Necrosynthesis is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Enchant creature Enchanted creature has "Whenever another creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature." When enchanted creature dies, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is its power. Put one of those cards into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Complete guide
Necrosynthesis is a versatile black Aura that turns your favorite creature into a growing threat while providing insurance for its inevitable demise. By rewarding you for every death on the battlefield, it ensures that even if your champion falls, you find the perfect replacement from your library.
Growing Through Loss
While Necrosynthesis is on the battlefield, the enchanted creature gains a triggered ability that watches for other creatures dying. This includes your other creatures and your opponents' creatures. Each time one hits the graveyard, a +1/+1 counter is placed on the enchanted creature, scaling its power and toughness indefinitely.
The Final Harvest
When the enchanted creature eventually dies, a second ability triggers. You look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to that creature's power. You choose one card to put into your hand and tuck the rest away. Because this trigger checks the creature's power as it last existed on the battlefield, any +1/+1 counters it earned from previous deaths will count toward your total for X.
Strategic Placement
To maximize this card, you want to enchant a creature that is likely to survive long enough to witness several deaths, or one that already has high power. Since the 'death' trigger allows you to search for any card—not just a creature—it serves as a powerful selection tool to dig for your win conditions or necessary answers.
Interaction examples
Phyrexian ArenaIf your creature enchanted with Necrosynthesis has a power of 3 and dies, you look at the top three cards of your library. You can choose Phyrexian Arena to put into your hand, ensuring you have a steady flow of cards for the rest of the game, while placing the other two cards randomly on the bottom.
Black Market ConnectionsYou use Black Market Connections to create a 3/2 Shapeshifter token. Later, you enchant that token with Necrosynthesis. If you choose the 'Sell Contraband' and 'Hire a Mercenary' modes in a future turn, and an opponent's creature dies in combat, your token grows to a 4/3. If the token then dies, you look at the top 4 cards of your library to find a fresh resource.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Necrosynthesis
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Use the enchanted creature's power as it last existed on the battlefield to determine the value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Basking Broodscale + Necrosynthesis
- 1Put a +1/+1 counter on Basking Broodscale.
- 2Basking Broodscale triggers, creating a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token.
- 3Activate the Eldrazi Spawn by sacrificing it, adding
. - 4When the Eldrazi Spawn dies, Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Basking Broodscale.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Necrosynthesis + Scurry Oak + Ashnod's Altar
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing a creature, adding .
- 2Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Scurry Oak.
- 3Scurry Oak triggers, creating a 1/1 Squirrel creature token.
- 4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Squirrel token, adding .
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Necrosynthesis + Scurry Oak + Phyrexian Altar
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing a creature, adding one mana of any color.
- 2Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Scurry Oak.
- 3Scurry Oak triggers, creating a 1/1 Squirrel creature token.
- 4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Squirrel token, adding one mana of any color.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Necrosynthesis + Herd Baloth + Ashnod's Altar
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing a creature, adding .
- 2Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Herd Baloth.
- 3Herd Baloth triggers, creating a 4/4 Beast creature token.
- 4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Beast token, adding .
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Necrosynthesis + Herd Baloth + Phyrexian Altar
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing a creature, adding one mana of any color.
- 2Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Herd Baloth.
- 3Herd Baloth triggers, creating a 4/4 Beast creature token.
- 4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Beast token, adding one mana of any color.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Ghave, Guru of Spores + Necrosynthesis + Ashnod's Altar
- 1Activate Ghave's first ability by paying
and removing a +1/+1 counter from it, creating a 1/1 Saproling creature token. - 2Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing the Saproling, adding .
- 3Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Ghave.
- 4Repeat.
Necrosynthesis + Scurry Oak + Altar of Dementia
- 1Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing a creature, milling target player equal to its power.
- 2Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Scurry Oak.
- 3Scurry Oak triggers, creating a 1/1 Squirrel creature token.
- 4Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing the Squirrel token, milling target player four.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Necrosynthesis + Herd Baloth + Altar of Dementia
- 1Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing a creature, milling target player equal to its power.
- 2Necrosynthesis triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Herd Baloth.
- 3Herd Baloth triggers, creating a 4/4 Beast creature token.
- 4Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing the Beast token, milling target player four.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Necrosynthesis
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.