Zoyowa Lava-Tongue MTG Card


Card draw upon dealing damage grants players a continuous stream of strategic options to maintain a game lead. Instant speed abilities of Zoyowa Lava-Tongue provide dynamic and unpredictable control of the game’s flow. Its requirement for specific mana and a high activation cost may limit the card’s deployment in diverse MTG decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Goblin Warlock
Abilities Deathtouch
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Deathtouch At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn, each opponent may discard a card or sacrifice a permanent. Zoyowa Lava-Tongue deals 3 damage to each opponent who didn't. (You descended if a permanent card was put into your graveyard from anywhere.)


Cards like Zoyowa Lava-Tongue

Zoyowa Lava-Tongue enjoys a seat at the table among formidable red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its semblance can be drawn with cards like Goblin Guide, a relentless one-drop creature that provides aggressive strategies early in the game. Zoyowa Lava-Tongue, while not as aggressive on the offensive front, comes with an impressive built-in direct damage ability, allowing you to control the board by targeting blockers or even direct damage to opponents.

Another peer in this category is the infamous Fanatic of Mogis, a creature known for its potential game-ending enter-the-battlefield effect, dealing damage equal to your devotion to red. Zoyowa Lava-Tongue takes a more repeatable yet moderated approach, offering consistent damage as opposed to a one-time burst. Then there is Chandra’s Phoenix, which also interacts favorably with direct damage strategies, yet its flying ability contrasts with Zoyowa Lava-Tongue’s focus on repeated ground-based board control.

Looking across the board, Zoyowa Lava-Tongue stands out with a unique blend of combat utility and flexible damage options, marking its territory in the decks tailored for sustained control and incremental advantage.

Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Fanatic of Mogis - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Fanatic of Mogis - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Phoenix - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zoyowa Lava-Tongue by color, type and mana cost

Marsh Goblins - MTG Card versions
Acidic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Shivan Zombie - MTG Card versions
Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - MTG Card versions
Juri, Master of the Revue - MTG Card versions
Gobhobbler Rats - MTG Card versions
Sootstoke Kindler - MTG Card versions
Spiteflame Witch - MTG Card versions
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Crimson Muckwader - MTG Card versions
Rix Maadi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Shred-Freak - MTG Card versions
Spike Jester - MTG Card versions
Tymaret, the Murder King - MTG Card versions
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden - MTG Card versions
Olivia's Bloodsworn - MTG Card versions
Dire Fleet Captain - MTG Card versions
Rushblade Commander - MTG Card versions
Marsh Goblins - MTG Card versions
Acidic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Shivan Zombie - MTG Card versions
Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - MTG Card versions
Juri, Master of the Revue - MTG Card versions
Gobhobbler Rats - MTG Card versions
Sootstoke Kindler - MTG Card versions
Spiteflame Witch - MTG Card versions
Goblin Deathraiders - MTG Card versions
Crimson Muckwader - MTG Card versions
Rix Maadi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Shred-Freak - MTG Card versions
Spike Jester - MTG Card versions
Tymaret, the Murder King - MTG Card versions
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden - MTG Card versions
Olivia's Bloodsworn - MTG Card versions
Dire Fleet Captain - MTG Card versions
Rushblade Commander - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zoyowa Lava-Tongue ensures players can capitalize on drawing additional cards whenever it deals damage to an opponent. This creates opportunities for outpacing the opponent by having more options available every turn.

Resource Acceleration: By contributing to the battlefield with its presence, Zoyowa Lava-Tongue can alter the landscape of resource management. It often forces the opposing player to dedicate resources to handle it, thereby creating a resource gap in your favor.

Instant Speed: Its abilities augment the effects of spells cast at instant speed. This strategic advantage allows for swift and unexpected changes to the board state, keeping opponents constantly on their heels and potentially dictating the pace of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Zoyowa Lava-Tongue comes with a distinct disadvantage due to its mechanic that requires a card discard upon activation. This can potentially deplete your hand, especially if you’re already running on limited card resources. Such a cost means you must weigh the benefits of using its ability against what you’ll need to give up, which could be critical in tightly-contested matches.

Specific Mana Cost: Harnessing the power of Zoyowa Lava-Tongue mandates a dedicated commitment to both red and green mana sources. This specificity narrows down its place in the MTG universe, as it fits naturally into red-green decks but could be challenging to incorporate into multi-color decks without running the risk of mana issues, thereby affecting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its ability tethered to a mana cost that’s on the higher spectrum, Zoyowa Lava-Tongue’s impact on the game might be overshadowed by other creatures or spells that bring more bang for the buck. Savvy players often seek out the most efficient cards for each mana expenditure, and Zoyowa’s relative costliness could relegate it to a backup option rather than a frontline choice.


Reasons to Include Zoyowa Lava-Tongue in Your Collection

Versatility: Zoyowa Lava-Tongue is a flexible addition to many red-based decks. Its ability to deal damage straight to any target provides a level of adaptability that can handle a variety of threats on the board or even close out games.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate with strategies that capitalize on dealing non-combat damage. For instance, in combination with cards that multiply damage effects, Zoyowa Lava-Tongue could significantly amplify its impact.

Meta-Relevance: Given that aggressive strategies often dictate the pace of many games, Zoyowa Lava-Tongue’s direct damage output makes it relevant in a meta that privileges quick and decisive plays. It can be a game-changer in matches where tempo is key.


How to beat

Zoyowa Lava-Tongue can be a fiery thorn in any player’s side but overcoming this card is not beyond reach. Recognizing its strength is key: Zoyowa Lava-Tongue can potentially wipe out smaller creatures each turn. Therefore, to beat it, focus on cards that can either neutralize it through exile or enchantment effects. Cards like Path to Exile or Imprisoned in the Moon can efficiently handle this issue by removing Zoyowa Lava-Tongue from the battlefield without triggering its ability.

Alternatively, countering it outright with spells like Negate or Essence Scatter ensures that Zoyowa never gets a chance to impact the game. Additionally, deploying creatures with higher toughness or indestructible abilities can nullify Zoyowa’s influence. Keeping these strategies in mind will allow you to maintain control of the battlefield and secure victory, even when facing the heat of Zoyowa Lava-Tongue.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zoyowa Lava-Tongue MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Zoyowa Lava-Tongue and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zoyowa Lava-Tongue Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-11-17 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-11-17The Lost Caverns of IxalanLCI 2452015NormalBlackCampbell White
22023-11-17The Lost Caverns of IxalanLCI 3122015NormalBlackRichard Luong

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zoyowa Lava-Tongue has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Zoyowa Lava-Tongue card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-11-10 A permanent card is an artifact, battle, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card. Tokens are not cards, and while tokens are put into the graveyard before ceasing to exist, that action doesn't count as a player having descended.
2023-11-10 Abilities that begin with "At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn" will trigger only once during your end step, no matter how many times you descended this turn. However, if you haven't descended this turn as your end step begins, the ability won't trigger at all. It's not possible to put a permanent card into your graveyard during the end step in time to have the ability trigger.
2023-11-10 An opponent with zero cards in hand can't choose to discard a card. Similarly, an opponent with no permanents can't choose to sacrifice a permanent.
2023-11-10 In either case, it doesn't matter if those cards are still in that player's graveyard.
2023-11-10 Multiple cards have abilities that begin with "At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn." These cards don't need to have been under your control at the time you descended. For example, if a permanent card is put into your graveyard during your first main phase and you cast Stalactite Stalker your second main phase, its ability will trigger at the beginning of your end step.
2023-11-10 Some cards refer to a player who has "descended this turn." This means that a permanent card has been put into that player's graveyard from anywhere this turn.
2023-11-10 Some cards refer to the number of times a player descended this turn. Those cards care about the number of permanent cards put into that player's graveyard from anywhere this turn.