15 Most Valuable Zombie Cards

Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver | art by Chris Rallis

Zombies date all the way back to Magic’s first set, Alpha, in 1993. Though the creature type has changed drastically over the years (even being included as standalone blue creatures in later sets).

Zombies are an always-popular archetype across various builds, and especially in Commander. But what are the most valuable Zombie cards? Let’s (grave)dig in.

Note: Prices all come from TCGPlayer over the past calendar year, unless otherwise noted, which are subject to rapid change based on market conditions.

15. God-Eternal Kefnet – San Diego Comic-Con 2019

Market Price: $22.62

Four of the five gods from the plane of Amonkhet were featured in a San Diego Comic-Con special release from 2019. With artwork by Adam Paquette that showed the gods (as well as Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God) in a striking “reverse silhouette” finish. The blue Kefnet (god of knowledge) is the least valuable of these cards at over $22.

14. Nekusar, the Mindrazer – Zippy Zombies Secret Lair Bonus Sheet

Market Price: $23.62

Many of the most valuable Zombie cards ever hail from the “Zippy Zombies” bonus sheet from various Secret Lair Drops from 2024, and the first one herein is this Zombie Wizard that kindly gives all players an extra card during their draw step, but then pings your opponents whenever they draw a card. Combine with Underworld Dreams for extra fun!

13. Headless Rider – Zippy Zombies Secret Lair Bonus Sheet

Market Price: $23.96

Another “Zippy Zombies” addition, this Rotlung Reanimator (but for Zombies) replaces any nontoken Zombies you control that die with another 2/2 Zombie token.

Want something to do with those Zombies in the ‘yard? Try Midnight Ritual for more Zombie tokens, or fire off a Patriarch's Bidding to get all those Zombos back.

12. Boris Devilboon – Legends

Market Price: $26.00

This original legendary Zombie Wizard was found in the first Legend-focused set, Legends, in 1994. While a 2/2 for a staggering seems utterly insane by today’s standards, don’t worry, he has an activated ability!

The downside? It costs to put a named 1/1 creature token into play. Still, cards over 30 years old are worth a lot in today’s market!

11. Scathe Zombies – Alpha

Market Price: $26.58

If you can believe it, three mana for a vanilla 2/2 creature used to be the going rate. Nowadays, you can get a vanilla 3/3 for a measly (looking at you Sundial, Dawn Tyrant).

While a vanilla 2/2 for three looks putrid today, this Alpha printing of this overcosted original Zombie will still set you back over $25.

10. God-Eternal Rhonas – San Diego Comic-Con 2019

Market Price: $26.89

9. God-Eternal Bontu – San Diego Comic-Con 2019

Market Price: $39.67

Two more of the SDCC 2019 cards feature the singular Paquette artwork of Amonkhet’s Zombie Gods: the green Rhonas (god of strength) grants double the power for creatures on your board, while Bontu (god of ambition) lets you sacrifice any number of permanents you control then draw a card for each one sacrificed (perfect for a Barren Glory win-con). Curiously, Bontu is worth roughly $13 more than Rhonas, at nearly $40.

8. Bone Miser (First-Place Foil Special Guests) – Aetherdrift

Market Price: $43.77

While the artwork of this Special Guests version is certainly, shall we say (charitably) “eye-catching,” this writer prefers the original printing from Commander 2019, which boasts truly freakish artwork from Antonio José Manzanedo.

With a hefty price tag of over $40, it turns out that tacking the effects of Waste Not onto a 4/4 creature for is going to make for an expensive card – no matter what the artwork or card frame looks like.

7. God-Eternal Oketra – San Diego Comic-Con 2019

Market Price: $46.81

Perhaps the most potent of the Zombie God cards from SDCC 2019 (and originally War of the Spark) is God-Eternal Oketra, who delivers a 4/4 black Zombie token with vigilance whenever you cast a creature spell – that’s not upon entering, but upon casting; an important difference.

Worth nearly $50 with Paquette’s high-contrast artwork, this is the version of Oketra to get for your high-dollar Zombie Commander deck.

6. Scavenging Ghoul – Alpha

Market Price: $51.49

Another card worth a ton of dough due to the “Alpha tax,” this 2/2 Zombie for is no great shakes by today’s standards. Featuring the abandoned regeneration mechanic and artwork that looks like it came out of a The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” episode, a $50 price tag seems somewhat surprising, but just remember that 30-year-old pieces of cardboard are worth a lot.

5. Mikaeus, the Unhallowed – Zippy Zombies Secret Lair Bonus Sheet

Market Price: $89.42

Now we’re getting to the good stuff. This Zombie Cleric hoses Human typal shenanigans, boasts the rare intimidate keyword, and also gives all your (non-Human) creatures the potent undying ability.

This retro frame version of the card is worth nearly $90 on the secondary market, though this writer prefers the artwork on the full-art Commander Masters version, as well as from an Artists Spotlight Secret Lair with art from Livia Prima:

Also, this card is a major combo enabler thanks to granting other creatures the undying keyword:

Long live Mikaeus!

4. Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver – Zippy Zombies Secret Lair Bonus Sheet

Market Price: $92.95

According to EDHREC, this Zombie Warrior is the top commander choice for Zombie typal decks, and it’s easy to see why. It gives you card advantage, and it replaces any Zombies you control that might die… perhaps due to sacrificing them to Wilhelt’s other ability. Combine with Headless Rider and other Zombie token enablers for a good time (for you) in your next 99.

3. Rot Hulk – Zippy Zombies Secret Lair Bonus Sheet

Market Price: $97.95

The rarest card from the “Zippy Zombies” bonus sheet is actually Rot Hulk, and its near-$100 price point bears that out. While is a steep cost to pay for this, this card is still a potent piece in Commander, especially if you can cast it for with a Rooftop Storm on the battlefield.

2. Khabál Ghoul – Arabian Nights

Market Price: $106.37

The only Zombie card found in Magic’s first expansion, Arabian Nights, this card’s ability is actually still relevant by today’s standards, though a 1/1 for makes it a little overcosted.

Of course, I don’t think anyone will be purchasing this card to play with it, as its over-$100 price point makes it far more of a collector’s piece than a player’s purchase.

1. Zombie Master – Alpha

Market Price: $427.00

Unsurprisingly, the most valuable Zombie card of all time was the first Zombie “lord” and the first rare Zombie card released in Magic’s history: Zombie Master.

While this card’s abilities would be outclassed with far superior Zombie lords down the line (Lord of the Undead from Planeshift, Undead Warchief from Scourge, Death Baron from Shards of Alara, among many others).

Zombie Master still gets credit for being the first – and giving all Zombies (not just yours, mind you) the ability to regenerate for is still quite powerful, even today.

From A to Zombie

Zombies have been a staple in Magic since the very first set released over 30 years ago. Who knows where the creature type will go from here, but obtaining these high-dollar Zombs will surely be a prudent financial decision in the long run due to their scarcity. Thanks for reading!