Animate Dead - Secrets of Strixhaven Commander (#207) - Illustrated by Bastien L. Deharme - Magic: The Gathering Card
Enchant

Animate Dead

Card Rules and Details

Card Type: Enchantment — Aura

Mana Cost: {1}{B}

Oracle Rules Text: Enchant creature card in a graveyard When this Aura enters, if it's on the battlefield, it loses "enchant creature card in a graveyard" and gains "enchant creature put onto the battlefield with this Aura." Return enchanted creature card to the battlefield under your control and attach this Aura to it. When this Aura leaves the battlefield, that creature's controller sacrifices it. Enchanted creature gets -1/-0.

Set: Secrets of Strixhaven Commander (#207), Rarity: Uncommon, Artist: Bastien L. Deharme

Enchantment Black Uncommon
$5.09
Regular
€5.08
Euro
Prices as of Sep 02, 2026. Market values fluctuate; double-check current pricing before purchasing.
Historical Printings & Sets (1)
1 Languages
en English Viewing Here
1 Printing
Thumbnail Set Name Code Rarity Artist Released
Animate Dead - Secrets of Strixhaven Commander MTG card scan Animate Dead Secrets of Strixhaven Commander Viewing SOC Uncommon Bastien L. Deharme 2026-04-24

Official Rulings (5)

2016-06-08
If the creature put onto the battlefield has protection from black—or if the creature can't legally be enchanted by Animate Dead for another reason—Animate Dead won't be able to attach to it. It will be put into the graveyard as a state-based action, causing its delayed triggered ability to trigger. When the trigger resolves, if the creature's still on the battlefield, its controller will sacrifice it.
2016-06-08
Animate Dead is an Aura, albeit with an unusual enchant ability. You target a creature card in a graveyard when you cast it. It enters the battlefield attached to that card. Then it returns that card to the battlefield, and attaches itself to the card again (since the card is a new object on the battlefield). Animate Dead itself never moves into a graveyard during this process.
2016-06-08
If Animate Dead isn't on the battlefield as its triggered ability resolves, none of its effects happen. The creature card won't be returned to the battlefield.
2016-06-08
Once the creature is returned to the battlefield, Animate Dead can't be attached to anything other than it (unless Animate Dead somehow manages to put a different creature onto the battlefield). Attempting to move Animate Dead to another creature won't work.
2016-06-08
Abilities such as shroud and protection function only on the battlefield unless otherwise specified. A creature card with shroud may be targeted by Animate Dead, and Animate Dead will become attached to the creature that enters the battlefield.

🔮 Mechanically Similar Cards

Cards that share similar playstyles, keywords, and mana synergies.

More like this
Dance of the Dead - Masters Edition II Magic card
Dance of the Dead
Enchantment — Aura
Animate Graveyard - Unfinity Magic card
Animate Graveyard
Enchantment — Aura
Screams from Within - Secrets of Strixhaven Commander Magic card
Screams from Within
Enchantment — Aura
Death's Approach - Jumpstart Magic card
Death's Approach
Enchantment — Aura
Unhallowed Pact - Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis Magic card
Unhallowed Pact
Enchantment — Aura
Unholy Indenture - Core Set 2020 Magic card
Unholy Indenture
Enchantment — Aura
Lingering Death - Scourge Magic card
Lingering Death
Enchantment — Aura
Mourning - Invasion Magic card
Mourning
Enchantment — Aura
AvaScry

Build with AvaScry

Interested in AvaScry's card data, semantic search, or other MTG technology?

Partner with AvaScry