Empty the Catacombs MTG Card

Empty the Catacombs - Ravnica: City of Guilds

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Number	86
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark A. Nelson

Key Takeaways

Empty the Catacombs offers a hand refill mechanism, leveraging graveyard resources for strategic superiority.
Its instant speed enables reactive play, countering board wipes or graveyard interactions effectively.
Whilst powerful, it requires careful mana balancing and may pose a discard dilemma for players.

Text of card

Each player returns all creature cards from his or her graveyard to his or her hand.

When the dead are laid to rest in Ravnica, it's usually just a nap.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Empty the Catacombs is adept at restoring your hand by returning all creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. This can rapidly shift the balance in your favor by providing a fresh array of options and enabling you to remount a formidable board presence.

Resource Acceleration: By refueling your hand with previously played creatures, this card sets the stage for a surge in on-field activity. It’s not direct mana acceleration, but by recovering valuable assets, you can effectively bypass the mana costs that would have been spent on drawing or tutoring these creatures anew.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Empty the Catacombs at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing you to respond decisively to board wipes or graveyard interactions on your opponent’s turn. It also enables surprising comebacks during the end step before your turn, refilling your hand and thwarting your opponent’s expectations.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Empty the Catacombs prompts a strategic decision because it forces a player to discard cards. In the ever-evolving landscape of your battle, where every card counts, the mandatory discard can sometimes backfire, especially if you’re clinging to key cards for your winning strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Tapping into the essence of black mana, Empty the Catacombs demands a rigorous mana setup. This requirement leans heavily on decks that are colored specifically or those with a reliable mana-fixing base to consistently meet its black mana needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Trading four mana might be costly when you’re aiming to regain the upper hand during a duel. For a spell that hinges on the graveyard, some seasoned spellcasters might search for alternatives that offer either direct reanimation or other types of card advantage with a smaller mana investment.

Reasons to Include Empty the Catacombs in Your Collection

Versatility: Empty the Catacombs provides flexibility in a variety of deck types, with its ability to sweep up creatures from graveyards on both sides of the battlefield. This can shift the pace of the game, especially in formats where graveyard strategies are prevalent.

Combo Potential: The card shines in synergy with strategies that capitalize on creatures returning from the graveyard to the hand. It can be paired with effects that provide benefits each time a creature enters your hand, or enjoy its benefits directly by repopulating your hand for subsequent turns.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where dredge, reanimator, or other graveyard-centric decks are common, having Empty the Catacombs on standby can act as a game-changer, potentially disrupting your opponents’ carefully laid plans and giving you an edge in the ever-evolving battle for board control.

How to Beat

Empty the Catacombs represents an intriguing strategic twist within black spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card allows players to return all creature cards from their graveyard to their hand, offering a significant advantage in terms of resource recovery and setting up the board. While powerful, there are methods to diminish its impact.

To effectively counter Empty the Catacombs, graveyard management is key. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can completely shut down its potential by exiling cards before they have a chance to be returned. Being proactive with cards that can exile the graveyard or individual cards within it keeps Empty the Catacombs from changing the state of the game. Moreover, having instant speed removal or graveyard hate cards ready when your opponent casts Empty the Catacombs can interrupt their well-laid plans.

Lastly, consider incorporating strategies that benefit from both players having a full graveyard. This way, even if Empty the Catacombs resolves, your position remains strong. By thoughtfully assessing your deck’s weaknesses and strengths against such recovery spells, and integrating graveyard-controlling elements, you can maintain the upper hand against the tide of returned creatures.

Cards like Empty the Catacombs

Empty the Catacombs steps into the spotlight among graveyard interaction cards. It mimics the utility seen in cards like Living Death, which has been a fan favorite for its duality of mass graveyard resurrection and a board sweeper. However, Empty the Catacombs does not present the same sweeping effect, instead focusing purely on hand restoration.

Delving into a more targeted approach, we look at cards like Beckon Apparition. Beckon Apparition plucks singular creatures from any graveyard and puts them directly into play, a one-shot deal compared to Empty the Catacombs’ broader hand repopulation strategy. While it boasts a low mana cost, it doesn’t offer the same potential card volume.

Comparatively, Balthor the Defiled resonates with Empty the Catacombs’ mass retrieval aspect, albeit confined to creatures and with an added bonus of putting them right onto the battlefield. This can instantly change the state of play and applies notable pressure, whereas Empty the Catacombs sets up for future turns. Each card shines in different scenarios, and understanding their individual strengths is crucial to master gameplay strategies within MTG.

Cards similar to Empty the Catacombs by color, type and mana cost

Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Empty the Catacombs MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Empty the Catacombs and other MTG cards: