Embalm

Embalm
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTGA Embalm.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Ability
Type	Activated
Introduced	Amonkhet
Last used	Commander 2019
Reminder Text	Embalm [cost] ([Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a white Zombie ... with no mana cost. Embalm only as a sorcery.)
Storm Scale	5
Statistics	15 cards 40% 33.3% 6.7% 6.7% 13.3%
Other Symbols
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Embalm.png}}|70x70px]]
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Embalm"

Embalm is a keyword ability introduced in Amonkhet. Embalm is centered in white and blue.

Description

The embalm ability can only be activated if the creature is in your graveyard. When activated, the card is exiled but it creates a token copy of that creature. Moreover, this creature token has three changes: it has no mana cost, it is a zombie in addition to its other creature types, and it becomes a monocolored white creature. It acts much closer to a creature analogue of Flashback than Unearth, as Unearth fails to retain the full functionality of the creature on the second usage.

Punch card with "embalmed" markers

The Amonkhet set features a token card for each creature card with embalm to emphasize the flavor of mummification. These supplements are not required to play with cards with embalm; you can use the same items to represent an embalmed token as you would any other token. For easy play, extra "embalmed" marked were provided on punch cards.

Embalm was evolved into Eternalize for Hour of Devastation.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Embalm

A keyword ability that lets a player exile a creature card from their graveyard to create a mummified token version of that card. See rule 702.128, “Embalm.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 702.128. Embalm
  • 702.128a Embalm is an activated ability that functions while the card with embalm is in a graveyard. “Embalm [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s white, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate only as a sorcery.”
  • 702.128b A token is “embalmed” if it’s created by a resolving embalm ability.

Examples

Example

Sacred Cat
Creature — Cat
1/1
Lifelink
Embalm (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that's a copy of it, except it's a white Zombie Cat with no mana cost. Embalm only as a sorcery.)

Rulings

• The token copies exactly what was printed on the original card and nothing else. It doesn't copy any information about the object the card was before it was put into your graveyard.
• The token is a Zombie in addition to its other types and is white instead of its other colors. It has no mana cost, and thus its converted mana cost is 0. These are copiable values of the token that other effects may copy.
• If the card copied by the token had any "when [this permanent] enters the battlefield" abilities, then the token also has those abilities and will trigger them when it's created. Similarly, any "as [this permanent] enters the battlefield" or "[this permanent] enters the battlefield with" abilities that the token has copied will also work.

Cards that grant Embalm

• Naktamun

Embalm tokens

Token Name	Color	Type Line	P/T	Text Box	Source	Printings
Angel of Sanctions	White	Creature — Zombie Angel	3/4	Flying Whenever Angel of Sanctions enters the battlefield, you may exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Angel of Sanctions leaves the battlefield.	Angel of Sanctions
Anointer Priest	White	Creature — Zombie Human Cleric	1/3	Whenever a creature token enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life.	Anointer Priest
Aven Initiate	White	Creature — Zombie Bird Warrior	3/2	Flying	Aven Initiate
Aven Wind Guide	White	Creature — Zombie Bird Warrior	2/3	Flying, vigilance Creature tokens you control have flying and vigilance.	Aven Wind Guide
Glyph Keeper	White	Creature — Zombie Sphinx	5/3	Flying Whenever Glyph Keeper becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time each turn, counter that spell or ability.	Glyph Keeper
Heart-Piercer Manticore	White	Creature — Zombie Manticore	4/3	When Heart-Piercer Manticore enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice another creature. When you do, Heart-Piercer Manticore deals damage equal to that creature's power to target creature or player.	Heart-Piercer Manticore
Honored Hydra	White	Creature — Zombie Snake Hydra	6/6	Trample	Honored Hydra
Labyrinth Guardian	White	Creature — Zombie Illusion Warrior	2/3	Whenever Labyrinth Guardian becomes the target of a spell, sacrifice it.	Labyrinth Guardian
Oketra's Attendant	White	Creature — Zombie Bird Soldier	3/3	Flying	Oketra's Attendant
Sacred Cat	White	Creature — Zombie Cat	1/1	Lifelink	Sacred Cat
Tah-Crop Skirmisher	White	Creature — Zombie Snake Warrior	2/1		Tah-Crop Skirmisher
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun	White	Legendary Creature — Zombie Human Cleric	2/2	At the beginning of combat on your turn, target creature token you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn and can't be blocked this turn.	Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun
Trueheart Duelist	White	Creature — Zombie Human Warrior	2/2	Trueheart Duelist can block an additional creature each combat.	Trueheart Duelist
Unwavering Initiate	White	Creature — Zombie Human Warrior	3/2	Vigilance	Unwavering Initiate
Vizier of Many Faces	White	Creature — Zombie Shapeshifter Cleric	0/0	You may have Vizier of Many Faces enter the battlefield as any creature on the battlefield, except it has no mana cost, it's white and it's a Zombie in addition to its other types.	Vizier of Many Faces