Grixis Slavedriver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Giant
Abilities Unearth
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates a 2/2 zombie token upon departure, maintaining field presence despite removal actions against it.
  2. Unearth ability grants additional value, making it a resilient threat in the late game stages.
  3. Flexible deployment using unearth can lead to surprise plays, disrupting an opponent’s strategy.

Text of card

When Grixis Slavedriver leaves play, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token into play. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grixis Slavedriver is a powerhouse when it comes to card advantage. Upon leaving the battlefield, it creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token, essentially replacing itself and maintaining your board presence. This ability provides essential value, ensuring that even if your opponent deals with the threat, you’re not left empty-handed.

Resource Acceleration: Entering the battlefield with Unearth, Grixis Slavedriver can be brought back from the graveyard for a one-time encore, giving you the chance to reap additional benefits. This not only gives you another creature token when it leaves the battlefield again but also accelerates your resources by squeezing out more value from a single card.

Instant Speed: Although the card itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its Unearth ability can be utilized at the end of your opponent’s turn, which can be strategically advantageous. This sneak attack can surprise an unprepared opponent and potentially swing the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The ability of Grixis Slavedriver that triggers upon leaving the battlefield requires the player to discard a card to reap the rewards, putting those who are already short on hand advantage in a precarious position.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a blend of blue, black, and red mana, this card demands a dedicated mana base, which may restrict its inclusion to strictly Grixis or multicolored decks, and not fit seamlessly into others.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that totals six mana, including three specific colors, Grixis Slavedriver can be a heavy investment. Players might encounter situations where summoning this creature can delay more aggressive play or more cost-effective creatures with similar or better abilities could be played instead.


Reasons to Include Grixis Slavedriver in Your Collection

Versatility: Grixis Slavedriver is a card that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of decks, particularly those focused on zombie tribal themes or strategies that leverage graveyard mechanics. Its ability to create a 2/2 zombie creature token when it leaves the battlefield means it serves more than a single function during gameplay.

Combo Potential: The leaving-the-battlefield effect sparks synergy with sacrifice outlets and graveyard retrieval, opening up opportunities for combo plays. You can recur Grixis Slavedriver from the graveyard to consistently generate zombie tokens, enhancing strategies where creature presence equates to power.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board control and resilience against removal are prized, Grixis Slavedriver finds its niche. It shines in metas where attrition wars are common and where every creature’s value and endurance can tip the scales in your favor.


How to beat

Grixis Slavedriver is an intriguing creature card that brings a unique twist to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Facing this undead minion can be tricky due to its unearth ability, allowing it to return to the fray even after being dealt with. However, there are certain strategies you can deploy to dismantle its advantages. Removal spells such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can exile it, ensuring it doesn’t get a second wind from the graveyard. It’s also worth considering graveyard disruption tools like Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void which can keep the Slavedriver and others like it in check, preventing the unearth mechanic from being utilized.

Tactical creature blocking can also be effective. Since the Grixis Slavedriver lacks trample, putting up a significant blocker can mitigate the damage it deals. When it comes to combat, calculate the risk of its zombie token generation upon death and plan your moves accordingly. By employing these methods and maintaining control over the board state, neutralizing the impact of the Grixis Slavedriver becomes a manageable task, preserving your standing in the game.


Cards like Grixis Slavedriver

The Grixis Slavedriver embodies the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering with its unique mechanics. This formidable creature mirrors the resurrection ability found in creatures like Undead Gladiator. Both cards allow players to wield the power of their graveyard by returning them to the battlefield or hand under certain conditions. Grixis Slavedriver, however, ups the game by creating a 2/2 black Zombie creature token when it leaves the battlefield, which is an added benefit not seen in the abilities of Undead Gladiator.

Exploring further, the Gutterbones stands as another comparable card, offering a recurring threat from the graveyard. While both Gutterbones and Grixis Slavedriver can be returned from the graveyard, the Slavedriver’s higher casting cost is balanced out by the additional Zombie token, providing not just one but potentially two threats. Lastly, the Dead Reveler is a viable comparison, as the card also dips into the aspect of using the graveyard with its Unleash mechanic, yet it doesn’t match the Slavedriver’s ability to extend its influence beyond its own presence on the board.

Ultimately, within the realm of graveyard-utilizing creatures, Grixis Slavedriver stands as a compelling option for its dual capacity to serve as both an offensive presence and a token generator, marking its distinctive place in the meta. This gives the Slavedriver a solid position among similar MTG cards focused on graveyard synergy and tactical creature play.

Undead Gladiator - MTG Card versions
Gutterbones - MTG Card versions
Dead Reveler - MTG Card versions
Undead Gladiator - Onslaught (ONS)
Gutterbones - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Dead Reveler - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Grixis Slavedriver by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Demonic Hordes - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Lancer - MTG Card versions
Face of Fear - MTG Card versions
Wire Surgeons - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions
Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions
Anurid Murkdiver - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Nefashu - MTG Card versions
Twisted Abomination - MTG Card versions
Iname, Death Aspect - MTG Card versions
Deathcurse Ogre - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth Demon - MTG Card versions
Ascendant Evincar - MTG Card versions
Bog Hoodlums - MTG Card versions
Helldozer - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Demonic Hordes - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Necrosavant - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Dakmor Lancer - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Face of Fear - Odyssey (ODY)
Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Grave Titan - Fallout (PIP)
Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)
Anurid Murkdiver - Onslaught (ONS)
Gempalm Polluter - Legions (LGN)
Nefashu - Scourge (SCG)
Twisted Abomination - Scourge (SCG)
Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Deathcurse Ogre - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Yawgmoth Demon - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ascendant Evincar - Tenth Edition (10E)
Bog Hoodlums - Lorwyn (LRW)
Helldozer - Planechase (HOP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grixis Slavedriver MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Grixis Slavedriver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grixis Slavedriver Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 462003normalblackDave Kendall
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 742015normalblackDave Kendall
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6802015normalblackDave Kendall
42020-09-26The ListPLST MM3-742015normalblackDave Kendall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grixis Slavedriver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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