Accursed Horde MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Accursed Horde enhances zombie decks with instant indestructibility, deterring opponents’ removal strategies.
  2. Mana cost and discard requirements limit deck-building flexibility, favoring dedicated zombie strategies.
  3. Though outshined by some, its unique protection ability solidifies Accursed Horde as a tactical inclusion.

Text of card

: Target attacking Zombie gains indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it. If its toughness is 0 or less, it's still put into its owner's graveyard.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Accursed Horde provides a strategic edge by offering the potential for repeated use of activated abilities, particularly in a zombie-themed deck. This can lead to card advantage as it forces your opponent to deal with multiple threats using fewer resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your resource pool, Accursed Horde adds value to the creatures you control by giving you the ability to protect your key zombies. Efficient use of this ability can accelerate your board state’s resilience, indirectly translating to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Accursed Horde’s effect at instant speed is a significant strategic advantage. It allows you to make decisions based on your opponent’s actions during their turn, potentially saving your zombies from removal spells or ensuring their survival through combat encounters.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Accursed Horde demands that you always be prepared to let go of a card in your hand to utilize its ability. In high-pressure situations with dwindling cards, this can become a costly necessity, potentially putting you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Deckbuilding with Accursed Horde requires careful consideration, as its casting cost asks for both colorless and black mana. This specificity narrows deck options, ensuring it finds a place primarily in black or zombie-themed decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana (3 colorless, 1 black), Accursed Horde sits at a higher bracket for its creature type. Given the competitive scene, there exist other zombies offering similar or better talents at a lower cost, pushing the horde out from some players’ choices.


Reasons to Include Accursed Horde in Your Collection

Versatility: Accursed Horde is a flexible addition to Zombie tribal decks or strategies that emphasize on-board resilience. Its ability to grant indestructible to another Zombie ensures your key creatures stay in the game, adapting well to various board states.

Combo Potential: With its activated ability, Accursed Horde works well in tandem with sacrifice effects and enter-the-battlefield triggers. This generates opportunities for combo plays that can turn the tide of the match in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having the capacity to protect and recur your threats gives you an edge. Accursed Horde’s ability to safeguard your Zombies can make it a tactical asset against sweepers and targeted removals.


How to beat

Accursed Horde occupies a unique position within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, standing as a formidable zombie creature with the potential to tip scales in favor of any undead-centric deck. With the ability to grant indestructible to another target zombie for a nominal mana cost, it challenges opponents to think creatively when facing down this relentless wave of the undead.

Despite its strengths, outmaneuvering Accursed Horde is a matter of strategic planning and resource management. Utilizing removal spells that exile can circumvent the indestructible trait, quietly putting to rest the horde’s ambitions. Furthermore, spells that reduce toughness rather than dealing damage can be equally effective, as they can still destroy the Accursed Horde without needing to deal lethal damage. Cards with the ability to bounce creatures back to the owner’s hand can also serve as a temporary yet efficient solution to halt the horde’s onslaught, especially in the moments leading up to a critical attack.

Ultimately, overcoming the threat of Accursed Horde hinges on respect for its abilities while exploiting its vulnerabilities. Adaptability, coupled with an arsenal of diverse removal tactics, often proves the key in toppling a seemingly insurmountable undead adversary.


Cards like Accursed Horde

Accursed Horde is a solid member of the zombie archetype in Magic: The Gathering, offering tactical advantages in creature-heavy decks. When we explore similar cards, the most immediate comparison is with Diregraf Captain. While Diregraf Captain buffs other zombie creatures and deals damage upon their death, Accursed Horde provides the crucial ability to protect your zombie army, granting indestructible to another target zombie for a cost. An aspect that might go unnoticed but is incredibly important in turning the tides of combat.

Another card worth mentioning is Lord of the Accursed, which not only increases the power and toughness of your zombies but also gives them the potential to gain menace until end of turn, significantly enhancing their attacking power. The Horde, on the other hand, excels in ensuring the survival of key zombies. We should also consider Zombie Infestation, which provides a steady stream of zombie tokens at a price. Accursed Horde allows for a strategic safeguard rather than just a quantity boast.

Each of these cards serves a strategic role within zombie decks, but Accursed Horde stands out for its ability to preserve your menacing horde against the worst your opponents can throw at them, thus securing its place in the pantheon of zombie support cards.

Diregraf Captain - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Accursed - MTG Card versions
Zombie Infestation - MTG Card versions
Diregraf Captain - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Lord of the Accursed - Amonkhet (AKH)
Zombie Infestation - Odyssey (ODY)

Cards similar to Accursed Horde by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Crowd of Cinders - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Accursed Horde MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Game Night 2019, 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 Accursed Horde and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Accursed Horde Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Victor Adame Minguez.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 562015normalblackVictor Adame Minguez
22019-11-15Game Night 2019GN2 262015normalblackVictor Adame Minguez
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 2822015normalblackVictor Adame Minguez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Accursed Horde 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 Accursed Horde card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2017-07-14 Accursed Horde's ability can target itself while it's attacking.
2017-07-14 The target Zombie gains indestructible for the rest of the turn, even after it stops being an attacking creature.

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