Gray Merchant of Asphodel
The Zeta Set 285 • common
- Set
- The Zeta Set
- Collector number
- 285
- Rarity
- Common
- Mana cost
- 3 generic mana black mana black mana
- Type
- Creature
- Colors
- Black
- Artist
- MSCHF
What it does
When this creature enters, each opponent loses X life, where X is your devotion to black. You gain life equal to the life lost this way. (Each black mana in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerLegal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperLegal
- BrawlLegal
- HistoricLegal
- TimelessLegal
- Penny DreadfulNot legal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Gray Merchant of Asphodel was introduced as a common creature in the Theros set, designed to anchor the black color identity around the devotion mechanic. The card was crafted to reward players for committing heavily to a single color, reflecting the set's Greek mythology-inspired theme where mortals seek favor from the gods. Its ability to drain life from opponents scaled based on the number of black mana symbols on the battlefield, making it a powerful tool for attrition strategies.
The card’s striking illustration was provided by Seb McKinnon, who sought to capture the somber, unsettling presence of a psychopomp ferrying souls. By leaning into a muted, atmospheric aesthetic, McKinnon created a visual identity that felt distinct from traditional fantasy tropes. Upon its release, the card quickly gained a reputation in competitive formats for its surprising efficiency, eventually becoming a cornerstone of black-based decks in both Limited and Constructed play.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Gray Merchant of Asphodel is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. The Zeta Set 285 • common. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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