm of death and rebirth is Doomed Necromancer. While bearing resemblance in effect, offering creature revival from the graveyard, Doomed Necromancer requires a sacrifice as part of its activation cost, which isn’t the case with the Young Necromancer. Moreover, Doomed Necromancer brings creatures back tapped, whereas Young Necromancer does not impose such restrictions.
Juxtaposing these options reveals that Young Necromancer, albeit at a higher mana cost, provides a straightforward and immediate impact. It’s a versatile card that fits into various strategies, valuing speed and ease of use over other more complex or conditional reanimation spells in Magic: The Gathering’s vast pool of resurrection spells.
Cards similar to Young Necromancer by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Young Necromancer. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rakdos Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Grixis Reanimator | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
 | Four-color Combo | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Young Necromancer enables the revival of a creature card from the graveyard, essentially working as a form of card advantage as it brings resources back into play that were previously considered expended.
Resource Acceleration: Though this card doesn’t directly produce additional mana, resurrecting a creature with intrinsic value or a mana-producing ability can significantly accelerate your resource availability on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: Young Necromancer operates at sorcery speed, but its strategic use may align with instant-speed goals. By timing the revival of a creature with flash or one that disrupts the opponent’s turn, the effect it has can be equated to instant speed plays, making it a valuable asset during key game moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing the Young Necromancer requires a sacrifice beyond the mana you tap. You’re compelled to discard another card which might lead to a depleted hand, hampering your ability to respond to an opponent’s threats or severely limiting your strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost demands specific resources—both black and red—restricting it to decks that can reliably produce both types of mana. This narrows the field of decks where the Young Necromancer can effectively be played and may require deck builders to adjust their mana bases accordingly.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its combined four mana—two of which are colored—makes the Young Necromancer a card that you can’t cast until the mid-game. In environments where speed is crucial, this delay can be a significant disadvantage, especially when other lower-cost cards could provide a similar or faster impact to the game state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Young Necromancer card is a flexible addition to any black-themed deck, providing a strategic edge for players who appreciate resurrecting key creatures from the graveyard.
Combo Potential: With its ability to bring creatures back to the battlefield, Young Necromancer works brilliantly in combo decks that rely on synergies between graveyard mechanics and on-field play.
Meta-Relevance: As graveyard-based strategies have a strong presence in the current meta, adding Young Necromancer to your deck ensures that you are able to keep pace with prevalent gaming trends and enhance your win conditions.
How to beat
Young Necromancer emerges as an intriguing creature card for players who favor a reanimation strategy in Magic: The Gathering. This spell enables one to return a creature card from the graveyard to the battlefield, which can be a game-changing ability. It is especially potent in decks built around synergizing with the graveyard. However, to maximize your chances against Young Necromancer, it’s important to focus on graveyard disruption and creature control.
Considering strategic counterplay, cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenger Grounds are immensely effective. These cards can exile graveyard contents, undercutting the Necromancer’s main strength. Tackling the Young Necromancer directly can also be done through removal spells such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider. By preemptively removing the target creature from the graveyard or dealing with the necromancer quickly, you minimize the chance of a formidable creature making a comeback.
Ultimately, recognizing Young Necromancer’s role within the broader MTG gameplay and having a plan to address it is key. Whether employing disruption or removal, the best strategy involves staying one step ahead of the recursion tactics that the Young Necromancer represents.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Young Necromancer MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Young Necromancer 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 Young Necromancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Paul Scott Canavan.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 110 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paul Scott Canavan | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 406 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paul Scott Canavan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Young Necromancer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Young Necromancer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | Young Necromancer's reflexive triggered ability (the one that returns a card to the battlefield) triggers when you exile two cards from your graveyard. Players may respond to that ability before the card is returned. |