Accursed Spirit MTG Card

Magic 2014 (M14)
2013-07-19 - Number 83

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 85

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 559

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number M15-85

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spirit
Abilities	Intimidate
Power	3
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Accursed Spirit fits well in mono-black or control decks, providing a pressure tool without hand depletion.
Casting cost allows for an efficient curve in your mana usage, enhancing game strategy progression.
The Spirit synergizes with instant-speed spells, optimizing its intimidate ability for unblocked attacks.

Text of card

Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)

Many have heard the slither of dragging armor and the soft squelch of its voice. But only its victims ever meet its icy gaze.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The nature of Accursed Spirit encourages a mono-black or control deck to maintain pressure on the opponent without sacrificing hand resources, as it can potentially deter less aggressive creatures from attacking or blocking effectively.

Resource Acceleration: Although Accursed Spirit doesn’t directly facilitate resource acceleration, its moderate casting cost makes it relatively easy to fit into the curve of a standard game plan, optimizing the efficiency of your mana usage as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: While Accursed Spirit itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with strategies that include instant-speed removal, tricks or counters. This allows you to keep the board clear for it to swing through due to its intimidating presence, effectively taking advantage of the opponent’s hesitation to block.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other creatures that you can cast directly to stay ahead on the board, Accursed Spirit demands a discard when leveraging certain synergies or abilities. This can be a setback when your hand is already running low on cards, forcing you to make tough choices about what to keep and what to let go.

Specific Mana Cost: Accursed Spirit requires three black mana in its total casting cost. This makes it less flexible as it fits primarily in mono-black or heavily black-influenced decks, potentially excluding it from a variety of other deck types that cannot meet this stringent mana specification.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana — three of which must be black — Accursed Spirit can be seen as an investment that might not always pay off. In the realm of four-mana creatures, there are alternatives that may offer additional abilities or stats, potentially giving your opponent a larger advantage before the Spirit can make a significant impact on the game.

Reasons to Include Accursed Spirit in Your Collection

Versatility: Accursed Spirit offers a straightforward addition to black-themed decks, especially those revolving around the intimidation mechanic. This creature is easily slotted into a variety of Black-centric deck builds.

Combo Potential: Its intimidation ability allows it to pair well with other cards that benefit from unblockable creatures. This creates opportunities for direct damage, leveraging life-drain spells, or enabling sacrifice-based combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where lighter-colored creature decks prevail, Accursed Spirit becomes a more valuable player on the field, often able to swing through defenses unabated and pressure opponents effectively.

How to beat

Accursed Spirit, with its intimidating presence on the battlefield, can often be a real threat due to its Intimidate ability, making it unblockable except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color. However, like many creatures in MTG, there are straightforward strategies to counter it effectively.

To mitigate the challenge posed by Accursed Spirit, one must consider spells that force it off the board without needing to declare blockers. Targeted removal spells remain the top choice for dealing with such creatures. Black offers a plethora of options, such as Doom Blade or Murder, which can dispatch the spirit without a second thought. For those outside of black, universal answers like Pacifism or the colorless Oblivion Ring can neutralize the Accursed Spirit without engaging in combat.

Enchantment-based strategies also come into play, specifically those that nullify abilities or prevent the creature from attacking. Moreover, board clears like Day of Judgment or Wrath of God can reset the playing field. Remember, an intrepid player needn’t cower in fear of an Accursed Spirit, as there are ample ways within the rich tapestry of MTG to turn the tables and ensure your victory remains untainted by such spectral menaces.

Cards like Accursed Spirit

Dive deep into the realm of spirits in Magic: The Gathering with Accursed Spirit. This card boasts an interesting niche within the plethora of spirit creatures available in the game. It shares the common trait of intimidation observed in other creatures like Bladetusk Boar, which also restricts blocking to creatures of the same color. The Accursed Spirit’s intimidating presence on the battlefield means that only black creatures can block it, providing a tactical advantage similar to the boar’s filtering of defenders.

When we draw parallels with other cards, Bog Wraith stands out with its swampwalk ability, enabling it to become unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Swamp. While Bog Wraith demands specific conditions to be met for unimpeded attacks, Accursed Spirit has a more consistent form of evasion against non-black decks. Furthermore, the spirit enters play at a favorable cost, positioning it as a solid mid-game choice for players seeking an aggressively costed creature with an in-built evasion mechanic.

Accurate positioning and seamless deck incorporation make Accursed Spirit an appealing option for players looking to add strategic depth to their gameplay. With evasion tactics at its core, Accursed Spirit can help conquer opponents with unwavering spectral force.

Bog Wraith - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

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

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Accursed Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014 and Magic 2015, 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 Spirit and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Accursed Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-07-19 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#	Release	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-07-19	Magic 2014	M14	83	2003	normal	black	Kev Walker
2	2014-07-18	Magic 2015	M15	85	2015	normal	black	Kev Walker
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	559	2015	normal	black	Kev Walker
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	M15-85	2015	normal	black	Kev Walker