Budget Alternatives to Necromancy
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Necromancy ($18.98)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these vector-analyzed substitutes deliver comparable Versatile Deck Staple power for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Necromancy at a Glance
Grave Servitude
Matches Necromancy's Enchantment card type and costs 1 less mana (2 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #delayed-trigger, #gains-flash, #keyword-errata-flash.
Last Voyage of the _____
Matches Necromancy's Enchantment card type and costs 1 more mana (4 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #animate-dead-like, #auraify, #reanimate-creature.
Last Voyage of the _____
Matches Necromancy's Enchantment card type and costs 1 more mana (4 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #animate-dead-like, #auraify, #reanimate-creature.
Necromancy
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Necromancy and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Vector Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necromancy (Original) | Enchantment | $18.98 | — | — | 100% (Baseline) |
| #1 Grave Servitude | Enchantment (2 MV) | $0.13 | $18.85 | 99% | 79% Match |
| #2 Last Voyage of the _____ | Enchantment (4 MV) | $0.03 | $18.95 | 100% | 77% Match |
| #3 Twilight's Call | Sorcery (6 MV) | $0.70 | $18.28 | 96% | 69% Match |
| #4 The Deck of Many Things | Legendary Artifact (5 MV) | $3.91 | $15.07 | 79% | 52% Match |
| #5 Charnel Serenade | Sorcery (6 MV) | $0.31 | $18.67 | 98% | 64% Match |
| #6 Call from the Grave | Sorcery (3 MV) | $0.22 | $18.76 | 99% | 64% Match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Necromancy
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Grave Servitude
(Enchantment — Aura • 2 MV)
You may cast this spell as though it had flash. If you cast it any time a sorcery couldn't have been cast, the controller of the permanent it becomes sacrifices it at the beginning of the next cleanup step. Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +3/-1 and is black.
Matches Necromancy's Enchantment card type and costs 1 less mana (2 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #delayed-trigger, #gains-flash, #keyword-errata-flash.
- • Costs $0.13 (99% savings over Necromancy)
- • Fills the Enchantment curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 3 MV)
- • Delivers 79% of the mechanical power ceiling
Last Voyage of the _____
(Enchantment • 4 MV)
When this enchantment enters, you may put a name sticker on it, then it becomes an Aura with enchant creature. Return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield and attach this Aura to it. Enchanted creature gets +2/+0 for each name sticker on this Aura with seven or fewer letters. When this Aura leaves the battlefield, sacrifice enchanted creature.
Matches Necromancy's Enchantment card type and costs 1 more mana (4 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #animate-dead-like, #auraify, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $0.03 (100% savings over Necromancy)
- • Fills the Enchantment curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Delivers 77% of the mechanical power ceiling
Twilight's Call
(Sorcery • 6 MV)
You may cast this spell as though it had flash if you pay {2} more to cast it. (You may cast it any time you could cast an instant.) Each player returns all creature cards from their graveyard to the battlefield.
Acts as a Sorcery alternative to Necromancy's Enchantment and costs 3 more mana (6 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #gains-flash, #keyword-errata-flash, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $0.70 (96% savings over Necromancy)
- • Fills the Enchantment curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 3 additional mana to cast
- • Delivers 69% of the mechanical power ceiling
The Deck of Many Things
(Legendary Artifact • 5 MV)
{2}, {T}: Roll a d20 and subtract the number of cards in your hand. If the result is 0 or less, discard your hand. 1—9 | Return a card at random from your graveyard to your hand. 10—19 | Draw two cards. 20 | Put a creature card from any graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. When that creature dies, its owner loses the game.
Acts as a Legendary Artifact alternative to Necromancy's Enchantment and costs 2 more mana (5 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #delayed-trigger, #reanimate-creature, #reanimate-from-any.
- • Costs $3.91 (79% savings over Necromancy)
- • Fills the Enchantment curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Delivers 52% of the mechanical power ceiling
Charnel Serenade
(Sorcery • 6 MV)
Surveil 3, then return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a finality counter on it. Exile Charnel Serenade with three time counters on it. Suspend 3—{2}{B} (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay {2}{B} and exile it with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter. When the last is removed, you may cast it without paying its mana cost.)
Acts as a Sorcery alternative to Necromancy's Enchantment and costs 3 more mana (6 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #intervening-if-clause, #reanimate-creature.
- • Costs $0.31 (98% savings over Necromancy)
- • Fills the Enchantment curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 3 additional mana to cast
- • Delivers 64% of the mechanical power ceiling
Call from the Grave
(Sorcery • 3 MV)
Put a random creature from a random graveyard into play under your control. Call from the Grave deals to you an amount of damage equal to that creature's casting cost.
Acts as a Sorcery alternative to Necromancy's Enchantment and shares the exact same mana value (3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #reanimate-creature, #reanimate-from-any.
- • Costs $0.22 (99% savings over Necromancy)
- • Fills the Enchantment curve slot cleanly
- • Delivers 64% of the mechanical power ceiling
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Necromancy's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Necromancy Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Necromancy's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $18.98 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Necromancy Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
What is the best budget alternative to Necromancy?+
Grave Servitude ($0.13) is the best overall alternative to Necromancy ($18.98), saving $18.85 (99% savings) with a 79% functional vector match.
What cards are like Necromancy in MTG?+
Cards like Necromancy include Grave Servitude ($0.13), Last Voyage of the _____ ($0.03), Twilight's Call ($0.70), The Deck of Many Things ($3.91). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Necromancy?+
Last Voyage of the _____ ($0.03) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 100% compared to Necromancy.
Why would a player want a replacement for Necromancy?+
At $18.98, Necromancy represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Necromancy?+
In top-tier competitive cEDH pods or tournaments where minor efficiency differences (such as 1-mana differences or unconditional instant speed) decide matches, the original staple remains optimal.
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