Cemetery Illuminator MTG Card


Revealing top deck cards at will sets up strategic plays and disrupts opponents, simulating a card advantage. Resource acceleration is achieved by manipulating graveyard lands, ensuring consistent play and stimulating strategies. Instant-speed ability to reveal and exile offers adaptability in response to opponent’s graveyard tactics.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Whenever Cemetery Illuminator enters the battlefield or attacks, exile a card from a graveyard. You may look at the top card of your library any time. Once each turn, you may cast a spell from the top of your library if it shares a card type with a card exiled with Cemetery Illuminator.


Cards like Cemetery Illuminator

The Cemetery Illuminator is a unique card in MTG that not only impacts the game through its stat line but also through its unusual ability to manipulate the graveyard. When assessing other cards with graveyard interaction, we can look at cards like Tormod’s Crypt and Nihil Spellbomb, which allow players to exile a graveyard at no mana cost. While they are efficient at graveyard control, they don’t offer the same kind of ongoing card advantage or board presence as Cemetery Illuminator.

Moving into creatures, Deathrite Shaman stands as a formidable comparison. It shares the trait of exploiting graveyards but serves as a more versatile mana dork with an ability to impact the board and players’ life totals directly. While not as defensively solid as Cemetery Illuminator, the Shaman provides an unmatched combination of utility and pressure.

Lastly, Scavenging Ooze presents a different but relevant angle, offering graveyard disruption coupled with a body that can grow over time. Unlike Cemetery Illuminator, the Ooze requires mana investment to exile cards but provides immediate life gain and board impact. This demonstrates the breadth of utility available to players when exploring graveyard-themed cards in MTG.

Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Nihil Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Deathrite Shaman - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Nihil Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Deathrite Shaman - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cemetery Illuminator by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Puppeteer - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions
Puppeteer - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Cemetery Illuminator. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Sultai MidrangeSultai Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Azorius SpiritsAzorius Spirits PioneerAzorius SpiritsPioneer League 2023-11-27
Azorius TempoAzorius Tempo StandardAzorius Tempo~~ Izzet Explosive Experiment Event
Mono-Blue TempoMono-Blue Tempo PioneerMono-Blue TempoPioneer Preliminary 2024-02-20
Mono-Blue SpiritsMono-Blue Spirits PioneerMono-Blue SpiritsReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Hartford - Friday - 1:30 pm (Bronze)
UBUB LegacyLegacy Challenge 32 2024-01-13
Bant SpiritsBant Spirits PioneerBant SpiritsPioneer League 2023-11-23

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cemetery Illuminator boosts your card economy by revealing the top card of a player’s deck at will. Knowing what’s coming can be as valuable as drawing a card since it allows for strategic planning, giving you a notable edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This spirit offers an unconventional form of resource acceleration. By revealing lands from graveyards, you can ensure smooth land drops, while non-land cards can be exiled to stimulate certain graveyard-centric strategies, thereby enriching your board state and options.

Instant Speed: With the Cemetery Illuminator, you can reveal and exile cards during any player’s turn. This can disrupt your opponent’s graveyard strategies or benefit yours at a moment’s notice, providing a versatile tool to adapt to rapid changes in the game state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of the Cemetery Illuminator is its need for you to exile a card from your graveyard to use its ability. Graveyard resources are valuable in MTG play, so this requirement might restrain its usefulness, especially in decks where graveyard synergy is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: The Cemetery Illuminator requires a detailed mana investment – one blue and two colors – that can be tricky in multicolored decks. This specific mana cost sometimes hinders its integration into a broader range of deck strategies that can’t consistently provide the necessary blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Cemetery Illuminator offers unique gameplay advantages, a three-mana cost can be substantial in fast-paced games where players seek to establish board presence rapidly. In the context of MTG’s current meta, the card could be seen as a less-than-optimal choice compared to lower-cost cards with similar or more immediate impacts.


Reasons to Include Cemetery Illuminator in Your Collection

Versatility: This enigmatic Spirit provides a unique advantage – it enables you to play a more strategic game by manipulating the graveyard, a resource often overlooked. Its capacity to exile cards from graveyards gives it an edge in various formats and deck archetypes, broadening the card’s utility beyond a specific niche.

Combo Potential: The ability to look at the top card of any graveyard can be instrumental in enabling synergies with other graveyard-interacting cards. In combination with effects that care about the types of cards in graveyards, Cemetery Illuminator can become a powerful piece in your strategic puzzle, potentially unlocking devastating effects turn after turn.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, decks that rely extensively on graveyard strategies often come into the frontline. The Illuminator’s aptitude for repeated graveyard hate ensures that it remains a relevant choice for keeping many dominant strategies in check, securing its role as a meta-contender.


How to beat

Overcoming Cemetery Illuminator in your MTG matches requires a strategic approach. This card thrives on graveyard interactions, showcasing the power of knowledge by allowing its controller to exile cards from a graveyard and make advantageous decisions based on the card type revealed. It’s this precisely controlled knowledge and hindrance to graveyard strategies that make it invaluable in matches.

One method to counteract Cemetery Illuminator is by utilizing cards that limit graveyard interaction, such as Tormod’s Crypt, which can clear the graveyard in response to the reveal trigger. This hinders the Illuminator’s ability to disrupt your strategic plans. Furthermore, instant removal spells like Abrupt Decay or other uncounterable spells play a key role in safely dispatching the Illuminator before it can significantly sway the game in favor of your opponent.

It’s important to recognize the role of enchantment removal as well. Cards like Disenchant can effectively handle Artifacts and Enchantments that may work in tandem with Cemetery Illuminator. Denying your opponent the benefits associated with a known strategic graveyard allows you to control the pace of the game and prevent them from utilizing their tactical knowledge. So, focus on disrupting graveyard synergy and applying pressure with removal, essential steps against this unique Magic: The Gathering card.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re an avid MTG player looking to enhance your gameplay, don’t overlook a card like Cemetery Illuminator. Its ability to grant you preemptive insight into your opponent’s next draw or fortify your own strategy makes it a versatile ally. For those who relish in controlling the game’s tempo and stacking the deck in their favor, mastering the Illuminator’s nuances can be incredibly rewarding. Ensure your collection is ready to face evolving metagames by incorporating this spectral strategist. Ready for deeper mastery of MTG mechanics and strategies? Visit BurnMana for more insights on how to make Cemetery Illuminator a cornerstone of your gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cemetery Illuminator MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Crimson Vow Art Series, 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 Cemetery Illuminator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cemetery Illuminator Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Uriah Voth.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 953172015NormalBlackUriah Voth
22021-11-19Crimson Vow Art SeriesAVOW 212015Art seriesBorderlessUriah Voth
32021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3562015NormalBlackUriah Voth
42021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 502015NormalBlackUriah Voth
52022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 3172015NormalBlackUriah Voth

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cemetery Illuminator has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cemetery Illuminator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-11-19 Card types that can be exiled from a graveyard include artifact, creature, enchantment, land, planeswalker, instant, and sorcery. Legendary, basic, and snow are supertypes, not card types. Human, Equipment, and Aura are subtypes, not card types.
2021-11-19 Cemetery Illuminator's ability allows you to cast a spell that shares a card type with the exiled card, even if the card on top of the library doesn't. For example, if you've exiled an artifact card, you could cast The Omenkeel from the top of your library, even though it's the back face of the modal double-faced card Cosima, God of the Voyage, which isn't an artifact.