Kjeldoran Dead MTG Card


Kjeldoran Dead enhances card advantage by recovering creatures from the graveyard without depleting hand resources. The card’s ability at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing players to adapt quickly to opponents’ moves. While offering interesting combo potential, its casting restrictions and mana cost require thoughtful deck integration.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Skeleton
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Kjeldoran Dead comes into play, sacrifice a creature. oo B Regenerate

"They shall kill those whom once they loved." —Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer


Cards like Kjeldoran Dead

Kjeldoran Dead is an intriguing card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering for fans of zombie and undead-themed decks. It stands out with its resurrection mechanic, which is not commonly seen and allows for strategic graveyard play. This card brings creatures from the graveyard directly into play, albeit with a sacrifice requirement, which could be seen as a double-edged sword. It resembles Drudge Skeletons to an extent, where both offer ways to maintain a presence on the battlefield, but Kjeldoran Dead’s one-time use contrasts with Drudge Skeletons’ repeated regeneration ability.

Looking at similar mechanics, Reassembling Skeleton offers a more flexible and recurring way to bring creatures back from the graveyard to the battlefield. While it does not have the initial cheaper casting cost like Kjeldoran Dead, it compensates with its resilience and ongoing tactical advantages. Another comparable card is Tenacious Dead, which also returns from the graveyard to the battlefield, though with a slightly higher investment for each recurrence.

These comparisons highlight Kjeldoran Dead as a unique option for MTG players who value aggressive early plays and have a strategy for leveraging its self-sacrifice mechanic, distinguishing it from other zombie and skeleton-themed cards that provide more sustainability.

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Reassembling Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Tenacious Dead - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Reassembling Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Tenacious Dead - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kjeldoran Dead by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
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Insidious Bookworms - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - 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
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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
Mindlash Sliver - 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
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
Mindlash Sliver - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Kjeldoran Dead’s ability to recruit additional creatures from your graveyard enhances your hand’s value. By sacrificing a snow land, you bring a creature back into play, bolstering your battlefield presence without diminishing your hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: What sets this card apart is its synergy with decks that benefit from self-sacrifice and grave play. By strategically sacrificing the Kjeldoran Dead, it can facilitate powerful combos and enable a more rapid deployment of threats that can overwhelm your opponent.

Instant Speed: This card’s sacrifice ability can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility in response to your opponent’s moves. Be it during combat or in reaction to removal, the instant nature of this action can catch opponents off guard and turn the tide in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Kjeldoran Dead requires you to sacrifice a creature when it comes into play, presenting a cost that’s particularly steep if you’re trying to maintain board presence or if your strategy hinges on creature synergies.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost demands one black mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolor decks that don’t heavily feature black. This necessity for black mana can complicate its inclusion, especially in decks where black is not a primary color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging three mana for a 1/1 creature isn’t the best return on investment, considering other options available. In many decks, three mana can summon creatures with greater impact or provide more strategic advantages than the Kjeldoran Dead’s relatively modest abilities.


Reasons to Include Kjeldoran Dead in Your Collection

Versatility: Kjeldoran Dead is a classic card that can synergize well with decks that focus on sacrificing creatures for greater benefits. Its ability to regenerate can make it a persistent threat on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card’s low cost and regenerative property make it a prime candidate for combos in black-centered decks, especially those revolving around death triggers or sacrifice mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that values resilient creatures, Kjeldoran Dead stands out due to its ability to avoid destruction, making it a persistent nuisance for opponents focusing on removal to clear the board.


How to beat

The Kjeldoran Dead is a distinctive creature card in Magic: The Gathering, with a resurrection mechanic that appeals to many players leveraging graveyard strategies. At first glance, overcoming this card may seem challenging due to its ability to rejoin the battlefield from the graveyard; however, with the right strategy, it can be managed efficiently.

One effective approach is to use exile effects. Cards that remove creatures from the game entirely circumvent the Kjeldoran Dead’s regeneration ability, ensuring it cannot return to thwart your plans. Another strategy is to deploy graveyard hate cards which can prevent or impede graveyard-based mechanics, restricting the efficacy of the Kjeldoran Dead’s comeback potential.

Controlling the pace of the game is also pivotal. Avoiding trades that would send the Kjeldoran Dead to the graveyard in the first place limits its ability to come back. Additionally, presenting multiple threats can overwhelm an opponent relying on a single resurrecting creature, putting pressure on them to defend on multiple fronts. By anticipating the Kjeldoran Dead’s return and implementing these tactics, you can control and eventually overpower its seemingly persistent nature.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kjeldoran Dead MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Kjeldoran Dead and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kjeldoran Dead Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Melissa A. Benson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 1371993NormalBlackMelissa A. Benson
21997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 1701997NormalWhiteMelissa A. Benson
31999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1401997NormalWhiteMelissa A. Benson
42006-07-21Coldsnap Theme DecksCST 1372003NormalBlackMelissa A. Benson
52008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 981997NormalBlackMelissa A. Benson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kjeldoran Dead has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 The sacrifice is a triggered ability and not a cost.
2008-10-01 When Kjeldoran Dead’s enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, if you don’t control any other creatures, you must sacrifice Kjeldoran Dead itself.