Debtors' Knell MTG Card


Debtors’ Knell provides continuous creature reanimation, delivering recurring strategic advantages in matches. It poses a unique threat as it pulls from any graveyard, not limited to the controller’s creatures. Countering it requires specific strategies such as enchantment removal or rapid aggressive play.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

({WB} can be paid with either or .) At the beginning of your upkeep, put target creature card in a graveyard into play under your control.

One moment, conscious only of a sense of repose. The next moment, hearing the trudge of his own footsteps. He sighed and squinted into the glare ahead.


Cards like Debtors' Knell

Debtors’ Knell is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that resonates with players fond of reanimation strategies. This enchantment mirrors the power of reanimation spells such as Animate Dead, which can also resurrect creatures from the graveyard. Debtors’ Knell, however, has the advantage of recurring this ability with each of your upkeep phases, bringing a new creature under your control each time. Animate Dead, while efficient in cost, lacks this repeatable effect.

Looking at another parallel, Zombify allows players to return target creatures from their graveyard to the battlefield. But like Animate Dead, it’s a one-time deal, whereas Debtors’ Knell invokes the terror of an endless army over the course of a game. Additionally, Debtors’ Knell isn’t limited by what it reanimates – granting you access to any graveyard, making it more flexible than Zombify’s owner-only restriction.

To sum up, Debtors’ Knell earns its place in MTG as a powerhouse for its persistent and versatile reanimation utility, setting a standard for others in its class. Compared to solitary use spells, its enduring presence on the battlefield provides a strategic depth that can dominate games turn after turn.

Debtors' Knell - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Debtors' Knell - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Debtors’ Knell grants an ongoing return of creature cards from any graveyard to the battlefield under your control. This effect can result in substantial card advantage over time, skewing the balance of power in your favor by effectively reusing powerful creatures.

Resource Acceleration: By reanimating creatures from the graveyard, Debtors’ Knell can significantly accelerate your resource availability. Instead of paying the mana cost of casting these creatures from your hand, you can use your mana pool for other strategic plays or summoning additional threats.

Instant Speed: Although Debtors’ Knell operates at the beginning of your upkeep, making it slightly slower than instant speed, the ability to impact the board without using the stack during your own turn provides a resilience to opposing instant speed removal and counterspells, securing your advantage with less vulnerability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Debtors’ Knell doesn’t directly enforce a discard action, but its graveyard-reanimating ability can potentially be less useful if your hand is emptied too quickly and you can’t sustain a sufficient graveyard presence to capitalize on its effect.

Specific Mana Cost: As an Orzhov card, Debtors’ Knell requires a specific combination of white and black mana, which could present a challenge in multicolored decks that are not primarily focused on these colors or lack the necessary mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven mana cost that includes three generic and two of each black and white mana, this enchantment is on the higher end of the mana curve. This cost may delay its deployment, especially in decks that don’t focus on ramping or mana acceleration, thus making it a potential tempo setback in faster-paced games.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Debtors’ Knell offers a unique advantage in that it can be included in a variety of deck archetypes. This enchantment allows you to reanimate creatures from any graveyard, not just your own, providing a consistent threat that opponents must address every turn.

Combo Potential: This card stands out for its synergy with various graveyard-centric strategies. Its capability to return a creature to the battlefield each upkeep can be part of a loop with sacrifice effects, potentially enabling powerful infinite combos with the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games are drawn out and graveyards fill up quickly, Debtors’ Knell becomes increasingly valuable. It allows the player to turn late-game stalemates into victories by harnessing the most potent creatures from all graveyards, making it a formidable card against control decks and mirror matches.


How to beat

Debtors’ Knell is a powerhouse when it comes to reanimation strategies in the game of Magic: The Gathering. It presents a unique challenge as it allows players to return a creature from any graveyard to the battlefield under their control at the beginning of each of their upkeeps. This continuous revival of powerful creatures can quickly tip the scales in favor of the card’s controller. To effectively counter this enchantment, players must be proactive and include enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize in their decks. Additionally, graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can prevent the card’s ability from being a factor by exiling creatures before they can be resurrected.

One should never underestimate the potential for indirect disruption either. Counter spells such as Counterspell or Negate can stop Debtors’ Knell from hitting the battlefield in the first place. Finally, speed is essential. Aggressive decks that aim to end the game before Debtors’ Knell can impact the match are also viable strategies. By keeping these tools in mind, players can craft a game plan that neutralizes the threat posed by this formidable enchantment and steers the game towards victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

The path to victory in MTG is often paved with the intricate details of strategy, selection, and timing. Debtors’ Knell stands as a prime example of an enchantment capable of shifting the tides, imbuing your deck with the power to harness creatures across graveyards and redefine the battlefield dynamics. Its enduring presence and flexible reanimation make it a valued asset in many MTG collections. As you continue honing your deck and tactics, consider the strategic depth that Debtors’ Knell could offer. Ready to harness the ceaseless advantage of recurring resurrection? Dive deeper with us to discover advanced strategies and deck synergies that can take your game to a commanding level.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Debtors' Knell MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact and RNA Guild Kit, 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 Debtors' Knell and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Debtors' Knell Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-02-03GuildpactGPT 1412003NormalBlackKev Walker
22019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 392015NormalBlackKev Walker
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15192015NormalBlackKev Walker
42020-09-26The ListPLST GK2-392015NormalBlackKev Walker
52021-04-23Commander 2021C21 2152015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Debtors' Knell has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal