Grim Haruspex MTG Card


Grim Haruspex draws cards, providing continuous hand replenishment when nontoken creatures die. Its morph ability offers versatility by allowing face-down play with instant-speed reveal. While restrictive in some decks, its consistent card advantage can be pivotal.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Abilities Morph
Power 3
Toughness 2

Text of card

Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, draw a card.

"We all want to know what's going on in someone else's head. I simply open it up and look."


Cards like Grim Haruspex

Grim Haruspex emerges as a distinctive creature card that bolsters card draw for MTG players adept at creature-centric strategies. This card mirrors the abilities of related cards such as Midnight Reaper, which also grants the advantage of drawing cards upon the death of creatures you control. However, unlike Grim Haruspex’s exclusively non-token clause, Midnight Reaper includes tokens in its range, at the cost of one life per draw.

Dark Prophecy is another analogous card; it shares the same mana cost and also cues card draw from creatures’ demise. Its key difference lies in compelling life loss for each creature’s fall, which can be a double-edged sword in tight skirmishes. Another comparable option is Harvester of Souls, a creature that allows drawing when any non-token creature dies, not just your own, giving it broader reach but at higher mana investment.

Therefore, Grim Haruspex holds its ground in the spectrum of MTG cards that convert creature losses into new strategic opportunities. Its precise requirements can be seen as a strength, crafting a niche for players who favor calculated, token-free creature play. Its place in Magic: The Gathering is well-earned, providing a blend of utility and efficiency that’s hard to dismiss.

Midnight Reaper - MTG Card versions
Dark Prophecy - MTG Card versions
Harvester of Souls - MTG Card versions
Midnight Reaper - MTG Card versions
Dark Prophecy - MTG Card versions
Harvester of Souls - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black MidrangeMono-Black Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024
Rakdos AggroRakdos Aggro GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grim Haruspex is a powerhouse at ensuring you never run out of gas. By drawing a card whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, you maintain a steady flow of resources, keeping your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana, the consistent card draw offered by Grim Haruspex can indirectly accelerate your resources. More cards in hand increases the likelihood of hitting land drops or drawing into ramp spells, enabling you to play your more impactful cards sooner.

Instant Speed: While Grim Haruspex itself isn’t an instant, it has the morph ability, which allows you some flexibility. You can play it facedown as a 2/2 creature and turn it face up any time you could cast an instant. This versatility ensures that you can adapt to the game’s state and potentially surprise an opponent with its card-drawing trigger.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Grim Haruspex demands that you have creatures to sacrifice or let die, which can be problematic in decks that don’t consistently have expendable creatures or ways to reliably trigger its ability.

Specific Mana Cost: A strict casting cost which includes black mana can be restrictive, particularly in multicolor decks that need to carefully manage their mana base to accommodate diverse spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one black, Grim Haruspex faces competition from other cards at similar or lower cost points that could provide more immediate or versatile advantages. Additionally, it may not fit easily into fast-paced strategies aiming for early game dominance.


Reasons to Include Grim Haruspex in Your Collection

Versatility: Grim Haruspex can seamlessly integrate into a wide array of deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on creature-based strategies. It’s a perfect fit for decks that seek value from creatures dying, as it can keep your hand filled with options.

Combo Potential: This card has substantial synergy with sacrifice mechanics, allowing players to draw cards while controlling the board state. Its ability works excellently alongside various sacrifice outlets, creating opportunities to cycle through your deck efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: With many competitive environments emphasizing interaction with creatures, having Grim Haruspex provides a consistent draw mechanism. This ensures you maintain card advantage in matchups where creatures are frequently entering and leaving the battlefield.


How to beat Grim Haruspex

Grim Haruspex stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a potent card advantage engine, particularly in creature-heavy decks. The ability to draw a card whenever another nontoken creature you control dies can quickly turn the tide of a game if left unchecked. Facing this imposing threat requires a savvy strategy to prevent the opposing player from amassing a significant card advantage.

One effective approach is utilizing exile effects. Cards that can exile Grim Haruspex, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, circumvent its ability as the creature doesn’t die but is removed from the game entirely. Another strategy involves countering the creature before it even hits the battlefield, using spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, thereby neutralizing the threat preemptively.

Remember, dealing with Grixis Haruspex promptly is crucial. Allowing it to linger on the battlefield can quickly lead to a card advantage that could overwhelm even the most strategic players. A well-timed removal or counter when the opponent is stretched on resources can ensure Grim Haruspex doesn’t turn their creatures’ demise into a path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

The depth of MTG is truly vast, with cards like Grim Haruspex offering unique strategies for those who maneuver the battlefield with cunning. Balancing the fine line between maintaining card advantage and mastering resource acceleration is key. As you continue your journey through the realms of MTG, remember to consider not just the card’s individual strength but also its synergy within your deck. If you’re intrigued by the potential and finesse that Grim Haruspex brings to your gameplay, we’re here to delve deeper into strategies, combos, and deck-building philosophies. Join our community of seasoned players eager to share insights, and watch your skills surge.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grim Haruspex MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir 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 Grim Haruspex and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grim Haruspex Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 557892015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
22014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 73s2015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
32014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 73y2015NormalBlackJosiah "Jo" Cameron
42014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 732015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
52019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1182015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
62020-09-26The ListPLST UGIN-732015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
72022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7542015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grim Haruspex has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-09-20 A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren't affected.
2014-09-20 Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.
2014-09-20 At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can't look at face-down spells or permanents you don't control unless an effect instructs you to do so.
2014-09-20 Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it's turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn't cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.
2014-09-20 If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends.
2014-09-20 Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.
2014-09-20 The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a mana value of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost.
2014-09-20 When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It's colorless and has a mana value of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.
2014-09-20 You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You're not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield.