Cadaver Imp MTG Card


Cadaver Imp offers card advantage by returning creatures from your graveyard to your hand. The Imp’s flexibility enhances strategies around enter-the-battlefield effects and synergies. While helpful, the Imp’s mana cost and body size require careful deck integration.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Imp
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying When Cadaver Imp enters the battlefield, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.

The mouth must be pried open before rigor mortis sets in. Otherwise the returning soul can find no ingress.


Cards like Cadaver Imp

Delving into the depth of reanimation spells in MTG, Cadaver Imp offers a unique twist to the returning creatures from the graveyard to the hand. In this context, we can draw a parallel with cards such as Grave Digger. Both cards share the functionality of retrieving creatures upon entering the battlefield, yet Cadaver Imp enters the fray with flying, providing not just utility but tactical aerial advantages as well.

Comparatively, Pit Keeper is another notable card — although it requires a minimum graveyard threshold to activate its ability, it brings the advantage of a lower mana cost. On the other hand, Cadaver Imp lacks this condition and is ready to perform upon arrival. Mortus Strider, while able to return to a player’s hand upon death, is devoid of the ability to recover other creatures, a drawback in comparison to the versatility of Cadaver Imp’s effect.

Evaluating their place in MTG decks, it’s evident that Cadaver Imp offers a blend of strategic creature recovery and board presence. This makes it an advantageous pick for players who want to maintain graveyard interaction while also applying pressure in the skies.

Pit Keeper - MTG Card versions
Mortus Strider - MTG Card versions
Pit Keeper - MTG Card versions
Mortus Strider - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cadaver Imp provides the valuable ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This means not only do you get a creature on the board, but you also reclaim resources from your graveyard, effectively giving you two creatures for the price of one card.

Resource Acceleration: While Cadaver Imp itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, its recursion ability lets you reuse creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects that may ramp up your mana or provide other utilities, making it a flexible component in any strategy revolving around such synergies.

Instant Speed: While Cadaver Imp is a creature and therefore doesn’t operate at instant speed, its impact on the game can be immediate and advantageous. By playing it smartly after a board clear or when you have enough mana, you set yourself up with a better board presence and more options on future turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cadaver Imp’s ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand may sometimes be hindered if your graveyard is empty. This can occur during early game or if your opponent is using graveyard hate strategies, thereby nullifying its potential value.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black mana and generic mana, Cadaver Imp can be a less flexible option for multi-colored decks that may not consistently have the required black mana sources available at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, including two black, some players may find the 1/1 flying body of Cadaver Imp insufficient. Considering the mana investment, there are alternative creatures or recursion spells in MTG that might offer a more substantial board presence or versatile recovery options.


Reasons to Include Cadaver Imp in Your Collection

Versatility: Cadaver Imp plays a crucial role in decks that require a recurrent creature presence. Its ability to retrieve other creatures from your graveyard when it enters the battlefield makes it a versatile addition to both aggressive and control-oriented decks.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects or sacrificial mechanics. Pairing Cadaver Imp with sacrifice outlets can create powerful recurring value, making this card a potent piece in combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where disrupting your opponent’s strategies can be as crucial as advancing your own, Cadaver Imp holds relevance. The constant threat of recurring key creatures can be a considerable advantage in many meta environments, especially where graveyard interaction is prominent.


How to beat

Confronting the Cadaver Imp in Magic: The Gathering requires a composed strategy. This insidious creature, capable of retrieving fallen comrades from the graveyard, is a nuisance when it hits the battlefield. The key to neutralizing its impact lies in being selective about your removal spells. Engage with a card with an exile effect rather than a conventional destroy spell to ensure that the target does not simply return via the Cadaver Imp’s effect.

Timing is also critical. Consider the broader state of the game and anticipate your opponent’s move. Acting during your turn foils the typical play of the Cadaver Imp after a board clear. Also, be wary of the graveyard. The use of graveyard-hate cards can cripple the Imp’s effectiveness by limiting the options it has to resurrect. Targeted cards like Tormod’s Crypt can exile a key creature before Cadaver Imp gets the opportunity to bring it back into play, cutting short any tactical advantage your opponent hoped to gain.

Intelligent play and foresight can overturn the apparent advantages of Cadaver Imp, switching the dynamic of the game to your favor. Control the battlefield, eliminate its advantages, and maintain pressure to prevent this creature from tilting the match in your opponent’s favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Cadaver Imp can dramatically improve your MTG gameplay. With its capacity for creature card revival, it’s pivotal in maintaining momentum in creature-centric decks. Adaptability is key, and recognizing the right moment to deploy this flying asset could flip the scales in your favor. If you’re intrigued by the strategic depth that Cadaver Imp adds to your arsenal, we encourage you to explore further. Dive deep into our wealth of resources, where we unfurl the complexities of deck building and gameplay to help you harness the potential of cards like Cadaver Imp. Expand your expertise with us and keep your graveyard as a well-spring of resources.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cadaver Imp MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Planechase 2012, 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 Cadaver Imp and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cadaver Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 992003NormalBlackDave Kendall
22012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 312003NormalBlackDave Kendall
32015-08-28Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. EldraziDDP 482015NormalBlackDave Kendall
42016-09-02Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob NixilisDDR 412015NormalBlackDave Kendall
52016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 312015NormalBlackDave Kendall
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5892015NormalBlackDave Kendall
72020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2152015NormalBlackDave Kendall
82020-09-26The ListPLST DDR-412015NormalBlackDave Kendall
92023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1412015NormalBlackDave Kendall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cadaver Imp has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal