Gnarled Effigy
Artifact
, 
: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- C
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Shadowmoor
- Price
- $0.13
- EDHREC rank
- #26326
Gnarled Effigy puts a counter on a creature at the end of each combat, and when that creature dies, its controller loses life equal to the counter total — a slow but self-sustaining drain engine that operates without any further input. Four mana is a real ask for something that doesn't immediately change the board, but the payoff compounds fast in multiplayer.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is the natural home for Gnarled Effigy — three opponents mean three combat steps to load counters onto, and the life loss on death is punishing in a format where creatures trade constantly. Legacy and Vintage are legal homes in name only; the effect is too slow and too low-impact to earn a slot in those formats. Modern at least has some life-drain synergies, but dedicated pay-to-drain decks have tighter, cheaper options and Gnarled Effigy won't make the cut. Oathbreaker functions similarly to Commander and the same multiplayer logic applies, though the smaller life totals make the drain clock meaningfully faster.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.13 bulk tier
At $0.13, Gnarled Effigy is deep bulk — the kind of card you grab as a throw-in without thinking about it. There's no financial floor worth protecting here, and no realistic path to a price spike unless a dedicated sacrifice commander pushes it into the spotlight.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.