Rotting Legion MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie
Released	2010-07-16
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2011
Set code	M11
Power	4
Toughness	5
Number	115
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Carl Critchlow

Key Takeaways

Rotting Legion’s return mechanic from the graveyard ensures a recurring battlefield presence without additional mana.
Its specific mana cost and entry conditions may limit its inclusion to certain deck archetypes.
Possessing combo potential, it works well in decks that exploit creatures entering the battlefield tapped.

Text of card

Rotting Legion enters the battlefield tapped.

Zombies have one speed: shamble.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rotting Legion’s innate ability to return to the battlefield at the beginning of your upkeep if it’s in your graveyard and you control no other creatures gives you a recurring asset, effectively turning the graveyard into an extension of your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting mana resources, the Rotting Legion’s resurrection mechanic can save mana in the long run. It allows you to reallocate resources usually spent on casting creatures, potentially accelerating your board presence without additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: While Rotting Legion itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its reanimation trigger can be prepared for during your upkeep. This allows strategic planning, as you can adapt to the game’s current state, knowing you’ll have a creature entering the battlefield, ready to advance your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Rotting Legion card lies in its drawback of potentially requiring a discard to achieve optimal gameplay, which is not ideal during a situation where your hand is already scarce of options.

Specific Mana Cost: Rotting Legion’s casting cost contains not just one, but two black mana symbols. This makes it less flexible and more suited to mono-black or two-color decks with a strong black mana base, thus limiting its ubiquity across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost on its casting, the Rotting Legion can be seen as a less economical play compared to other creatures in its mana range. Starting at five mana, this card might wear down your resources in the early game, which could be used for playing multiple spells or establishing a wider board presence.

Reasons to Include Rotting Legion in Your Collection

Versatility: Rotting Legion is a solid creature card that can be easily integrated into zombie-themed decks or strategies that leverage graveyard mechanics. Its zombie type provides natural synergy with many black or zombie-centric cards in the game.

Combo Potential: With each turn it’s not attacking, Rotting Legion can grow more formidable if paired with cards that utilize tapping and untapping creatures, or those that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield tapped.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and creature resilience are key, Rotting Legion offers consistency by returning to the battlefield tapped during your upkeep if it was in your graveyard. This recurrence ensures a persistent threat to opponents facing your strategy.

How to Beat

Rotting Legion is a creature card that players might face in the strategic universe of MTG. This zombie card can be a relentless adversary due to its legion rule. Every time it comes back to the battlefield, it can potentially regain all of its strength, ready to engage combatants once more. However, prevailing over this undying horde is not beyond the wit of a savvy player.

To overcome Rotting Legion, employing removal spells that exile it ensures that it doesn’t return to the battlefield. Graveyard manipulation cards can disrupt strategies centered around reviving it. Enchantments that pacify or prevent it from attacking or blocking also cripple the card’s strategic use. Moreover, you can take advantage of its Heat of Battle entry rule by ensuring your battlefield is fortified when it’s not in a poised position to attack effectively.

Ultimately, understanding the Rotting Legion’s mechanics is the first step to devising a strategy against it. Counterplays like exile, tactical delay, or preventative measures are essential tools in any MTG player’s arsenal to effectively combat the potential threat posed by this formidable zombie card.

Cards like Rotting Legion

Rotting Legion is a zombie card that finds its strength in numbers, entering the battlefield tapped unless you control another Zombie. In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, creatures that come into play tapped often draw comparisons for being slightly slower on the offensive. Take for instance, the card Cemetery Reaper, which offers both a zombie presence and an anthem effect to boost other zombies you control. However, the Reaper doesn’t have the same entry limitation as our Legion.

Moving to another undead candidate, we match it against Diregraf Ghoul. This is a creature known for its immediate impact on the battlefield due to no restrictive conditions upon entry. Though it starts off as a smaller creature, the unhampered aggression can be noticeable. Yet, it lacks the Rotting Legion’s potential for board presence in the late game due to its singular form. Additionally, we have Moaning Wall, a defensive zombie with cycling ability. It offers versatility but its primary purpose diverges from the offensive nature of the Rotting Legion.

Considering these comparisons, Rotting Legion may not be first to the fray, but its conditional readiness can be a substantial presence for zombie-themed decks seeking to build a formidable force over time.

Cards similar to Rotting Legion by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rotting Legion MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011, 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 Rotting Legion and other MTG cards: