Animate Dead

Secrets of Strixhaven Commander (SOC) #207 · Uncommon · Enchantment — Aura

Mana cost: {1}{B}

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.

Illustrated by Bastien L. Deharme · Released April 24, 2026

Prices

Nonfoil price since August 29, 2026: down $0.64 USD (8.1%) to $7.25 USD; low $6.84 USD, high $8.18 USD.

Printings

  1. The Zeta Set #155 (SLZ) · Uncommon · 2026
  2. The Zeta Set #276 (SLZ) · Uncommon · 2026
  3. The Zeta Set #34 (SLZ) · Uncommon · 2026
  4. Secrets of Strixhaven Commander #207 (this printing) · Uncommon · 2026 · $7.25 USD
  5. Secret Lair Drop #2189 (SLD) · Rare · 2025 · $44.63 USD
  6. Murders at Karlov Manor Commander #125 (MKC) · Uncommon · 2024 · $7.60 USD
  7. 30th Anniversary Edition #389 (30A) · Uncommon · 2022
  8. 30th Anniversary Edition #92 (30A) · Uncommon · 2022 · $23.22 USD
  9. Judge Gift Cards 2022 #7 (P22) · Rare · 2022 · $76.20 USD foil
  10. The List #EMA-78 (PLST) · Uncommon · 2021 · $7.43 USD
  11. Eternal Masters #78 (EMA) · Uncommon · 2016 · $7.83 USD
  12. Vintage Masters #104 (VMA) · Uncommon · 2014
  13. Premium Deck Series: Graveborn #16 (PD3) · Uncommon · 2011 · $7.73 USD foil
  14. Magic Online Theme Decks #A36 (TD0) · Uncommon · 2010
  15. Masters Edition #57 (ME1) · Uncommon · 2007
  16. Fifth Edition #140 (5ED) · Uncommon · 1997 · $9.52 USD
  17. Fourth Edition #118 (4ED) · Uncommon · 1995 · $8.27 USD
  18. Summer Magic / Edgar #93 (SUM) · Uncommon · 1994
  19. Revised Edition #93 (3ED) · Uncommon · 1994 · $7.30 USD
  20. Collectors' Edition #93 (CED) · Uncommon · 1993 · $34.64 USD
  21. Intl. Collectors' Edition #93 (CEI) · Uncommon · 1993 · $60.03 USD
  22. Unlimited Edition #93 (2ED) · Uncommon · 1993 · $28.41 USD
  23. Limited Edition Beta #93 (LEB) · Uncommon · 1993 · $293.32 USD
  24. Limited Edition Alpha #92 (LEA) · Uncommon · 1993 · $282.40 USD

Legality

Rulings

  1. 2016-06-08 · wotc — 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.
  2. 2016-06-08 · wotc — 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.
  3. 2016-06-08 · wotc — 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.
  4. 2016-06-08 · wotc — 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.
  5. 2016-06-08 · wotc — 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.

Played in these commander decks

  1. Killian, Decisive Mentor · in 76% of 49 decks
  2. The Mimeoplasm · in 39% of 46 decks
  3. Indominus Rex, Alpha · in 37% of 49 decks
  4. Baba Lysaga, Night Witch · in 32% of 50 decks
  5. Meren of Clan Nel Toth · in 31% of 48 decks
  6. Syr Konrad, the Grim · in 30% of 40 decks
  7. The Master, Transcendent · in 28% of 46 decks
  8. Sauron, the Dark Lord · in 28% of 50 decks

All cards in Secrets of Strixhaven Commander (SOC)