Rimebound Dead MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Snow Creature — Skeleton
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	69
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Kendall

Key Takeaways

Rimebound Dead offers card advantage by deterring attacks and persisting on the battlefield.
Its instant speed regeneration provides tactical defense during combat.
The card serves well in snow-themed or control-oriented MTG decks.

Text of card

{S}: Regenerate Rimebound Dead. ({S} can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)

"Tresserhorn is ours now. Dredge the lake and bring me all the bones you find. We'll build you a new army, the likes of which Terisiare has never seen." —Heidar, Rimewind master, to Haakon

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rimebound Dead’s persistency on the battlefield can deter opponents from attacking, potentially leading to a scenario where you are drawing cards each turn while your opponent’s progress is stalled.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly affecting mana resources, Rimebound Dead’s low casting cost allows you to deploy other spells sooner, effectively accelerating your resource allocation and board development.

Instant Speed: The regeneration ability of Rimebound Dead can be utilized at instant speed, offering a tactical advantage by ensuring your defenses remain up even during the heat of combat on your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To engage its regenerate ability, Rimebound Dead asks you to part with another card from your hand. This can create a difficult situation in close games where every card in hand is crucial and depleting your resources may lead to a disadvantage further down the line.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires a specifically snow mana, which can sometimes be a hurdle. In environments or metas where snow lands are less prevalent or if the deck isn’t built to accommodate snow mana, Rimebound Dead’s inclusion might be more cumbersome, limiting its versatility outside snow-heavy decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the initial casting cost might seem low, the recurring mana investment to utilize its regeneration can add up over time. For a one-power creature, consistently allocating mana can decrease efficiency, especially when facing a board where stronger creatures or more impactful plays are common.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rimebound Dead showcases its flexibility by being an ideal inclusion in snow-themed or control-oriented decks. Its snow subtype allows for synergies with other cards relying on snow mechanics. Furthermore, as a one-drop with regenerate, it can consistently defend your life total early on.

Combo Potential: With its ability to regenerate, Rimebound Dead can act as a recurring component in sacrificial combos. Its resilience on the battlefield makes it a reliable asset for strategies that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that favors aggressive and creature-heavy decks, having Rimebound Dead can serve as a crucial line of defense. Its ability to regenerate makes it a stubborn obstacle for opponents, potentially disrupting their tempo and allowing you to stabilize the board.

How to beat

Rimebound Dead might seem intimidating with its immortality on snowy terrain, but this stalwart skeleton from Magic: The Gathering can be outplayed with ease. Its snow-centric regeneration ability means that to effectively counter this creature, you should focus on removing the snow-covered lands from play, or casting spells that avoid regeneration such as Wrath of God, which can clear the board without providing the opportunity to regenerate.

If you’re not big on mass removal, another way to deal with the Rimebound Dead is to use exile effects. Cards like Path to Exile, for example, are perfect as they bypass the regeneration ability entirely. Alternatively, consider running cards like Grafdigger’s Cage to prevent it from being summoned back from the graveyard, effectively sealing the dead in their icy tomb for good.

Lastly, remember the importance of timing. Regeneration abilities can only be used once per turn and only if the creature is still on the battlefield. With this in mind, attacking your opponent with overwhelming force or using removal spells during a time when they can’t regenerate can seal your victory against the undead revenant.

Cards like Rimebound Dead

Rimebound Dead stands as a distinctive choice among the army of undead creatures in Magic: The Gathering. The snow creature shares traits with other one-mana skeletons like Reassembling Skeleton. Although Reassembling Skeleton also can return from the graveyard, it requires a mana investment, whereas Rimebound Dead can regenerate for just a single snow mana, showcasing its resilience.

Another similar card is Drudge Skeletons. With the same cost for regeneration, Drudge Skeletons lack the snow synergy that Rimebound Dead offers. This snow synergy is particularly relevant in decks designed to take advantage of snow mechanics. Frostwalla, although not a skeleton, also merits mention for its snow-themed abilities. However, the focus of Frostwalla is on offense with its power-boosting ability rather than defense and regeneration like Rimebound Dead.

Consequently, for players looking to leverage snow synergies and require a durable defensive option, Rimebound Dead stands out. Its ability to consistently thwart attacks and serve as a strategic chump blocker can prove invaluable, especially in decks centered around snow mechanics and themes within the game of Magic: The Gathering.

Reassembling Skeleton - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rimebound Dead by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions

Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions

Champion of the Perished - MTG Card versions

Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rimebound Dead MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Rimebound Dead and other MTG cards: