The 39 Best Reanimation Targets in Magic Ranked

Last updated on June 1, 2026

Atraxa, Grand Unifier | Illustration by Anato Finnstark

Magic has no shortage of busted creatures and splashy permanents that are just begging to be brought back from the graveyard. Whether you're slinging spells in Commander, grinding value in Legacy, or pulling off slick combos in Modern or Pauper, reanimator decks are all about skipping the high mana costs and cheating out threats way ahead of schedule.

In this list, we’re breaking down the best reanimation targets across several formats, focusing mostly on creatures with huge, game-warping effects, plus a few non-creature picks that are just too juicy to ignore.

Intrigued by what those may be? Let’s do some gravedigging!

What Are Reanimation Targets in MTG?

Archon of Cruelty | Illustration by Andrew Mar

Reanimation targets are powerful cards—usually big creatures or game-changing permanents—that players bring back from the graveyard directly onto the battlefield using “reanimation” effects. These targets are often expensive to cast normally, but reanimating them skips the mana cost and lets you cheat out massive threats.

I've excluded cards like Blightsteel Colossus or Progenitus that can’t stay in the graveyard due to replacement effects, even though there are tricks that let you reanimate these creatures.

#39. Grist, Voracious Larva

The whole trick to Grist, Voracious Larva is finding a way to bring it back from the ‘yard so it'll transform into Grist, the Plague Swarm. Bringing back a 1-drop is an easy enough feat, though Grist will still flip to its planeswalker side if you already control it and bring back something else instead.

#38. Troll of Khazad-dûm

Troll of Khazad-dûm is a standout reanimation target in Pauper, thanks to its perfect synergy with Exhume. Its swampcycling ability makes it easy to pitch early, and once reanimated, that 6/5 with evasion becomes a fast clock that most opponents can’t deal with efficiently. The interaction is so clean and low-cost that it even broke into Legacy Reanimator lists—so much so that the troll was banned in Legacy, where its synergy with Reanimate and similar effects pushed fast reanimator strategies over the edge.

#37. Chancellor of the Annex

Having Chancellor of the Annex in your opening hand gives you a sneaky little tax effect right out of the gate, making your opponents pay extra for their very first spell. But the real annoyance begins when you reanimate it—suddenly, every spell your opponents cast costs more, which can seriously mess with their tempo. It’s a familiar face in Legacy Reanimator for dodging early interaction, and in Commander, it’s a fun pick for stax decks looking to slow the whole table down.

#36. Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed

Unlike most creatures on this list, Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed‘s value is less about its presence on board and more about how recursive it can be. Ignore the stats and horsemanship and focus on combining it with black mass reanimation spells like Wake the Dead, Living Death, and so on. Those bring Xiahou Dun back, which you can then sacrifice to get your reanimation spell back, and establish a loop that needs graveyard hate to break apart.

#35. Ashen Rider

When you need something gone for good, Ashen Rider does the job twice—once when it hits the battlefield and again when it dies. That kind of double exile effect is incredible in Commander, especially against stubborn threats like planeswalkers, key lands, or anything else that’s hard to answer. It fits perfectly into decks built around flicker loops or reanimation engines, turning every iteration into serious value. Even Legacy Reanimator pulls it in now and then, especially when they need a clean answer to cards like Ensnaring Bridge that would otherwise shut down their win.

#34. Blazing Archon

Blazing Archon might not look like much at first glance, but once you reanimate it, you’ll immediately see the power: No one can attack you. That effect alone makes it one of the best “stall until I combo” cards for reanimator builds in Commander. It also pairs well with pillow fort or group hug strategies that want to deter aggression. While it’s not fast enough for Legacy, it’s a fantastic piece for casual metas.

#33. Armaggon, Future Shark

If nothing else, you know exactly what you'll get when you bring Armaggon, Future Shark back from the dead. This isn't an Atraxa-level threat that'll put you way ahead of your opponents, not in Commander at least, but clearing the three best creatures off the board for the price of an Animate Dead is certainly a good enough deal.

#32. Absolute Virtue

“Protection from each of your opponents” is strong protection, but not foolproof immunity. Absolute Virtue still dies to most board wipes and edict effects, for example. That said, it's large and difficult to directly interact with, so it's a fine body to slam into play with your reanimator of choice.

#31. Terastodon

Blowing up up to three noncreature permanents gives you answers to pesky artifacts, enchantments, or even lands that are ruining your plans. Sure, your opponents get some 3/3 elephant tokens in exchange, but that’s usually a small price to pay when you’re dismantling key pieces of their strategy. Terastodon used to be a posterchild of what Commander was all about, though it's been usurped by decades of power creep at this point.

#30. Agent of Treachery

Agent of Treachery is all about stealing the best thing on the board—and then stealing more if it sticks around. In Commander, this card is a dream to reanimate because it not only swings the game the moment it enters, but also snowballs if you manage to control multiple stolen permanents. It’s also seen play in Modern and Historic, especially in blink decks that aim to recycle its ETB again and again. It’s greedy, rude, and incredibly effective.

#29. Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Few creatures flip a board state as fast as Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Giving your team +2/+2 while slamming your opponents’ creatures with -2/-2 often means you wipe their board while making yours unstoppable. This card is a reanimation all-star in Commander, especially when you’re up against go-wide token strategies or combat-heavy decks. It might not be the flashiest reanimation target out there, but it’s one of the most consistent at locking down the board and turning the game in your favor.

#28. Sun Titan

You don’t always need over-the-top creatures to make a big impact—sometimes, value and reliability win the game, and that’s exactly what Sun Titan brings to the table. Every time it enters or attacks, you get to return a permanent with mana value 3 or less directly to the battlefield, which can mean ramping with lands, recovering utility creatures, or grabbing key combo pieces. It's a staple in white Commander decks that keeps the engine running.

#27. Etali, Primal Conqueror / Etali, Primal Sickness

Etali, Primal Conqueror is a dream reanimation target because it offers explosive value the moment it hits the battlefield. When this card enters, you get to cast the next spell from each player's library for free. That means you're often getting two, three, or even four powerful spells at no extra cost.

And if that wasn’t enough, Etali can also transform into a massive, poison-spewing, indestructible threat that ends games quickly if left unchecked. This card shines brightest in Commander, where there are always plenty of high-impact cards to steal, but it also shows up in Brawl and cEDH thanks to its raw power.

#26. Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur

Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur is a “draw seven, ruin friendships” kind of card. This praetor refills your hand and completely wrecks your opponents’ plans by shrinking their hand size to zero. In Commander, this card is often reanimated early to either draw immediate heat or completely warp the game state in your favor. It's a bit too slow for Eternal Constructed formats these days, but it still shows up occasionally in fringe builds that want to lock out the table.

#25. Razaketh, the Foulblooded

Razaketh, the Foulblooded is basically a demon-flavored tutor engine on wings. What makes this card absurd in Commander is that once it hits the field, sacrificing even a few creatures turns into a full combo setup. People often reanimate this just to chain into their win conditions immediately. You won’t see it much in faster formats, but in casual circles, Razaketh is a terrifying finisher.

#24. Sheoldred, Whispering One

If you're into repeatable value and control, then Sheoldred, Whispering One is your kind of reanimation target. This card creates a miserable experience for opponents by forcing them to sacrifice creatures every turn while bringing yours back for free. Sheoldred is a clunky Commander card, but can turn any slow grindy game into a lopsided war of attrition.

#23. Consecrated Sphinx

Consecrated Sphinx makes sure you always outdraw your opponents. This card snowballs fast and is often reanimated just to ensure you stay ahead in the card advantage race. It’s a Commander favorite, though Vintage Cube has long since outpaced it.

#22. Nezahal, Primal Tide

Then there’s Nezahal, Primal Tide, which is a pain to remove and a card draw monster against the right decks. This card is immune to counters, has built-in protection via discard, and punishes opponents for playing spells. It’s a great reanimation target in both Commander and more casual reanimator brews where recurring value is more important than immediate impact.

#21. Summon: Knights of Round

If you're trying to cheat an enchantment into play, you're better off with the #1 option on this list. But if you're going for style points, try Summon: Knights of Round instead. It has the advantage of being both an enchantment and a creature, so it interacts with a wider range of recursion effects. The summon creates an instant board state every turn, culminating in a finisher, and putting the saga right back in the graveyard for another round.

#20. Vilis, Broker of Blood

Vilis, Broker of Blood turns every point of life loss into pure gas. This demon practically begs to be reanimated in Commander, where big lifegain swings or cards like Necropotence are already being played. Once on the field, your life total becomes a resource you can burn for cards, and the activated ability becomes a draw engine. It’s not seen in Legacy or Modern, but it's a menace in EDH.

#19. Sepulchral Primordial

Sepulchral Primordial puts a respectable body in play while stealing something from each of your opponents, too. That’s what makes it a multiplayer monster. Reanimating this in Commander can flip the entire board, especially if someone’s been milling or playing aristocrats. It’s not flashy in competitive circles, but in casual pods, this card often feels like a wincon made of stolen dreams.

#18. It That Betrays

Eldrazi make for some of the splashiest targets, and It That Betrays is pure chaos. It punishes sacrifice effects by stealing what your opponents give up, and it forces those sacrifices regularly with annihilator 2. This card doesn’t show up in competitive formats due to its high mana cost, but in Commander—especially in decks that run Grave Pact or Dictate of Erebos—it can snowball fast into a one-sided game.

#17. Worldgorger Dragon

Worldgorger Dragon is one of those cards that’s either broken or catastrophic. In combo decks, it forms an infinite loop with reanimation auras like Animate Dead, where it exiles and re-enters over and over to make infinite mana. This combo is very popular in cEDH but also banned in some casual circles because of how complicated and dangerous it can be—exile your board wrong, and you could lose on the spot. Still, it’s a classic high-reward reanimation piece.

#16. Summon: Bahamut

Even if Summon: Bahamut doesn't survive long enough to fire off its Mega Flare ability, it'll always tag a permanent on ETB, which is a good starting place. Let it stick around for any longer than that, and it'll destroy something else, draw some cards, and blast each opponent for a large amount of damage, all while being a flying 9/9 that dominates the board.

#15. Kokusho, the Evening Star

Kokusho, the Evening Star is a timeless reanimation target that punishes your opponents just for dying. In multiplayer formats like Commander, this card can drain the table for 15 life, which adds up fast with sacrifice loops or “scam” effects like Supernatural Stamina. It's both a finisher and a stabilizer in one elegant, dragon-shaped package.

#14. Krang, Utrom Warlord

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gave us several strong Krang cards, but it's Krang, Utrom Warlord you'll want to be aiming your reanimation spells at. It's just keyword soup with stats to back it up, and has some key protection with indestructible. All of its abilities transfer over to other artifact creatures you control, so trying grouping it together with other artifacts using cards like Wake the Past or Triumphant Reckoning.

#13. Avacyn, Angel of Hope

It's exile removal or bust with Avacyn, Angel of Hope. This angel makes your entire board untouchable upon arrival. Avacyn sees heavy play in white reanimator decks and angel Commander builds, where the goal is to protect a valuable board state and swing freely. The cost is steep, but once it's out, removing your stuff becomes a much harder task.

#12. Colossal Grave-Reaver

Much like Sheoldred, Whispering One, Colossal Grave-Reaver is a reanimation target that chains into other reanimation. You bring this back, mill a few cards, and hopefully spike another creature to put into play. You likely get something off the ETB, but you also repeat that possibility on attacks, and it even triggers off other sources of self-mill beyond its own ability.

#11. Ardyn, the Usurper

Falling into the same category as the Golgari dragon above, Ardyn, the Usurper should be your primary target for reanimation, after which is sticks around bringing back a demonized version of your next best creature each turn, with haste, menace, and lifelink. It can grab creatures from opposing graveyards too, so you're almost always rewarded for cheating this into play from the graveyard.

#10. Portal to Phyrexia

If you’re playing an artifact-heavy deck and love reusing powerful pieces, Portal to Phyrexia is a dream come true. Not only does it act as a brutal board wipe—making each opponent sacrifice three creatures—but it also gives you free creature reanimation every upkeep. That’s a nasty combo of control and long-term value. It’s no surprise this has become a staple in Commander decks like Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa and Tawnos, Solemn Survivor, where bringing artifacts back from the graveyard is all part of the strategy.

#9. Bolas’s Citadel

Bolas's Citadel is another non-creature gem that thrives when cheated into play. Once it’s on the battlefield, you get to cast spells off the top of your library by paying life instead of mana. It’s especially potent in black decks that gain incidental life or run cards like Sensei's Divining Top. Commander decks love this card as a combo engine, and it even has a sneaky alt-win with its “sacrifice 10 permanents” ability.

#8. Sire of Insanity

Sire of Insanity is a symmetrical effect—but only if you’re not prepared for it. In practice, you reanimate this demon when your hand is empty (or doesn’t matter), and it wrecks everyone else by forcing a discard at each end step. It’s a brutal tool for Rakdos reanimator strategies in Commander and a nightmare for control players who rely on holding up interaction. It’s chaotic, punishing, and perfect for group slug playstyles.

#7. Void Winnower

Void Winnower is one of the strangest and most brutal cards to reanimate. By shutting off spells and blockers with even mana values, it throws off the balance of the game in a hilarious (and often frustrating) way. In Commander, this card can effectively cut off entire decks from functioning if they rely on even-costed spells.

#6. Serra’s Emissary

Few reanimation targets shut down opposing game plans quite like Serra's Emissary. Once it's on the battlefield, picking the right card type—usually creature or instant—can eliminate a lot of an opponent's options. While its main home is EDH, it's even made occasional appearances in Modern reanimator decks, either as a maindeck finisher or a clever sideboard bullet.

#5. Iona, Shield of Emeria

Iona, Shield of Emeria used to be one of the nastiest reanimation targets in Commander and Legacy. By naming a color, you essentially shut off entire decks from casting spells. Though banned in Commander, Iona remains a strong inclusion in other formats where grifting big creatures into play is viable. When Iona lands early, a mono-colored deck might as well scoop on the spot.

#4. Archon of Cruelty

Few creatures hit as hard on every axis as Archon of Cruelty. The moment it enters—or even just attacks—you’re draining life, forcing a discard, making an opponent sacrifice a creature or planeswalker, and drawing a card yourself. That’s a brutal pile of value from a single trigger. In Modern, it’s a centerpiece of Rakdos and Esper Reanimator decks, while in Commander, things get even nastier when you start looping or copying it. If you’re aiming for inevitability with serious impact, this archon doesn’t mess around.

#3. Griselbrand

Griselbrand holds up as a busted reanimation target despite multiple competitors entering its space. Pay 7 life, draw seven cards—repeat as needed. It’s banned in Commander for good reason, but it’s still a top-tier wincon in Legacy Reanimator decks or Cubes that heavily support reanimator strategies.

#2. Atraxa, Grand Unifier

Atraxa, Grand Unifier made its mark on the reanimator archetype immediately after showing up in Phyrexia: All Will Be One. This card does everything you want: It stabilizes with four keywords, attacks and blocks incredibly well, and draws you a grip of cards by digging through your top 10. Reanimating Atraxa early feels like cheating—because it kind of is. You often get a full hand and a 7/7 with vigilance, flying, lifelink, and deathtouch. What’s not to love?

#1. Omniscience

Omniscience isn’t a creature, but it’s one of the juiciest non-creature targets to cheat into play. Whether it's Show and Tell rolling this into play, or Abuelo's Awakening dying in Standard because of this card's existence, getting Omni out means every spell from your hand is free. It’s a staple in combo decks across Legacy, Commander, and now-fringe Standard brews, and once resolved, it almost always ends the game in a flood of spells.

Wrap Up

Ashen Rider | Illustration by Chris Rahn

As you can see, there’s no shortage of powerful reanimation targets that have left their mark on their formats. Sure, some of them have sky-high mana costs or hefty price tags, but when you’re cheating them into play with a well-timed reanimation spell, it all feels worth it—especially when their enter-the-battlefield effects completely turn the game around on the spot.

Got a personal favorite we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to follow us on social media/Discord for more spicy Magic content! While you're here, check out The Daily Upkeep newsletter to stay up to date on all the latest MTG news.

Take care, and we will meet again in my next article.