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Graveyard in MTG

A public discard pile where used, destroyed, and discarded cards usually go.

Why it matters

Each player has their own graveyard. Cards usually go there after an instant or sorcery resolves, when a permanent dies, or when a player discards or mills them.

Visual example

Return from graveyard

Battlefield
Reanimate

Moves a creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield

GraveyardReturn from graveyard
  1. 1Choose a creature card in a graveyard.
  2. 2Reanimate resolves and moves that card to the battlefield.
  3. 3You lose life equal to that creature's mana value.

Real card example

Reanimate

Moves a creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield

Common mistakes

  • A creature card in a graveyard is not a creature permanent.
  • Graveyards are public information and may be inspected.

Official rule reference

Comprehensive Rules 404 · Current Comprehensive Rules

View official rules