Persistent Constrictor
Creature β Zombie Snake
Persistent Constrictor
Creature β Zombie Snake
Card Text
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, they lose 1 life and you put a -1/-1 counter on up to one target creature they control.
Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
Card Details
- Mana Value
- 5
- Colors
- Black
- Color Identity
- Black
- Power / Toughness
- 5 / 3
- EDHREC Rank
- #2,848
Format Legalities
Market Prices
Prices from TCGPlayer and Cardmarket
Price History (30d)
All Printings (10)
| Set | # | Rarity | Lang | Artist | Price | Foil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #52 | rare | en | Steve Ellis | $16.53 | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #22 | rare | en | Steve Ellis | $20.70 | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #52 | rare | de | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #22 | rare | de | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #22 | rare | es | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #22 | rare | fr | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #52 | rare | fr | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #22 | rare | it | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #22 | rare | ja | Steve Ellis | β | β |
| Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC) | #52 | rare | ja | Steve Ellis | β | β |
Official Rulings (5)
If a creature has +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it, state-based actions remove the same number of each so that it has only one kind of those counters on it. A creature's persist ability can bring it back again if its -1/-1 counters are removed this way.
If the target creature is an illegal target as Persistent Constrictor's first ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No player will lose life.
Once persist returns the creature, it's considered a new object with no relation to the object that it was. Auras that were attached to it won't return to the battlefield. Equipment that was attached to it will remain unattached. Any counters that were on it won't be put on the new creature.
If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won't trigger and the card won't return to the battlefield. That's because persist checks the creature as it last existed on the battlefield, and it still had -1/-1 counters on it at that point.
If a card with persist is removed from the graveyard after it dies but before the ability trigger resolves, it won't be returned to the battlefield.
Cards Similar to Persistent Constrictor
View all 200 similar cards βLooking for alternatives to Persistent Constrictor? These Magic: The Gathering cards share similar effects and gameplay roles.

Putrid Goblin
Creature β Zombie Goblin

Gravelgill Axeshark
Creature β Merfolk Soldier

Restless Apparition
Creature β Spirit

Thunderblust
Creature β Elemental

Rendclaw Trow
Creature β Troll
$0.15