Gravecrawler MTG Card


Gravecrawler’s recurrence ability is vital for strategies revolving around sacrificing creatures for value or triggers. This zombie card suits aggressive decks well, enabling relentless battlefield presence and pressuring opponents consistently. Frequently featured in eternal formats, Gravecrawler synergizes with decks that utilize graveyard resources for strategic advantages.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Gravecrawler can't block. You may cast Gravecrawler from your graveyard as long as you control a Zombie.

"Innistrad's ghoulcallers are talented enough, but let me show you what someone with real power can create." —Liliana Vess


Cards like Gravecrawler

Exploring the graveyard-focused cards in Magic: The Gathering, Gravecrawler stands among the top choices. Among its counterparts, Reassembling Skeleton offers a resemblance. Both can return from the graveyard, but the Skeleton requires two mana of any kind, differing from Gravecrawler that requires a Zombie on the field.

The Relentless Dead, another Zombie card, also holds potential for comparison. This card can return diverse Zombies to hand or field, providing a broader spectrum of choice than Gravecrawler. However, Relentless Dead is double the cost, thereby, making Gravecrawler a more cost-effective option.

We also encounter Dread Wanderer, which is often compared to Gravecrawler given their similar abilities. Dread Wanderer can come back from the graveyard just as Gravecrawler, but it must meet additional requirements, such as having one or fewer cards in hand.

When comparing these cards, Gravecrawler exhibits a valuable presence in the deck. Its power to return from the graveyard with just a Zombie presence makes it a potent and efficient choice among similar cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Reassembling Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Dread Wanderer - MTG Card versions
Reassembling Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Dread Wanderer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gravecrawler by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Insidious Bookworms - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Circling Vultures - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Champion of the Perished - MTG Card versions
Accursed Centaur - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Insidious Bookworms - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Circling Vultures - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Champion of the Perished - MTG Card versions
Accursed Centaur - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Crab VineCrab Vine ModernCrab VineModern League 2024-03-02
Dimir ZombiesDimir Zombies ModernDimir ZombiesModern Preliminary 2024-04-17
CrabvineCrabvine ModernCrab Vine2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open
Golgari LoamGolgari Loam Legacy3 Etapa - 3 Liga Legacy Jundia
Mono-Black ZombiesMono-Black Zombies ModernZombiesPachanga Trial ACUP Domingo
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
BRGBRG ModernModern Preliminary 2024-02-27 (1)
Rakdos ZombiesRakdos Zombies ModernRakdos Zombies2024 Hunter Burton Memorial Open
UBGUBG ModernModern Challenge 64 2024-03-16 (1)
4-color Loam4-color Loam Legacy2 Etapa - 3 Liga Legacy Jundia

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Gravecrawler MTG grants a robust card advantage. Having the ability to consistently bring it back from the graveyard to the battlefield without mana cost can increase your field presence. This effectively boosts your hand size as it’s like always having an additional creature card in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Gravecrawler can be a perfect card for resource acceleration. Its constant resurrection ability can potentially speed up various effects in a Zombie-type deck, allowing you to keep pressure on opponents. Since it requires only one black mana to cast, it further streamlines your deck’s overall mana curve.

Instant Speed: While Gravecrawler isn’t at an instant speed, its resurrection ability can happen at a surprising pace. If it’s sent to the graveyard during your opponent’s turn, it can be back on the battlefield by your next upkeep. This gives you a level of flexibility and unpredictability that can turn games in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Gravecrawler card does not possess a discard requirement, which could have provided additional benefits or synergistic effects with other graveyard-based decks. This might be a notable disadvantage, especially for players banking on graveyard interactions.

Specific Mana Cost: Gravecrawler demands a specific black mana for its casting, tightening its applicability in just black or multicolored decks that incorporate black mana. This requirement confines the adaptability to other deck types and may necessitate strategic considerations for creating an optimal deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Gravecrawler only costs a single black mana to cast, it’s an investment, considering it only brings a 2/1 creature to the battlefield. The reanimation ability, while it can be powerful, also needs a zombie on the field, making it potentially cost prohibitive, especially for decks looking for efficient uses of their mana supply.


Reasons to Include Gravecrawler in Your Collection

Versatility: Gravecrawler has the unique ability to be cast from the graveyard if you control a Zombie, allowing it to fit into a wide range of decks, particularly those employing undead or recursion-based strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right synergies on your board, Gravecrawler can facilitate powerful combos, easily amassing an army of undead soldiers or triggering abilities whenever a creature enters the battlefield. Just imagine it working with Diregraf Captain or Phyrexian Altar.

Meta-Relevance: Gravecrawler holds a spot in the meta for its potential to disrupt control and mid-range strategies. Given that MTG’s current meta-game consistently veers towards creature-heavy decks, this undead warrior could indeed be a worthy addition to your collection.


How to beat

The challenge of beating Gravecrawler MTG lies in its powerful ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield. It’s a notoriously persistent card to deal with. However, there are strategies and card choices that can help keep this undying zombie at bay.

One way of countering Gravecrawler MTG is through exile effect cards. These can remove Gravecrawler completely, denying its ability to resurrect. Cards like Path to Exile or Scavenging Ooze are prime choices for this strategy.

Another approach is to control the number of zombies on your opponent’s battlefield. Since Gravecrawler can only return to the battlefield if a zombie is present, cards that can wipe out multiple creatures or cards that can change the creature type can be effective. Wrath of God and Engineered Plague are examples of such cards.

In essence, the key to beating Gravecrawler MTG lies in disrupting your opponent’s strategy by disabling Gravecrawler’s reanimation or controlling the presence of other zombie creatures on the battlefield. These tactics coupled with skillful play would give you the edge against this relentless zombie card.


Conclusion

In conclusion, diving into the depths of Magic the Gathering is as much about strategy as it is about discovery. Any player, from the casual enthusiast to the competitive pro, knows that each card like Gravecrawler can turn the tide of a duel. As you continue to refine your deck and gameplay strategies, consider the synergies and combos that can be enhanced with carefully chosen cards. Remember, the path to victory is layering knowledge and experience with each match. We invite you to continue learning, exploring, and acquiring key components to craft your ultimate deck. Embark on your next enthralling journey through MTG with us, and let’s conquer the playfield together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gravecrawler MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dark Ascension Promos, 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 Gravecrawler and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gravecrawler Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2012-01-28 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 435172003NormalBlackDave Kendall
22012-01-28Dark Ascension PromosPDKA 64★2003NormalBlackDave Kendall
32012-02-03Dark AscensionDKA 642003NormalBlackSteven Belledin
42016-02-26Duel Decks: Blessed vs. CursedDDQ 592015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
52019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6732015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
62019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2312015NormalBorderlessFay Dalton
72020-09-26The ListPLST DDQ-592015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
82022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 782015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
92022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4382015NormalBlackSteven Belledin
102022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4232015NormalBlackSteven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gravecrawler has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-01-22 Gravecrawler’s ability doesn’t change when you could cast it.
2011-01-22 Once you’ve cast Gravecrawler and it’s on the stack, it doesn’t matter if you lose control of the other Zombie.