Undying and the Graveyard: A Deep Dive into MTG’s Recursion Mechanic
Yes, undying creatures do go to the graveyard. This is a crucial step in the undying ability’s process. The ability triggers when the creature goes to the graveyard from the battlefield. Understanding this is fundamental to grasping how undying functions in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). The creature must die, hit the graveyard, then the game checks if it had a +1/+1 counter. If it didn’t, prepare for a resurrection!
Understanding the Undying Mechanic
The undying mechanic is a creature-based recursion ability. This means that it allows a creature to return to the battlefield from the graveyard under specific conditions. It’s essentially the inverse of persist (which we’ll touch on later). Here’s the breakdown:
- Trigger Condition: The creature with undying must be put into the graveyard from the battlefield.
- Check Condition: When the creature is in the graveyard, the game checks if it had any +1/+1 counters on it immediately before it left the battlefield.
- Effect: If the creature had no +1/+1 counters, it returns to the battlefield under its owner’s control, and it gets a +1/+1 counter placed on it.
- No Return: If the creature did have a +1/+1 counter on it when it died, undying does nothing. It stays in the graveyard.
It’s a one-time deal. Once a creature with undying returns with a +1/+1 counter, it won’t come back again if it dies again (unless you can remove that counter somehow).
Undying vs. Persist: A Mirror Image
The persist mechanic is the ‘evil twin’ of undying. Instead of checking for +1/+1 counters, persist checks for -1/-1 counters. If a creature with persist dies and didn’t have any -1/-1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter. The key difference is the type of counter involved. If a creature has both persist and undying, the counters essentially cancel each other out when the creature dies and attempts to return to the battlefield.
Sacrificing and Undying
Sacrificing a creature does trigger the undying ability. The act of sacrificing sends the creature from the battlefield to the graveyard, satisfying the trigger condition. The undying ability goes on the stack, and when it resolves, the creature returns with a +1/+1 counter (assuming it didn’t have one already).
Common Misconceptions
Many players get confused about the timing and conditions of undying. Remember that the check for +1/+1 counters happens after the creature is already in the graveyard. Also, undying only triggers when the creature dies from the battlefield. It doesn’t trigger if the creature is exiled, or if it’s put into the graveyard from somewhere other than the battlefield (like your hand or library).
Undying in Practice
Understanding undying is essential for effective strategy. You can build entire decks around recurring creatures with undying, using sacrifice outlets to trigger the ability repeatedly (after removing the +1/+1 counter). The mechanic also interacts interestingly with other counter-based abilities, creating potential for complex combos. It’s a powerful and versatile mechanic, but mastering it requires a clear understanding of the rules and timing involved. Exploring the intersection of games and learning more generally can be a valuable complement; consider visiting the Games Learning Society website for more information: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does undying work if a creature is exiled instead of going to the graveyard?
No, undying specifically triggers when the creature goes to the graveyard from the battlefield. If the creature is exiled, undying will not activate.
2. What happens if a creature has multiple instances of undying?
Multiple instances of undying don’t stack in the way you might think. The creature only needs to return to the battlefield once. However, if a creature with multiple instances of undying dies without a +1/+1 counter, all of the undying triggers will go on the stack. The first trigger to resolve brings the creature back. The other triggers, when they resolve, will do nothing since the creature is no longer in the graveyard.
3. If I bounce (return to hand) a creature with undying, does it come back?
No. The creature must die (go to the graveyard from the battlefield) for undying to trigger. Bouncing a creature does not trigger the undying ability.
4. Does undying work with tokens?
Yes, but with a caveat. Tokens do go to the graveyard when they die, which can trigger undying. However, tokens cease to exist shortly after going to the graveyard. So, if a token with undying dies without a +1/+1 counter, the undying ability will trigger. But by the time the ability resolves, the token is no longer in the graveyard, and nothing will return to the battlefield.
5. Can I remove the +1/+1 counter from a creature with undying to trigger it again?
Yes! There are cards and abilities that can remove +1/+1 counters. If you remove the +1/+1 counter from a creature that returned with undying, and then that creature dies again, undying will trigger again (assuming it doesn’t have a +1/+1 counter when it dies this time).
6. Does a creature with undying have summoning sickness when it returns?
Yes. A creature returned to the battlefield with undying is treated as a brand new permanent. It has “summoning sickness” and cannot attack or use abilities with the tap symbol until your next turn.
7. What happens if a creature has both undying and persist?
When a creature has both undying and persist and it dies, both abilities trigger. Let’s say the creature has no counters. Undying will return the creature with a +1/+1 counter. Because undying resolves first and return the creature to the battlefield, persist will do nothing. If the creature had a +1/+1 counter, the persist ability will return it with a -1/-1 counter. If the creature had a -1/-1 counter, the undying ability will return it with a +1/+1 counter. These counters will cancel and stay on the field.
8. Can I counter the undying ability itself?
Yes. You can use a spell or ability that counters triggered abilities (like “Stifle” or “Tale’s End”) to counter the undying trigger on the stack. This will prevent the creature from returning to the battlefield.
9. How does undying interact with effects that prevent creatures from dying?
Effects that prevent creatures from dying (like “Indestructible”) will prevent undying from triggering. If a creature with undying has indestructible and would be destroyed, it won’t go to the graveyard, so undying won’t trigger.
10. If I copy a creature with undying, does the copy also have undying?
Yes. If you copy a creature with undying, the copy will also have the undying ability. If the copy dies, it will trigger undying just like the original.
11. Can I respond to the undying trigger?
Yes. The undying ability goes on the stack, so players have the opportunity to respond to it before it resolves. This means you can cast instants, activate abilities, or take other actions while the undying trigger is waiting to resolve.
12. What happens if a creature with undying dies at the same time as another creature with undying?
Both undying abilities will trigger and go on the stack. Each creature will return to the battlefield (assuming they didn’t have +1/+1 counters). The order the triggers are placed on the stack is determined by the active player (the player whose turn it is).
13. How does undying interact with mutate?
When a mutated creature with undying dies, all the creatures in the pile will go to the graveyard. Each creature with undying in the pile will trigger the undying ability and return to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter, creating a new pile, it will come back separately.
14. Does undying work if the creature is sacrificed as part of a cost?
Yes, sacrificing a creature as part of a cost triggers the Undying ability. The Undying ability is placed on the stack. This is on top of any other abilities that cost triggers. The Undying ability resolves and the creature returns to the battlefield.
15. Why is understanding the graveyard important in MTG?
The graveyard is a crucial zone in MTG. Many strategies revolve around interacting with cards in the graveyard, whether it’s reanimating creatures, casting spells from the graveyard, or using the graveyard as a resource for other abilities. Understanding how creatures enter and leave the graveyard, and how abilities trigger based on these transitions, is essential for mastering the game.