A-Satoru Umezawa MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Ninja |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | A-234 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Anna Pavleeva |
Text of card
Whenever you activate a ninjutsu ability, look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. This ability triggers only once each turn. Each creature card in your hand has ninjutsu .
Cards like A-Satoru Umezawa
A-Satoru Umezawa sets the stage for intriguing play dynamics in MTG, sharing traits with formidable ninja cards. One close cousin in his abilities is Silent-Blade Oni, which also exploits the mechanic of playing cards from the opponent’s hand. However, A-Satoru Umezawa takes it up a notch by granting you permission to cast those cards without paying their mana costs, upping the ante on your strategic advantage.
Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow is another ninja that fans of A-Satoru Umezawa might appreciate. While Yuriko doesn’t let you play cards from an opponent’s hand, her ability to deal damage based on the top card of your library adds a different angle to the ninja strategy, and like A-Satoru Umezawa, provides card advantage. Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni also echoes similar themes, with the added utility of regenerating and a powerful ability that snatches creatures from your opponent’s graveyard.
In summation, A-Satoru Umezawa finds company among a host of unique ninjas but stands out for his potent interaction with an opponent’s hand, creating opportunities for surprise and control that’s hard to parallel in the stealthy world of MTG ninjas.
Cards similar to A-Satoru Umezawa by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Satoru Umezawa’s ability to manipulate the top card of your library with a deathtouch body makes for a potent combination, ensuring you’re more likely to draw into the answers or threats you need. By setting up your draws, Satoru helps maintain card quality, a subtle but crucial form of card advantage in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Satoru serves as an effective resource accelerator. His secondary ability creates a scenario where casting a legendary creature provides double the impact, potentially offering you extra plays or enabling combo strategies that can significantly expedite your victory.
Instant Speed: Satoru’s flexibility plays a massive role in his power level. Being able to activate his ninjutsu ability at instant speed allows for strategic combat tricks and unexpected shifts in board state that could turn the tides in your favor at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Satoru Umezawa has an ability that asks players to discard a card which could be a strategic setback when hand size is crucial to maintaining gameplay options.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a dedicated mana base of black and blue, potentially limiting its inclusion only to decks that can accommodate such mana demands.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the abilities provided, Satoru Umezawa’s casting cost may be on the higher side, leaving players to evaluate other creatures or spells that could be more cost-effective for similar or better effects.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: A Satoru Umezawa card offers a broad utility in various deck builds, adding strategic depth with its capabilities to manipulate both the hand and battlefield.
Combo Potential: The card harmonizes with a plethora of strategies by enhancing synergies, particularly in decks that capitalize on casting creatures or triggering enter-the-battlefield effects.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving competitive scene, A Satoru Umezawa card demonstrates its value by adjusting well to various meta shifts, supporting decks that require resilience against a range of opposing strategies.
How to beat
Confronting a Satoru Umezawa card in your MTG game presents a tactical challenge due to its versatility and utility. This legendary creature’s ability to manipulate the game through its Ninjutsu is a major concern for any opponent. To effectively counter it, consider tactics that limit the ability of creatures to be unblocked. Cards that provide your creatures with vigilance or ones that can tap potential attackers are invaluable in this situation. Additionally, instant removal spells are particularly effective against Satoru Umezawa, as they can help you maintain control of the battlefield by removing it before its abilities can be activated.
Keeping a watchful eye on your opponent’s open mana and untapped creatures can also prove advantageous. This awareness can signal whether they have the resources to utilize Satoru Umezawa’s Ninjutsu ability, allowing you to prepare a response accordingly. Moreover, graveyard-based strategies can hinder the effectiveness of Satoru Umezawa’s resurrection effect, as it relies on creatures present in the graveyard. Utilizing cards that exile creatures from the graveyard or restrict graveyard interactions directly impact Satoru’s potential value and can swing the game in your favor.
In summary, the keys to beating Satoru Umezawa lie in proactive control of the board, strategic spell casting for removal, and disrupting graveyard synergy. Adapting your game plan to these elements ensures you stay one step ahead when facing this formidable adversary in your next game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-Satoru Umezawa MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 A-Satoru Umezawa and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-Satoru Umezawa has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |