---
name: "Death Grasp"
mana_cost: "{X}{W}{B}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: ["B", "W"]
color_identity: ["B", "W"]
keywords: []
set: "VMA"
set_name: "Vintage Masters"
collector_number: "249"
rarity: "uncommon"
artist: "Raymond Swanland"
oracle_id: "a2335149-d2db-48c1-9699-0df8ce12d4dd"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/death-grasp-vma"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Death Grasp
- **Mana Cost:** `{X}{W}{B}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Sorcery

## Oracle Text
Death Grasp deals X damage to any target. You gain X life.

> *Plate mail, the skin of the chest, the rib cage, the heart—all useless against the mage who can reach directly for the soul.*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Grapple with Death](/printing/grapple-with-death-sos.md) — Sorcery
2. [Certain Death](/printing/certain-death-j22.md) — Sorcery
3. [Debt to the Deathless](/printing/debt-to-the-deathless-rvr.md) — Sorcery
4. [Kiss of Death](/printing/kiss-of-death-p02.md) — Sorcery
5. [Touch of Death](/printing/touch-of-death-5ed.md) — Sorcery
6. [Swallowing Plague](/printing/swallowing-plague-chk.md) — Sorcery — Arcane

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Vintage Masters (VMA) #249
- **Rarity:** Uncommon
- **Artist:** Raymond Swanland
- **Total Printings:** 25 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`