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Sleep of the Dead, art by Kari Christensen
Art by Kari Christensen · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · image via Scryfall
Selected printing · USD
$0.23
checked Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfall
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Sleep of the Dead

{U} · Sorcery

Tap target creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step. Escape—{2}{U}, Exile three other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.)

Rulings (8)

Jan 24, 2020 · If a card with escape is put into your graveyard during your turn, you'll be able to cast it right away if it's legal to do so, before an opponent can take any actions.

Jan 24, 2020 · If a card has multiple abilities giving you permission to cast it, such as two escape abilities or an escape ability and a flashback ability, you choose which one to apply. The others have no effect.

Jan 24, 2020 · Once you begin casting a spell with escape, it immediately moves to the stack. Players can't take any other actions until you're done casting the spell.

Jan 24, 2020 · After an escaped spell resolves, it returns to its owner's graveyard if it's not a permanent spell. If it is a permanent spell, it enters the battlefield and will return to its owner's graveyard if it dies later. Perhaps it will escape again—good underworld security is so hard to come by these days.

Jan 24, 2020 · To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying (such as an escape cost), add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was and no matter whether an alternative cost was paid.

Jan 24, 2020 · Escape's permission doesn't change when you may cast the spell from your graveyard.

Jan 24, 2020 · If you cast a spell with its escape permission, you can't choose to apply any other alternative costs or to cast it without paying its mana cost. If it has any additional costs, you must pay those.

Jan 24, 2020 · Sleep of the Dead can target a creature that's already tapped. That creature won't untap during its controller's next untap step.

LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
ModernLegal
PioneerLegal
StandardNot legal
PauperLegal
PremodernNot legal
cEDHLegal

Where it’s played now

Inclusion by archetype · Pauper

% of archetype's lists running it · last 30 days · n=145 decks
ArchetypeFormatInclusionCopiesDecks (n)
Mono Blue TerrorPauper100%2–3×74
Mono Blue ControlPauper100%27
Dimir ControlPauper29.5%1–2×44
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · MTGO + papercasthaven.com

Price

Sleep of the Dead — price trend

Daily cheapest printing · USD · last 90 days · n=2 snapshots
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfallcasthaven.com

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