Morbid
| Morbid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ability Word | |
| Introduced | Innistrad |
| Last used | Magic: The Gathering Foundations |
| Typical Text | Morbid — …, if a creature died this turn, … |
| Storm Scale | 5[1] |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Morbid is an ability word introduced in Innistrad. It signals that a spell or ability has different effects, additional effects, or may only be used if a creature has died earlier in the same turn.[2]
History
During design, morbid was called "deathwatch".[3]
After Innistrad, morbid was also featured in Dark Ascension, Conspiracy, Commander 2014 and Modern Horizons.[4] Without the ability word, it was featured as the 
draft archetype in Core Set 2021 and Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, and appears occasionally on single cards.
Morbid was one of the non-evergreen, non-deciduous ability words included in the Unfinity sticker sheets. It also was included as a one-off in the Doctor Who and Fallout Commander decks, and in Modern Horizons 3.
Rulings
- Morbid abilities merely check if a creature died earlier in the turn. The creature card doesn't need to still be in the graveyard.
- Token creatures can also die, going to their owner's graveyard before ceasing to exist.
- Some morbid abilities that appear on instants and sorceries use the word "instead." The spells have an upgraded effect when they resolve if a creature has died earlier in the turn. You only get the upgraded effect, not both effects.
- Some morbid abilities are activated abilities of permanents. To activate such an ability, a creature must have died earlier in the turn.
- Triggered morbid abilities use an intervening "if" clause. A creature must have died earlier in the turn in order for these abilities to trigger; otherwise, they do nothing. In other words, there's no way to have the ability trigger if no creature has died that turn, even if you intend to have a creature die in response to the triggered ability.
- Using Morbid allows a card to be state-based as long as conditions are met.
Examples
Example
Hollowhenge Scavenger 
Creature — Elemental
4/5
Morbid — When this creature enters, if a creature died this turn, you gain 5 life.
Morbid cards without the ability word
- Barad-dûr
- Blacksnag Buzzard (Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Bone Picker (Amonkhet)
- Bulette (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Cackling Slasher (Duskmourn: House of Horror)
- Caged Zombie (Core Set 2021)
- Compy Swarm
- Death-Priest of Myrkul (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Diregraf Rebirth (Innistrad: Midnight Hunt)
- Drag the Canal (Murders at Karlov Manor)
- Emissary of the Sleepless (Shadows over Innistrad)
- Fungal Rebirth (Core Set 2021)
- Gravelighter (Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty)
- Grim Wanderer (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Grizzly Ghoul (Innistrad: Midnight Hunt)
- Life Goes on (Hour of Devastation)
- Liliana's Devotee (Core Set 2021)
- Liliana's Scrounger (Core Set 2021)
- Old Flitterfang
- Osai Vultures (Legends)
- Purple Worm (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Rictus Robber (Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Sabertooth Mauler (Core Set 2021)
- Shessra, Death's Whisper (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Skeletal Swarming (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Tallyman of Nurgle
- Twinblade Assassins (Core Set 2021)
- Undercity Scrounger (Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty)
- Warlock Class (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
- Zombie Ogre (Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2017-03-27). "Storm Scale: Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Zac Hill (November 11, 2011). "Morbid Thoughts". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-01-22.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 23, 2021). "Innistrad Design Handoff Document". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (May 31, 2019). "Modern Horizons Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.