I can see this being a helpful card. "OH NO YOU KILLED MY ! Nah just kidding, it's back, stronger than ever." Goes great with Deathtouch, maybe? Typhoid Rats + Undying Evil = good? Add in some Deadly Allure and you got yourself a wonderful way to both destroy a creature AND get a +1/+1 on your own for only 3 mana! Only draw back is that you don't get to choose which creature you kill.
ichorNet777
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(9 votes)
Combos with Wurmcoil Engine; you get the tokens and a stronger Wurmcoil that makes more tokens. How is this fair at all? Who cares, you're killing the opponent big time.
Cyberium
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Almost like the rival of Tragic Slip, for one mana both cards blur the line of life and death. While Tragic Slip is a straightforward creature kill, Undying Evil is a super versatile card.
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Goes quite nicely with things that have Persist. Kitchen Finks comes to mind.
linkfiend
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
combos with priest of gix in ghave, guru of spores edh for infinite saprolings, mana ,and +1/+1 counters.
NinaNinja
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Looks solid for a birthing pod deck. Also this might help your Obliterator out that your looking to protect. Solid good card
http404error
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Too bad it doesn't have undying when it gets back, otherwise easily goes infinite like a cheaper Mikeaus.
Justice1337
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
This card is going to be a house in any format where it is legal. Of course, Standard and Pauper, but even Modern, Legacy and Vintage. It's everything you want it to be. A counterspell for both targeted and untargeted removal, better than something like Vines of Vastwood or Brave the Elements in that it's less timing dependent and works for sweeps and sacrifice effects. A combat surprise to induce unfavorable blocking, such as Harm's Way etc. An unabusive Unearth in that it gets back a creature of the type that has already been played and died, only one of any cmc at a +1/+1, albiet at a bit of a timing restraint. A Momentary Blink in that it counters targeted removal and allows you to trigger etb effects again. In Standard, it pairs perfectly with Snapcaster Mage. In Pauper, it's perfect with Mulldrifter evoke. It Vintage/Legacy/Modern, it's the best friend of players who are tired of creatures being eaten alive by spells. A premium card in every way at 1cmc.
Tensuillio
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
I'm going to get a kick out of casting this on my creatures before I sacrifice them for effects.
PastProphet
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
@: linkfiend I don't think that does what you think it does... once it 'dies' and hits the graveyard, and then comes back, it's a brand new fresh copy of the creature (other than getting a +1/+1 counter) with no memory of it's previous effects - the 'Undying until end of turn' won't apply beyond the first trigger.
thepillow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i love this card
thebeardedshuffler
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmm.. Grim Poppet + this and something that you can sac a critter to or something with fun comes into play affects.. boardwipe your opponants and then swing with something huge. Fun times!
And as one of the only cards in the game that can prevent a sacrifice, I give it about three weeks, TOPS, before someone does something *completely* awful with this.
I think Wizards just got bored of all the "dies to" comments...
But in all seriousness, this is an AMAZING card, especially at common.
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hate this card so much.
During the release tourney, I thankfully pulled Garruk Relentless and unfortunately, lost every game.
Regardless... I played Garruk, and my opponent was beating me silly with an Abatoir Ghoul. I decided to sac Garruk to save myself, but in the end, he used this.
Kind of liked Persist better (considering the negative bonus).
Radagast
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Lots of silly things can be done with this card. As others have said, removal "dies to this," it's a nice way to answer board sweepers - oh, look, now you have the only creature left, and its bigger - and it even handles sacrifice effects. This can definitely see play.
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
With this you can laugh at pretty much any kind of removal that doesn't exile your dudes. I think i like it even more than Angelic Renewal.
Also this can be abused very easily: Powerful (self)-sacrifice effects, or simply creatures with good cip/etb and "pig" effects work nice with this. Evoke is great with this card, and gets even better with Morbid (e.g. Tragic Slip): -Shriekmaw: Double-Terror and a 4/3 elemental with Fear for will make your opponent tremble. -Æthersnipe: You just got yourself a 5/5 and Dispersed twice for . -Briarhorn: Has flash, so this allows some mad combat tricks with one more 4/4 on the field and two Giant Growths. -Cloudthresher: Also has flash and takes care of most flyers. -Walker of the Grove: Build up a decent army. -Mulldrifter: Basically a 3/3 flying cantrip for -Nevermaker: Chimney Imp on steroids. -Faultgrinder: Rain of Salt now comes with a 5/5 trampler. -Glarewielder: When four hostile creatures panic, this dude will probably hit along with the other creatures you got. -Inner-Flame Acolyte: 5/3 haster for that can give another creature +2/+0 ain't shabby. -Reveillark: Seems abusable somehow as well...
Another obvious synergy is Persist. Look at Murderous Redcap for example: -Cast him, he deals 2 damage. He dies: Persist triggers. -He returns, deals 1 damage. He dies: Use Undying Evil, Undying triggers. -He returns, deals 3 damage. He dies: Persist triggers. -He returns, deals 1 damage.
So aside from those seven damage in Redcap's particular case, this should get pretty damn good with a sac outlet and/or Morbid cards. And with a sac outlet you might want to include Puppeteer Clique as well. River Kelpie will also give you lots of cards then. Glen Elendra Archmage can even sacrifice herself, and by the way even shuts down any spells from your opponent's that aren't creature spells.
This runs really nicely with Cauldron Haze but then again, everything with undying plays nicely with persist. Running both in my G/B morbid deck for sure.
filmfanaticryan
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Ulvenwald Bear.
Ragamander
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Once, just once, I'd like to use this on my opponent's Eater of Days, and then Doom Blade it.
HA!!!!!!!!! I Go for the Throat YOUR........SOMETHING YOU LIKE MUCH, NOW IT DIES YOU JUST LET ME PAY 1b AND PUT A +1/+1 COUNTER On It.
wait a second..... i have 2 of them, i Pongify my Solemn Simulacrum, just putting a 3/3 ape token in the battlefield, a +1/+1 on the Solemn Simulacrum ,add a land from my library into play tapped, draw a card and trigger all ability's like whenever a creature enters the battlefield, whenever a craure dis and whenever you cast a spell an ALL ON INSTANT SPEED FOR '1 BLUE AND 1 BLACK MANA!!!!!!!!!!
poprockmonster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The art reminds me very much of the Evil Dead movies, can't remember if it's in the first or second, but the similarities are striking. My friend used this on his Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, needless to say I was boned.
Flesh Allergy wipes 2 critters for 2 damage, the Phoenix procs and drops 3 damage on all other critters, board wipe for anything x/3 or lower. then it comes back and you sac it again for a board wipe of all critters x/6 or lower. You guarantee at least 9 damage from this combo AND if you can board wipe who knows how much extra life you pinged your opponent for not to mention you just wiped the board so they have (almost) no retaliation. 6 damage is enough to wipe even titans!
roguepariah
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My Mono Infect deck gained a serious boost in staying power when I added 3 of these. Making a (seemingly) unfavorable trade with something like a plague stinger results in the opposing creature being down -1 and your stinger is up +1. It makes Phyrexian Crusader even more resilient. It allows you to make use of Whispering Specter's ability and keep swinging, with a bonus! Tezzeret's Gambit lets you buff your critter even more after the fact. Annoyed that you can't use undying evil on your creature more than once? Virulent Wound.
This could be a fun combo with Sneak Attack to get larger creatures out onto the board for cheap.
M_E_T_A_L_LORD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Use on ALL (or most) evoke creatures for the simple Booty-ass-donkey combos.
NeoKoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I plan on using it on Flametongue Kavu. The idea of blowing up a second critter, and getting a 5/3 is just too good to pass up.
Ratoly
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This is, for sure, an artistic homage to the first Evil Dead movie from Sam Raimi. Brilliant card as well. Wouldn't go so far as to say its as powerful as the majority of the commenters are saying right now, but it's certainly a potent instant capable of snatching games from the clutches of an opponent's victory.
Conefed
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you target a creature with undying, will it return to the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it?
JB_Xyooj
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Can't wait to play this with Vexing Devil. Turn 2 "Problem?"
Bobth
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Best on things with Protection from White, because White has many easy ways of getting around this. Phyrexian Crusader is the obvious choice, but in a non-Infect deck, Stromgald Crusader, Hand of Cruelty, or Stillmoon Cavalier are also good choices. By maindecking 4 of one of these, you have a guaranteed good matchup against the one deck type that can easily bypass your Undying Evil.
As for using it in a sacrifice deck, it COULD be good, but for right now I see using cards like Geralf's Messenger, Gravecrawler, Reassembling Skeleton, or Bloodghast as better, because it takes one less card to do so, and those cards are good by themselves.
Atogatogatog
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
JB_Xyooj beat me to it, but the interaction with this and Vexing Devil is going to wreak havoc on the meta. That's a large amount of potential damage for a small amount of mana. I think Mental Misstep just gets better and better.
WOW! I cannot believe this card is rated anywhere lower than 4.0
The versatility is amazing. If you have a creature with a self-sac ability, this card stands in for a repeat usage. If you have a crazy ETB ability (MULLDRIFTER?!?!? BLADE SPLICER?!?!?), you get to repeat it (providing you have a sac engine).
It protects your creature from removal, or just plain normal combat. At the very least, this one-mana card will trade one-for-one. In many other scenarios (cough, mulldrifter) it will trade one-for-many.
On top of everything, you get a +1/+1 counter from it.
LordOfTheFlies87
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Underrated . Powerful.
Amorgan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kills removal Makes Evoke creatures rediculous Self sac + garauntees the creature back AND the sac effect nice blocking/in combat trick
I am interested about the interaction with persist. Would it return the creature without a -1/-1 if it had one already?
Use this in a MortarPod deck to get extra use out of those creatures!
Also a great way to block creatures during combat, cast this on your creature and gloat that you now have a +1/+1 counter on your guy while the opponent lost his creature =)
MisterAction
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Okay, let's see...
-Saves creatures from damage, kill spells, most board wipes, being sacrificed, having zero toughness... it even protects your legendaries from being cloned! -Repeats ETB triggers, gives a free sacrifice, and enables leaves-the-battlefield triggers without actually requiring the loss of your creature. -Allows a free chump block, or lets your creature survive mutually-assured destruction. -Returns to the owner's control, letting you get back your stolen creatures. -Makes the creature stronger.
The following was taken from wiki.mgtsalvation.com: """Undying relies on the last known information about the permanent just before it was put into a graveyard. If that permanent had a +1/+1 counter on it, then receives enough -1/-1 counters for it to be put into a graveyard due to having 0 toughness or lethal damage marked on it, it won't return to the battlefield despite the state-based action of +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters "cancelling each other out". As the permanent last existed on the battlefield, it had a +1/+1 counter on it, so undying will not trigger""" What I don't get is why they say that a creature with undying, having died, then coming back, and given a -1-1 counter, won't come back again. Don't +1+1 counters and -1-1 counters cause one another to cease to exist if they are both on the same permanent? What if I used Ferropede to remove the +1+1 counter, would the creature be able to come back again then? Why doesn't the +1+1 and -1-1 canceling each other idea work?
iwearslacks93
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
if you combine this card with Myr Sire and Vampire Aristocrat (or any other sac engine really).. it could be potent.
BeaverDonut
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@MatthewExline
...Actually, if a creature with undying receives a -1/-1 counter while it has a +1/+1 counter, it will come back due to undying. But that is only if there is time between it was given the -1/-1 counte and it dying. Since it checks its last known information, there needs to be time between gaining the counter and it dying in order to come back again... if you creature was blocked by one with infect and died as a result, it wouldn't come back, but if your creature was blocked by a creature with infect and didn't die, the +1/+1 counter...
You should consult the ruleboook, but I believe this is correct (forgive me if I'm wrong)
orisiti
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So... for the official rule as to why infect can kill undying... 704.7. If a state-based action results in a permanent leaving the battlefield at the same time other state-based actions were performed, that permanent’s last known information is derived from the game state before any of those state-based actions were performed.
so it dies before the counters are removed...
I have not researched the official ruling on a creature with persist and undying... but as i see it, once a creature dies, both abilities will go on the stack (assuming there were no counters on it before) when the first resolves, the creature will no longer be in the graveyard, causing the second to fizzle. What needs to be looked into is whether you get to choose which order the abilities go onto the stack... I really want to build a persist deck with mikaelus the unhallowed... once a creature dies it will keep coming back, cycling between -1/-1 and +1/+1 counters each time...
kazenpaus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
In a world full of cool hats, this zombie takes a floor for a hat.
Question: Let's say I have Unruly Mob out as well as a bunch of other creatures. I do a field wipe, such as Planar Cleansing, then play this, targeting Unruly Mob. Would Unruly Mob ever get those counters from my creatures dying? Or would it just come back with the one +1/+1 counter?
Deadling
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is such a good common, that I can't find any at my local shop. This is a really good card. Good in any mono black deck, for some added aggro'ness. (that's a word, I swear it!) For cards like Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni, if you only have one black left, you can't regen her... So do this instead, much better if you ask me.
GengilOrbios
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anonymous1burger mentioned it: evoke is the way to go with this! Shriekmaw, mulldrifter, mournwhelk, spitebellows, walker of the grove, .... are all completely nuts with this.
Comments (62)
I don't think that does what you think it does...
once it 'dies' and hits the graveyard, and then comes back, it's a brand new fresh copy of the creature (other than getting a +1/+1 counter) with no memory of it's previous effects - the 'Undying until end of turn' won't apply beyond the first trigger.
Removal dies to this!
Use on critters like Snapcaster Mage and Black Cat for double the ETB fun.
This can even save a creature from Dismember, or the powerful new Tragic Slip.
And as one of the only cards in the game that can prevent a sacrifice,
I give it about three weeks, TOPS, before someone does something *completely* awful with this.
Also, L4D just happened on Innistrad
But in all seriousness, this is an AMAZING card, especially at common.
During the release tourney, I thankfully pulled Garruk Relentless and unfortunately, lost every game.
Regardless... I played Garruk, and my opponent was beating me silly with an Abatoir Ghoul. I decided to sac Garruk to save myself, but in the end, he used this.
Kind of liked Persist better (considering the negative bonus).
I think i like it even more than Angelic Renewal.
Also this can be abused very easily:
Powerful (self)-sacrifice effects, or simply creatures with good cip/etb and "pig" effects work nice with this.
Evoke is great with this card, and gets even better with Morbid (e.g. Tragic Slip):
-Shriekmaw: Double-Terror and a 4/3 elemental with Fear for
-Æthersnipe: You just got yourself a 5/5 and Dispersed twice for
-Briarhorn: Has flash, so this allows some mad combat tricks with one more 4/4 on the field and two Giant Growths.
-Cloudthresher: Also has flash and takes care of most flyers.
-Walker of the Grove: Build up a decent army.
-Mulldrifter: Basically a 3/3 flying cantrip for
-Nevermaker: Chimney Imp on steroids.
-Faultgrinder: Rain of Salt now comes with a 5/5 trampler.
-Glarewielder: When four hostile creatures panic, this dude will probably hit along with the other creatures you got.
-Inner-Flame Acolyte: 5/3 haster for
-Reveillark: Seems abusable somehow as well...
Another obvious synergy is Persist. Look at Murderous Redcap for example:
-Cast him, he deals 2 damage. He dies: Persist triggers.
-He returns, deals 1 damage. He dies: Use Undying Evil, Undying triggers.
-He returns, deals 3 damage. He dies: Persist triggers.
-He returns, deals 1 damage.
So aside from those seven damage in Redcap's particular case, this should get pretty damn good with a sac outlet and/or Morbid cards. And with a sac outlet you might want to include Puppeteer Clique as well. River Kelpie will also give you lots of cards then.
Glen Elendra Archmage can even sacrifice herself, and by the way even shuts down any spells from your opponent's that aren't creature spells.
And since it's a 1CC Instant you can easily find synergy in general, e.g. Snapcaster Mage or Isochron Scepter for reuse.
I guess after my next four turns I should Doom Blade it again, and then cast Pyrrhic Revival.
YOU JUST LET ME PAY 1b AND PUT A +1/+1 COUNTER On It.
wait a second..... i have 2 of them, i Pongify my Solemn Simulacrum, just putting a 3/3 ape token in the battlefield, a +1/+1 on the Solemn Simulacrum
,add a land from my library into play tapped, draw a card and trigger all ability's like whenever a creature enters the battlefield, whenever a craure dis and whenever you cast a spell an ALL ON INSTANT SPEED FOR
'1 BLUE AND 1 BLACK MANA!!!!!!!!!!
Flesh Allergy wipes 2 critters for 2 damage, the Phoenix procs and drops 3 damage on all other critters, board wipe for anything x/3 or lower. then it comes back and you sac it again for a board wipe of all critters x/6 or lower. You guarantee at least 9 damage from this combo AND if you can board wipe who knows how much extra life you pinged your opponent for not to mention you just wiped the board so they have (almost) no retaliation. 6 damage is enough to wipe even titans!
Making a (seemingly) unfavorable trade with something like a plague stinger results in the opposing creature being down -1 and your stinger is up +1.
It makes Phyrexian Crusader even more resilient.
It allows you to make use of Whispering Specter's ability and keep swinging, with a bonus!
Tezzeret's Gambit lets you buff your critter even more after the fact.
Annoyed that you can't use undying evil on your creature more than once? Virulent Wound.
What is there not to like about this card?
As for using it in a sacrifice deck, it COULD be good, but for right now I see using cards like Geralf's Messenger, Gravecrawler, Reassembling Skeleton, or Bloodghast as better, because it takes one less card to do so, and those cards are good by themselves.
The versatility is amazing. If you have a creature with a self-sac ability, this card stands in for a repeat usage. If you have a crazy ETB ability (MULLDRIFTER?!?!? BLADE SPLICER?!?!?), you get to repeat it (providing you have a sac engine).
It protects your creature from removal, or just plain normal combat. At the very least, this one-mana card will trade one-for-one. In many other scenarios (cough, mulldrifter) it will trade one-for-many.
On top of everything, you get a +1/+1 counter from it.
Makes Evoke creatures rediculous
Self sac +
nice blocking/in combat trick
I am interested about the interaction with persist. Would it return the creature without a -1/-1 if it had one already?
IMO all in all 5/5
Also a great way to block creatures during combat, cast this on your creature and gloat that you now have a +1/+1 counter on your guy while the opponent lost his creature =)
-Saves creatures from damage, kill spells, most board wipes, being sacrificed, having zero toughness... it even protects your legendaries from being cloned!
-Repeats ETB triggers, gives a free sacrifice, and enables leaves-the-battlefield triggers without actually requiring the loss of your creature.
-Allows a free chump block, or lets your creature survive mutually-assured destruction.
-Returns to the owner's control, letting you get back your stolen creatures.
-Makes the creature stronger.
For ONE mana. As an INSTANT.
Yup, that's a five.
What I don't get is why they say that a creature with undying, having died, then coming back, and given a -1-1 counter, won't come back again. Don't +1+1 counters and -1-1 counters cause one another to cease to exist if they are both on the same permanent? What if I used Ferropede to remove the +1+1 counter, would the creature be able to come back again then? Why doesn't the +1+1 and -1-1 canceling each other idea work?
...Actually, if a creature with undying receives a -1/-1 counter while it has a +1/+1 counter, it will come back due to undying. But that is only if there is time between it was given the -1/-1 counte and it dying. Since it checks its last known information, there needs to be time between gaining the counter and it dying in order to come back again... if you creature was blocked by one with infect and died as a result, it wouldn't come back, but if your creature was blocked by a creature with infect and didn't die, the +1/+1 counter...
You should consult the ruleboook, but I believe this is correct (forgive me if I'm wrong)
704.7. If a state-based action results in a permanent leaving the battlefield at the same time other state-based actions were performed, that permanent’s last known information is derived from the game state before any of those state-based actions were performed.
so it dies before the counters are removed...
I have not researched the official ruling on a creature with persist and undying... but as i see it, once a creature dies, both abilities will go on the stack (assuming there were no counters on it before) when the first resolves, the creature will no longer be in the graveyard, causing the second to fizzle. What needs to be looked into is whether you get to choose which order the abilities go onto the stack...
I really want to build a persist deck with mikaelus the unhallowed... once a creature dies it will keep coming back, cycling between -1/-1 and +1/+1 counters each time...
Oh and also you can sacrifice whatever you're targeting.
Shriekmaw
Let's say I have Unruly Mob out as well as a bunch of other creatures. I do a field wipe, such as Planar Cleansing, then play this, targeting Unruly Mob. Would Unruly Mob ever get those counters from my creatures dying? Or would it just come back with the one +1/+1 counter?