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Animate Dead The List MTG card
PLST #EMA-78 · Art by Bastien L. Deharme
PLST set symbol, UncommonThe List#EMA-78Uncommon

Animate Dead

Enchantment · AuraEnchant
Nonfoil
TCGplayer market · PLST #EMA-78 nonfoil
$6.40 −7.5% −$0.52, 7 days
1-year range
30 days
−11.1%
EDHREC rank
#222 Up 1 in 30 days

Buy PLST #EMA-78 nonfoil

TCGplayer, $6.40 (opens in a new tab) Card Kingdom, (opens in a new tab) Mana Pool, (opens in a new tab) eBay, Check price (opens in a new tab)

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Animate Dead Price Summary

The benchmark price (cheapest playable nonfoil) is $6.40, down 7.5% over 7 days, down 11.1% over 30 days, up 19.9% over 90 days.

Animate Dead Price History

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Markets on the chart

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Animate Dead price history chart, default range 3 months. currently $6.40.

Where We’ve Written About Animate Dead

Where to Buy and Sell Animate Dead

Every market we track for PLST #EMA-78 nonfoil on one line. The gray band is what you give up selling to a store instead of buying at market.

Animate Dead in Sealed Products

Checking which sealed products hold PLST #EMA-78 nonfoil.

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Animate Dead Printings & Prices

Animate Dead has 21 tracked printings across 18 sets, in nonfoil and foil finishes, including full art, borderless and judge promo treatments.

PLST set symbol, UncommonPLST #EMA-78
Viewing
3ED set symbol, Uncommon3ED #93
4ED set symbol, Uncommon4ED #118
SOC set symbol, UncommonSOC #207
MKC set symbol, UncommonMKC #125
EMA set symbol, UncommonEMA #78
PD3 set symbol, UncommonPD3 #16
5ED set symbol, Uncommon5ED #140
30A set symbol, Uncommon30A #92
2ED set symbol, Uncommon2ED #93
CED set symbol, UncommonCED #93
SLD set symbol, RareSLD #2189
Borderless
CEI set symbol, UncommonCEI #93
P22 set symbol, RareP22 #7
Retro FrameJudge
30A set symbol, Uncommon30A #389
Retro Frame
LEA set symbol, UncommonLEA #92
LEB set symbol, UncommonLEB #93
SLZ set symbol, UncommonSLZ #155
Full Art
SLZ set symbol, UncommonSLZ #276
Full Art
SLZ set symbol, UncommonSLZ #34
Full Art
SUM set symbol, UncommonSUM #93

Sell Animate Dead: Buylist Offers

BuyerPrintingFinishCash offerMarketSpread to market
Card KingdomLEB #93Nonfoil
Card KingdomLEA #92Nonfoil
Card Kingdom30A #389Nonfoil
Card KingdomP22 #7Foil
Card KingdomSLD #2189Foil
CoolStuffIncSLD #2189Foil
CoolStuffIncSLD #2189Nonfoil
Card KingdomSLD #2189Nonfoil

Animate Dead Rules Text & Legality

Animate Dead

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.

Animate Dead is legal in Legacy and Commander, and not legal in Standard, Pioneer, Modern and Pauper.

  • CommanderLegal
  • Duel CommanderLegal
  • LegacyLegal
  • OathbreakerLegal
  • PreDHLegal
  • PremodernLegal
  • VintageLegal
  • AlchemyNot legal
  • BrawlNot legal
  • Competitive BrawlNot legal
  • Future StandardNot legal
  • GladiatorNot legal
  • HistoricNot legal
  • ModernNot legal
  • Old SchoolNot legal
  • PauperNot legal
  • Pauper CommanderNot legal
  • Penny DreadfulNot legal
  • PioneerNot legal
  • StandardNot legal
  • Standard BrawlNot legal
  • TimelessNot legal
View on Scryfall ↗

Animate Dead Rulings

  • Jun 8, 2016

    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.

  • Jun 8, 2016

    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.

  • Jun 8, 2016

    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.

  • Jun 8, 2016

    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.

  • Jun 8, 2016

    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.

Reprints & Reprint Risk

Animate Dead has been reprinted 20 times. The Secrets of Strixhaven Commander reprint cut the price 45% in 30 days.

  • Jun 10, 2016EMA set symbol, UncommonEternal MastersEMA #78
  • Jun 10, 2016EMA set symbol, UncommonEternal Masters · foilEMA #78
  • Jun 21, 2021SLD set symbol, RareSecret Lair Drop · BorderlessSLD #2189
  • Jun 21, 2021SLD set symbol, RareSecret Lair Drop · Borderless, foilSLD #2189
  • Apr 29, 2022PLST set symbol, UncommonThe ListPLST #EMA-78
  • Jul 12, 2022P22 set symbol, RareJudge Gift Cards 2022 · Judge Promo, foilP22 #7
  • Nov 28, 202230A set symbol, Uncommon30th Anniversary Edition30A #389
  • Nov 28, 202230A set symbol, Uncommon30th Anniversary Edition30A #92
  • Feb 9, 2024MKC set symbol, UncommonMurders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC #125
  • Apr 24, 2026SOC set symbol, UncommonSecrets of Strixhaven CommanderSOC #207

Showing the 10 most recent of 20 printings.

Animate Dead in Commander

Animate Dead is the #222 most-played card on EDHREC, up 1 place over the last 30 days.

#222 EDHREC rank
across all Commander decks Up 1 in 30 days

Animate Dead FAQ

How much is Animate Dead worth?

Animate Dead is worth about $6.40 for its cheapest playable printing as of Nov 8, 2026.

Is Animate Dead legal in Commander?

Yes. Animate Dead is legal in Commander. It is also legal in Legacy.

Has Animate Dead been reprinted?

Yes. Animate Dead has been reprinted 20 times, with 21 printings tracked on The Index.

Why is Animate Dead expensive?

Animate Dead holds a $6.40 price because Commander demand is high (#222 on EDHREC) and even with 20 reprints, demand keeps pace with supply.

What can I play instead of Animate Dead?

Cards that fill a similar role include Dance of the Dead, Necromancy, Reanimate.

Cards Like Animate Dead