Over My Dead Bodies

Rules Clarification

Hi Mark. Thank you so much for answering my last question! I've got another UN-question for another crazy build: with Over My Dead Bodies in play, once blockers and attackers have been declared, would the creatures in the graveyards count towards the amount of life lost, if I activate Shepherd of Rot, since they are treated as being in play?

The graveyard creatures can attack and block “as if they were on the battlefield”, but they’re never actually on the battlefield, so effects counting things in the battlefield don’t count them.

Activate Appreciation Creatures Over My Dead Bodies Rules Shepherd of Rot The Graveyard Un-questions

Unstable vs Unfinity

Hi Mark, yesterday we drafted a stashed box of Unstable. It involved "As Luck Would Have It" as high as 61 counters; a Five-Fingers Discount on Rules Lawyer to turn a game around and win at a negative life total; round 1 getting overtime because one player had to play two games at once due to Better Than One; and a player without a board state topdecking Over My Dead Bodies for a massive attack that left the opponent just one life short of lethal, fitting for a horror villain's last lunge.All in all a good time for everyone, and for what it's worth it confirmed that I liked Unstable more than Unfinity. Contraptions play better than stickers, and the "silly themes" feel more scattered in Unfinity, which makes the draft a bit more daunting as it's harder to get a feel for whether your deck will "get there" in terms of playability. The puns and flavour and individual cards are still solid, though! I just enjoy Unstable more.

I think Attractions are the closer thing to compare Contraptions to. Which you prefer depends on how much you enjoy planning ahead. Contraptions are Spike-ier and Attractions are Timmy/Tammy-ier.I’m glad you enjoy Unstable. I spent a lot of time on that too, and am always happy to hear people enjoying it. Stickers ended up being more polarizing than I expected. Part of it was logistical issues that we didn’t have a lot of control over.

As Luck Would Have It Attractions Better Than One Contraptions Draft Formats Flavor Horror Humor Lunge Over My Dead Bodies Rules Rules Lawyer Stickers Timmy / Tammy

'Over My Dead Bodies' In Black Border?

Could the "creatures in your graveyard can attack, and die into exile" thing from Unstable's "Over My Dead Bodies" be done in black border? It's a really cool effect that I could see in planes like Theros that have an afterlife.

Usually if we do it in an Un-set, it means it doesn’t work in black border. That’s why it was in an Un-set.

Afterlife Afterlife Black Border Creatures Over My Dead Bodies Planes The Exile Zone The Graveyard Theros Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Graveyard Attack Mechanics

Do creatures that attack from graveyards with Over My Dead Bodies stay tapped in the graveyard until my next turn? Or do they reset after combat so a dead Party Crasher could attack every turn?

They untap during your untap.

Creatures Over My Dead Bodies Party Crasher Tap / Untap The Graveyard

Graveyard Abilities

Do creatures in the graveyard from "Over my Dead Bodies" have their abilities/do they trigger (Earl of Squirrel) or can they only attack an block?

They have their abilities. Undead Earl of Squirrel will make Squirrels upon dealing combat damage.

Creatures Earl of Squirrel Over My Dead Bodies Squirrel The Graveyard

Graveyard Attack Rules

Mark, I need help. If a creature in a graveyard is attacking via Over My Dead Bodies, can it be sacrificed? An opponent tried to sacrifice their blocking, dead Amateur Auteur tonight to destroy the enchantment and we couldn't figure out if that works.

While attacking or blocking, dead creatures are treated as if they are on the battlefield, so yes, it can be sacrificed during combat assuming it attacks or blocks.

Amateur Auteur Attacking Blocking Creatures Destroy Enchantments Over My Dead Bodies Sacrifice The Graveyard

Scarab God Mechanics

Does Scarab God interact with zombies from Over My Dead Bodies?

No, because at the beginning of your turn, they’re just in your graveyard and aren’t counted by the Scarab God.

God Over My Dead Bodies The Graveyard The Scarab God Zombie

Graveyard Combat Mechanics

Can a creature in a graveyard from Over My Dead Bodies fight a creature not in a graveyard? If so, does Undeathtouch still apply?

You can treat it as if it’s on the battlefield only during combat so yes, but you would need an instant fight spell which is a low occurrence.

Creatures Fight / Bite Instants Over My Dead Bodies The Graveyard

Graveyard Busybody Tactics

First off, thank you for unstable, draft was amazing! Watching a storm crow wield Umezawa's Jitte, only to fall to a perfectly normal armchair was fantastic. My question is If i control Graveyard Busybody, and play Over My Dead Bodies, can I attack with all the graveyard creatures, in all the graveyards.

You can. They’re all yours.

Appreciation Creatures Graveyard Busybody Keyword Abilities Limited Over My Dead Bodies Storm Crow The Graveyard Umezawa's Jitte Unstable

Undeathtouch Gameplay

Say I give Undeathtouch to my Modular Monstrosity and it's blocked by a totally normal, living creature on the battlefield. Is that creature killed or exiled?

There’s no way to currently do that. Modular Monstrosity can only name a keyword that’s been printed on a creature. Over My Dead Bodies, an enchantment, is the only card to ever have had undeathtouch printed on it.

Card Printing Creatures Enchantments Keywords Modular Modular Monstrosity Monstrosity Over My Dead Bodies The Exile Zone

Augment Creatures Rule

Presumably, Augment creatures in my graveyard are still not able to attack or block when I have an Over My Dead Bodies on the battlefield?

Correct.

Creatures Over My Dead Bodies The Graveyard

Un-FAQ Inconsistency

I think there is an inconsistency in your Un-FAQ. If I Unsummon a Masterful Ninja that's both in hand and battlefield it doesn't do anything but if I Murder a creature both in graveyard and battlefield thanks to Over My Dead Bodies it removes it from combat? Why???

The creature isn’t in both zones with Over My Dead Bodies. It gets treated as if it’s on the battlefield while attacking or blocking (meaning that certain effects can interact with it), but that’s different than Masterful Ninja which coexists in both zones.

Attacking Blocking Creatures Masterful Ninja Ninjas Over My Dead Bodies The FAQ The Graveyard Unsummon Your Hand

Anticipation for Unstable

Maro, I've never been so excited for a new set. Over My Dead Bodies is exactly the card I hoped to see in Unstable, and Graveyard Busybody is the card I never knew I wanted until now. Is it too good to be true?

It is not. Unstable on sale December 8.

Graveyard Busybody Mark Rosewater Over My Dead Bodies The Graveyard Unstable

Phage's Ability Context

I have out Over My Dead Bodies and attack with Phage the Untouchable. As she is in a graveyard, would it still cause game loss, or is the ability only relevant on the field?

Her ability still works.

Over My Dead Bodies Phage the Untouchable The Graveyard