Midnight ReaperHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding the Death Trigger

Midnight Reaper features a triggered ability that watches for nontoken creatures you control leaving the battlefield for the graveyard. Crucially, the Reaper itself is a nontoken creature; if it is destroyed or sacrificed, its own ability will trigger one last time. This ensures you almost always get at least one card back for your three-mana investment, provided it wasn't exiled or returned to your hand.

Simultaneous Deaths

If a board wipe occurs and multiple nontoken creatures you control die at the same time as Midnight Reaper, the Reaper 'sees' them all. Its ability triggers once for each nontoken creature, including itself. You will then resolve each trigger individually, taking 1 damage and drawing a card for each instance. Be careful: if your life total is low, a large sweep of your board could potentially defeat you before you can use the cards you just drew.

Common Pitfalls

The most important thing to remember is that Midnight Reaper only cares about 'nontoken' creatures. If a Zombie token or a Spirit token dies, nothing happens. Additionally, the damage dealt by the Reaper is not a cost—it is part of the effect. You cannot choose to skip the damage to skip the draw, nor can you skip the draw to avoid the damage. If the ability triggers, both events will occur upon resolution.

Strategic Timing

Midnight Reaper is best played when you have a board presence that forces the opponent into difficult blocks. It excels in sacrifice-themed decks where you can control exactly when your creatures die. By using sacrifice outlets, you can draw cards in response to your opponent's spells, ensuring you find the answers you need to stay ahead in the game.

Interaction examples

The Value Engine

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control both Midnight Reaper and Solemn Simulacrum and the Simulacrum dies, two separate triggers go on the stack. You will resolve the Solemn Simulacrum's ability to draw a card, and the Midnight Reaper's ability will cause you to take 1 damage and draw a second card. In total, you net two cards from a single death.

Doubling the Harvest

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Zombie,' it becomes a Zombie Golem. Because it is now the chosen type, whenever another nontoken Zombie you control dies, Midnight Reaper's ability triggers twice thanks to the Throne's replacement effect. If the Reaper itself dies, it triggers twice, causing you to take 2 total damage and draw 2 cards. Note that Roaming Throne only doubles the abilities of 'another' creature, so if the Throne dies, it does not double its own death trigger.

Board Wipe Interaction

Solemn Simulacrum

When an opponent plays a spell that destroys all creatures, both Midnight Reaper and Solemn Simulacrum die simultaneously. Midnight Reaper triggers for the Simulacrum and for itself. You will resolve three triggers: one from the Simulacrum (draw 1) and two from the Reaper (total 2 damage, draw 2). You end the sequence having drawn three cards.