What are the rules of undying?

What are the rules of Undying?

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, creatures can have various abilities that allow them to survive longer than usual. One such ability is Undying, which allows a creature to come back to life from the graveyard with a +1/+1 counter. In this article, we’ll delve into the rules of Undying and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how it works.

What is Undying?

Undying is an ability that triggers when a creature with it dies, causing it to return to the battlefield from the graveyard with a +1/+1 counter. This ability allows creatures with Undying to have an extended lifespan, as they can come back to life and continue to battle. Undying is similar to another ability called Persist, which also allows creatures to come back to life from the graveyard. However, Undying has some unique rules and interactions that we’ll explore below.

Undying Triggers

A creature with Undying triggers when it dies and returns to the graveyard. The creature does not remain on the battlefield; instead, it goes to the graveyard and then comes back to life. When the creature returns, it gains a +1/+1 counter, and if it already had one or more +1/+1 counters, it will not gain any additional ones. Undying is triggered by the creature dying and returning to the graveyard; it is not triggered by other effects that destroy the creature.

Timing of Undying

The timing of Undying can be important to understand, as it interacts with other abilities and effects on the battlefield. Undying triggers at the beginning of the owner’s main phase, after the upkeep phase. This means that if a creature with Undying dies during the owner’s main phase, it will trigger Undying immediately. If it dies during the opponent’s turn or during the owner’s own end step, Undying will trigger during the next owner’s main phase.

Undying Interactions

Undying has several interactions with other abilities and effects on the battlefield. Undying interacts with abilities that trigger from dying, such as Deathtouch and Put to Graveyard. In these cases, Undying will trigger first, followed by the other ability.

Undying and Persist

Undying is similar to Persist, an ability that also allows creatures to come back to life from the graveyard. Both Undying and Persist are triggered by the creature dying and returning to the graveyard. However, Undying triggers in the owner’s main phase, while Persist triggers at the beginning of the player’s next upkeep.

Undying and Haste

Haste is an ability that allows creatures to attack as soon as they enter the battlefield. Haste does not interact with Undying; a creature with both Undying and Haste can attack as soon as it enters the battlefield and return to the battlefield multiple times.

Undying and Summoning Sickness

Summoning Sickness is a rule that prohibits new creatures from attacking for a turn after they enter the battlefield. A creature with Undying can be affected by Summoning Sickness, as it must enter the battlefield like a normal creature. If a creature with Undying dies and returns to the battlefield, it will gain a +1/+1 counter and will be unaffected by Summoning Sickness.

Undying in Modern and Legacy

In Modern and Legacy, Undying creatures are a key part of many competitive decks. They can be used to generate an infinite loop of life, causing the opponent to eventually run out of cards or fall behind in life totals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Undying is a powerful ability that allows creatures to come back to life from the graveyard with a +1/+1 counter. Understanding the timing and interactions of Undying is crucial for successful deck-building and gameplay. Whether you’re building a competitive deck or exploring new possibilities, Undying is an ability that can give you an edge on the battlefield.

Undying Timeline

Undying Comparison with Persist

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