Zombies in Magic: The Gathering
Overview
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Zombies are a prominent and flavorful creature type that has been a staple of the game since its inception. These undead beings are typically associated with the color black in the MTG color pie, though they occasionally appear in blue and, less frequently, in other colors.
Flavor and Lore
Zombies in MTG are often depicted as reanimated corpses, brought back to a semblance of life through dark magic or necromancy. They embody themes of decay, relentlessness, and the blurred line between life and death. In various planes of the Multiverse, Zombies serve different roles:
- On Innistrad, they are the results of dark rituals and a constant threat to the living.
- In Amonkhet, they were once seen as sacred servants, mummified and preserved to serve in the afterlife.
- On Ravnica, the Golgari Swarm uses Zombies as a workforce and part of their cycle of life and death.
Gameplay Mechanics
Zombies in MTG often have mechanics that reflect their undying nature and ability to overwhelm opponents:
- Recursion: Many Zombie cards have abilities that allow them to return from the graveyard to the battlefield.
- Token Generation: Zombie decks frequently create numerous Zombie tokens, representing hordes of undead.
- Tribal Synergies: Cards that buff or benefit from other Zombies are common, encouraging players to build Zombie-themed decks.
Notable Zombie Cards
Some iconic Zombie cards in MTG history include:
- Gravecrawler: A 2/1 Zombie that can be cast from your graveyard as long as you control another Zombie.
- Death Baron: Gives all Zombies and Skeletons you control +1/+1 and deathtouch.
- Zombie Apocalypse: A powerful sorcery that returns all Zombie cards from all graveyards to the battlefield under your control.
Zombies continue to be an enduring part of Magic: The Gathering, offering players a mix of flavor and strategic depth in their gameplay experience.
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