Defy Death
Defy Death Price Summary
As of Aug 1, 2026, the cheapest tracked printing of Defy Death is $0.31 (AVR #16), and the most expensive is $3.28 (AVR #16, Foil). The benchmark price (cheapest playable nonfoil) is $0.31, down 3.1% over 7 days, up 6.9% over 30 days, up 19.2% over 90 days. All-time tracked high: $0.35 (2026).
Defy Death Printings & Prices
Defy Death has 2 tracked printings across 2 sets, in nonfoil and foil finishes.
Sell Defy Death: Buylist Offers
Card Kingdom currently pays $1.40 cash for AVR #16 (Foil); the retail-buylist spread on that printing is 60% (wide).
| Buyer | Printing | Finish | Cash offer | Retail | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Kingdom | AVR #16 | Foil | $1.40 | $3.49 | 60% |
| CoolStuffInc | AVR #16 | Foil | $1.25 | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | J22 #174 | Nonfoil | $0.05 | $0.39 | 87% |
| Card Kingdom | AVR #16 | Nonfoil | $0.02 | $0.35 | 94% |
| CoolStuffInc | J22 #174 | Nonfoil | $0.02 | — | — |
| starcitygames | AVR #16 | Foil | $0.02 | — | — |
| starcitygames | AVR #16 | Nonfoil | $0.01 | — | — |
| starcitygames | J22 #174 | Nonfoil | $0.01 | — | — |
Defy Death Rules Text & Legality
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. If it's an Angel, put two +1/+1 counters on it.
Defy Death is legal in Modern, Legacy and Commander, and not legal in Standard, Pioneer and Pauper.
Defy Death Rulings
- May 1, 2012 If the creature is an Angel only on the battlefield (perhaps because it’s a non-Angel creature card and Xenograft is on the battlefield), it will get the +1/+1 counters.
- May 1, 2012 No player can cast spells or activate abilities between returning the creature card to the battlefield and checking whether it’s an Angel.
Reprints & Reprint Risk
Defy Death has been reprinted 3 times.
| Set | Date | Rarity | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| J22 #174 | 2022-12-02 | Uncommon | Standard |
| AVR #16 | 2012-05-04 | Uncommon | Standard |
| AVR #16 | 2012-05-04 | Uncommon | Standard |
J22 #174 
AVR #16 Defy Death in Commander
Defy Death is the #12,492 most-played card on EDHREC, down 101 places over the last 30 days.
Defy Death FAQ
How much is Defy Death worth?
Defy Death is worth about $0.31 for its cheapest playable printing as of Aug 1, 2026. Prices range from $0.31 to $3.28 across 2 tracked printings.
Is Defy Death legal in Commander?
Yes — Defy Death is legal in Commander. It is also legal in Modern and Legacy.
Has Defy Death been reprinted?
Yes — Defy Death has been reprinted 3 times, with 2 printings tracked on The Index.
Why is Defy Death cheap?
Defy Death trades at about $0.31 — 3 reprints keep supply plentiful, and Commander demand is modest (#12,492 on EDHREC).