NecropolisHow it works & interactions with other cards

Converting Mana Value to Toughness

The core mechanic of Necropolis is its activated ability, which allows you to exile a creature card from your graveyard as a cost. The result is a number of +0/+1 counters equal to that card's mana value. Note that mana value is determined by the mana symbols in the upper right corner of the exiled card; for example, a card costing four mana will always grant four counters, regardless of how much you actually spent to cast it.

Resolution and Timing

Activating the ability follows standard timing rules for activated abilities. First, you announce the ability and pay the cost by exiling a creature card from your graveyard. Once the ability resolves, you check the mana value of the card that was exiled and place the corresponding number of +0/+1 counters on Necropolis. Because the exile is a cost, your opponent cannot remove the card from your graveyard in response once you have announced the activation.

Common Mistakes

A common point of confusion is how Necropolis interacts with triggered abilities. Since Necropolis uses an activated ability (indicated by the 'Cost: Effect' syntax), it does not trigger when creatures die or enter the graveyard. Additionally, players often forget that mana value includes all colors of mana; a creature costing three red mana has a mana value of three. Finally, remember that +0/+1 counters are distinct from temporary buffs; they stay on Necropolis as long as it remains on the battlefield.

When to Use the Ability

Because Necropolis has Defender, it cannot attack. Its primary role is to block the largest threats your opponent can muster. You should generally wait to use the ability until you need to survive combat or until the end of your opponent's turn. This keeps your graveyard available for other potential recursion effects until the absolute last moment.

Interaction examples

The Sad Robot's Sacrifice

Solemn Simulacrum

After Solemn Simulacrum dies and you draw a card, it sits in your graveyard. You can then activate Necropolis by exiling the Solemn Simulacrum. Since the Golem has a mana value of 4, Necropolis receives four +0/+1 counters, permanently increasing its toughness from 1 to 5.

City and Tomb

Keldon Necropolis

If you have a creature on the battlefield that you no longer need, you can use Keldon Necropolis to sacrifice it and deal 2 damage to a target. Once that creature is in the graveyard, Necropolis can exile it to gain toughness counters based on that creature's mana value, effectively recycling the same card for two different benefits.

The Golem's Limitation

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Wall', you might expect Necropolis to gain double counters. However, Necropolis has an activated ability, not a triggered ability (it doesn't use 'when', 'whenever', or 'at'). Roaming Throne will not cause the ability of Necropolis to resolve an additional time.