Lord of the Undead is a 2/2 Zombie creature that shines in Zombie-heavy decks. Its ability to give other Zombies +1/+1 makes it a key enabler for Zoo-style strategies featuring cards like Griselbrand and Geralf's Messenger. The card's second ability, returning target Zombie from the graveyard to hand, serves as an excellent recursion engine, allowing players to reuse valuable Zombies like Sylvan Caryatid or Stinkweed Imp. Its relatively low CMC of 3.0 makes it an attractive addition to Commander decks that rely on Zombie synergies.

This card is particularly popular in Commander formats due to its ability to fuel graveyard-based strategies and enable powerful recursive loops with cards like Svogga, the Next Generation and Necrotic Ooze. However, its rarity as a Rare from the 8th Edition set makes it slightly more challenging to acquire at competitive prices.

Lord of the Undead

The Lord of the Undead is a 2/2 Zombie creature from the 8th Edition set. Its mana cost is {1}{B}{B}, making it a moderately expensive creature with a relatively low power and toughness.

Keyword Abilities and Oracle Text

• Other Zombie creatures get +1/+1: This ability is a static ability that applies to all other Zombie creatures on the battlefield at all times.
• {1}{B}, {T}: Return target Zombie card from your graveyard to your hand: This triggered ability can be activated during the main phase or beginning of combat, and requires you to pay 1BB and tap the creature. The returned card is a copy of any Zombie card in your graveyard.

Stack Interaction

When the Lord of the Undead's triggered ability is activated, it creates a trigger event that resolves immediately. During its resolution, the top card of your graveyard is put into your hand. This means you can use the returned card to fuel future activations or to create a more powerful Zombie army.

If you have multiple Zombie creatures on the battlefield, and you activate Lord of the Undead's ability, it will only return one Zombie card from your graveyard. If there are other Zombie creatures with their own triggered abilities (such as Sylvan Caryatid, which returns a creature to its owner's hand), they may also be activated during this time.

Battlefield Interaction

When Lord of the Undead is on the battlefield, it grants +1/+1 to all other Zombie creatures. This means that if you have multiple Zombies attacking with the Lord of the Undead, each of those Zombies will get a +1/+1 boost due to the Oracle text ability.

Keep in mind that this boost only applies to the power and toughness of the Zombie creatures at the time the Lord of the Undead is on the battlefield. If you remove the Lord of the Undead from the game, the boosts it granted are lost.

Edge Cases

• If a Zombie creature has multiple triggered abilities (such as Sylvan Caryatid and Necrotic Ooze, which returns a card to its owner's hand), activating one ability will not prevent the others from resolving.
• If you have no Zombie cards in your graveyard, activating Lord of the Undead's ability will do nothing.

Commander-Specific Quirks

In Commander games, it is not uncommon for players to use creatures like Lord of the Undead as a way to create an army of low-toughness Zombies. The +1/+1 boost from its Oracle text can make even the smallest Zombie a formidable attacker.

Lord of the Undead is a versatile Zombie creature that synergizes well with various Zombie-themed decks. Its ability to return target Zombie card from the graveyard to hand provides a convenient way to recur valuable Zombies and maintain a consistent board presence.

Competitive Builds:

• In reanimator decks, Lord of the Undead can be used in conjunction with Solemn Simulacrum or Eidolon of Ridgescale, allowing players to recur powerful Zombies like Keldon Marauders or Carrion Feeder.
• In Zombie tribal strategies, Lord of the Undead's ability to buff other Zombies makes it an excellent partner for creatures like Dreadwrought and Necron Lord of the Spheres.

Casual Builds:

• In casual, low-to-the-ground decks focused on generating card advantage through Grave Pact or Demonic Consultation, Lord of the Undead can serve as a pseudo- Card Advantage Engine, allowing players to recur valuable Zombies and maintain an edge.
• In Zombie-themed pauper or budget builds, Lord of the Undead provides an affordable way to enhance Zombie synergies without breaking the bank.

Niche Builds:

• In specific tribal strategies centered around Zombies, like a "Zombie Tribal" Commander deck with Golgari Grave-Troll as the commander, Lord of the Undead's ability to buff other Zombies makes it an excellent addition.
• In slower-paced decks focusing on graveyard manipulation through Bolas's Citadel or Grave Titan, Lord of the Undead can be used in conjunction with these cards to maintain a consistent board presence.

Lord of the Undead is a rare gem in the world of Commander, offering a unique combination of recursion, card advantage, and tribal synergy. Its ability to return target Zombie card from your graveyard to your hand for a mere {1}{B} and {T} makes it an excellent addition to any Zombie-heavy deck.

One of the most significant advantages of Lord of the Undead is its interaction with other Zombie creatures. By granting +1/+1 to each other Zombie on the battlefield, it significantly boosts their power and toughness. This creates a snowball effect, allowing you to build a formidable army of Zombies that can easily overwhelm opponents. Consider pairing Lord of the Undead with Bountiful Harvest, which generates an abundance of Zombies from your graveyard, or Evolving Wilds, which allows you to search for more Zombie creatures.

Lord of the Undead also interacts well with graveyard hate and removal. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can efficiently exile it, but its ability to recur itself makes it difficult to kill outright. This forces opponents to think twice before playing these removal spells, allowing you to use Lord of the Undead as a form of threat assessment.

A less obvious use for Lord of the Undead is in combination with Kozilek's Return. By returning target Zombie card from your graveyard to your hand, you can create an infinite loop where you sacrifice one Zombie to Kozilek's Return, then return it to your hand with Lord of the Undead. This generates an endless supply of Zombies and allows for a game-changing comeback.

In a more combo-oriented approach, consider pairing Lord of the Undead with Soul Wist. By creating an infinite loop of recursion and allowing you to draw additional cards, you can generate an overwhelming amount of card advantage and crush opponents under your Zombie horde.

Overall, Lord of the Undead is a versatile and powerful tool in any Commander deck. Its ability to recur Zombies, grant +1/+1 to them, and interact with graveyard hate makes it a valuable addition to any build.

Common Mistakes with Lord of the Undead in Commander

The Lord of the Undead, a staple of black zombie armies, can be misused in Commander games. Players often overlook the subtleties of its abilities and synergy potential.

• Incorrect Timing: The most common mistake is playing the activated ability at the wrong time. The {1}{B}, {T} cost requires a tapped mana source, which can lead to incorrect sequencing with other spells.
  • Example: Playing Lord of the Undead in the early game and immediately activating its ability, only to realize that it's not a good idea to put a Zombie back into your hand when you need it on the battlefield. A better approach is to save this ability for later in the game or use it strategically with other cards like Reanimate.
• Misunderstood Rules: Players may forget that the +1/+1 bonus applies only to other Zombie creatures, not all black creatures.
  • Example: Playing a non-Zombie creature like Vengevine and expecting it to get the +1/+1 bonus. The Lord of the Undead's ability specifically targets Zombie creatures, making it essential to include them in your deck.
• Poor Synergies: Some players neglect to create a cohesive Zombie army, leading to wasted potential.
  • Example: Playing a few Zombie creatures and expecting the Lord of the Undead to make them all powerful. In reality, you need a critical mass of Zombies on the battlefield for the +1/+1 bonus to be significant. Consider playing cards like Necrotic Ooze or Tunnel Trap to help flood the board with Zombies.

By being aware of these common mistakes, players can optimize their deck-building and gameplay strategy around Lord of the Undead, taking full advantage of its potential in Commander games.

Lord of the Undead is a versatile and impactful card in Commander formats, particularly in black-heavy decks. Its ability to buff other Zombie creatures on the battlefield makes it an excellent addition to any undead-themed army.

In a typical 1v1 game, Lord of the Undead can be a game-changer when paired with powerful Zombies like Geralf's Messenger or Rage Zombies. With its ability to bring back targeted Zombie cards from the graveyard, it creates a steady supply of bodies and helps maintain a formidable board presence.

However, in multiplayer games or formats where lifegain is not as significant, Lord of the Undead may struggle to make an impact. Without a strong Zombie contingent or a synergistic support network, its value drops significantly. Additionally, the card's relatively low power and toughness make it vulnerable to removal spells like Savage Lands or Doom Blade.

Despite these limitations, Lord of the Undead remains a valuable addition to any black-centric Commander deck focused on Zombies. It's best suited for decks with established Zombie synergy, such as those featuring Lord of the Undead, [Geralf's Messenger, and other undead creatures.

Price-wise, the card is relatively accessible, especially in foil or non-English versions. The high price point of around $11 in USD may deter some players from including it in their deck, but for experienced players with a focus on Zombies, Lord of the Undead remains a worthwhile investment.

In Commander formats where Zombies are a core part of the strategy, Lord of the Undead is an essential addition to any black-heavy deck. Its ability to support and amplify existing Zombie synergies makes it a valuable inclusion in these decks.

Lord of the Undead is a strong card in any Zombie-themed deck, offering both a +1/+1 boost to its own kind and a unique ability to recur Zombie cards. It's an excellent fit for Black-Blue color identities, as it synergizes well with cards like Liliana of the Veil and Rafiq of the Many. This card also works with engines that churn out Zombies, such as Grave Titan, Necrotic Ooze, and [Banebell.

In terms of Commander formats, consider pairing Lord of the Undead with:

• Reanimator-style Commanders like Tibalt, Radiant Hero or [[Estrid, the Masked, which excel at creating a Zombie army.
• **Liliana, Dreadhorde General, who benefits from a large Zombie presence and can easily recur Lord of the Undead with her ability.

When building around this card, focus on adding more Zombies to the board to maximize its +1/+1 effect. Cards like Ghoulflesh Cage and Unmarked Grave help by creating Zombie tokens or burying opponents' creatures.

For combo notes:

• Recur Lord of the Undead repeatedly with Liliana's Mastery, which can help you ramp up your mana and create a massive Zombie army.
• **Pair Lord of the Undead with Grave Pact, which lets you sacrifice it to create more Zombies or fuel your recursion engine.

Lord of the Undead's Impact in Commander

In Commander, Lord of the Undead is a solid addition to any black (B) or monoblack (MB) deck that focuses on token generation and zombie tribal. Its mana cost is relatively low, making it playable in most 1-2 mana creatures-heavy decks.

• Tribal Support: The card's oracle text, which grants other Zombie creatures +1/+1, pairs well with cards like Mogg Fanatic and Ghirapur, the Pyramid Architect. This synergy enables players to create an army of small-but-tough zombies.
• Graveyard Shuffling: The ability to return a target Zombie card from the graveyard to hand for 1B and tapping is a valuable tool. This can be used to reanimate Liliana's Reclamation, Death Baron, or other Zombies that benefit from being in hand.

However, its power and toughness of only 2/2 may not make it an ideal choice as a standalone threat in more competitive environments.

Other Formats

Outside of Commander, Lord of the Undead is less relevant. It's not particularly well-suited for casual formats like Draft or Sealed due to its low impact on the board and its dependence on other Zombies being present.

Lord of the Undead in Commander

In a multiplayer game, Lord of the Undead shines when paired with a strong Zombie presence on the board. With its ability to give all other Zombies +1/+1, it serves as a formidable beater and enabler for larger Zombie creatures.

• Example: Playing Lord of the Undead alongside Griselbrand, Dark Ascension, or Kumegu's Necro-Scourge can create a dominant board presence. These cards generate multiple Zombies, which gain significant power from Lord of the Undead's ability.
• Combo potential: Pairing Lord of the Undead with Doom Blade-style removal or Vraska's Contempt-type destruction spells creates an interesting dynamic. By sacrificing a Zombie to return it to hand using Lord of the Undead, you can recast the sacrificed creature and continue the combo.

In situations where Zombies are scarce on the board, Lord of the Undead falls short as a top-tier threat. Its ability relies on having multiple Zombies to affect, making it less effective in single-player or low-Zombie-count multiplayer games.

• Weaknesses: In a game without sufficient Zombie presence, Lord of the Undead becomes a relatively ordinary 2/2 creature. Players can easily ignore or remove it using their own board presence.
• Competitive matchups: Against Sanguine Bond-style artifact-based decks, Lord of the Undead's ability may not be as impactful due to the lack of Zombie creatures on the board.

Overall, Lord of the Undead excels in multiplayer games with a strong focus on Zombies and combo-heavy strategies. Its value diminishes when facing opponents with few or no Zombies on the board.

Lord of the Undead's Print History

• First printed in 8th Edition (1999) as a Rare creature.
• Reprinted in several sets, including:
  • Legions (2003)
  • Darksteel (2004)
  • Champions of Kamigawa (2004)
  • Zendikar (2009)

Tournament Presence

Lord of the Undead has seen play in various Commander formats, often paired with other Zombies like Grave Titan or Zombie Master. Its ability to return Zombie creatures from the graveyard to hand makes it a valuable addition to any undead-themed deck.

EDHREC Stats

• As of the last update, Lord of the Undead appears in 0.2% of all Commander decks on EDHREC.
• It is most commonly paired with Grafdigger's Cage and Phantasmal Terrain for additional value.

Iconic Decks

Lord of the Undead has been featured in various notable decks, including:

• Zombie Master: A classic Zombie-themed Commander deck featuring Lord of the Undead as a key component.
• Grave Titan: A more aggressive build that leverages Lord's ability to return Zombie creatures from the graveyard.

In these and other decks, Lord of the Undead provides a unique synergy with its Zombie-boosting ability, making it an essential addition for any undead-themed Commander deck.

The Lord of the Undead is a rare and formidable addition to any black mana-based deck. As a 2/2 Zombie creature, it provides a decent amount of early-game presence, but its true value lies in its ability to buff other Zombies.

Other Zombie creatures get +1/+1 when Lord of the Undead is on the battlefield, making it an excellent enabler for cards like Zombie Master or Graveborn Marshal. This synergy not only makes Zombies a more formidable force but also allows players to develop a strong mid-game presence.

The second ability of Lord of the Undead is a powerful reanimation tool. For just {1}{B}, players can return a target Zombie card from their graveyard to their hand, allowing them to replay a favorite creature or bring back a crucial piece of removal like Slaughter.

In terms of setting, the Lord of the Undead seems to be drawn from the dark and foreboding realm of Dominaria. The undead hordes that roam this world would do well to have a leader as formidable as the Lord of the Undead, who can rally his minions and inspire them to greater heights of terror.

Some possible deck archetypes that might feature the Lord of the Undead include Zombie-themed combos with Sylvan Caryatid or midrange decks looking for ways to stabilize against aggressive opponents.