Death's Caress
~$0.07 low · ~$0.49 high
Black. Sorcery
Dark Ascension #59 · Illustrated by James Ryman
Dark Ascension #59 · Illustrated by James RymanWhat is Death's Caress worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
Destroy target creature. If that creature was a Human, you gain life equal to its toughness.
The faint smell of cloves, the rustling of the wind, and a paralyzing descent into an airless, fathomless tomb.
Format legality
The only printing of Death's Caress
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dark Ascension dka #59· 2012common· Cardmarket €0.06 · €0.29 foil | common | $0.07 | $0.49 | €0.06€0.29 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Death's Caress
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Card details
- First printed
- 2012
- Printings
- 1
- Mana value
- 5
- EDHREC rank
- #28,866 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Artist
- James Ryman
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Dark Ascension card (#59).
59
- 59Collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
Cards from 1998 to mid-2014 print the collector number over the set's card count (like 90/383) next to the copyright line. They have no rarity letter, set code or language code: the set symbol and its colour show the set and rarity.
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Rulings (3)
2011-01-22
Check the creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine if it was a Human. If it was, use its toughness as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much life is gained.
2011-01-22
If the target creature isn’t on the battlefield or is otherwise an illegal target when Death’s Caress tries to resolve, Death’s Caress doesn’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t gain any life.
2013-07-01
If Death’s Caress resolves but the target creature isn’t destroyed, perhaps because it has indestructible or it regenerated, you still check if it’s a Human. If so, you’ll gain life equal to its toughness.
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