Yuan-Ti Malison MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Snake Rogue
Abilities Venture into the dungeon
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Yuan-Ti Malison affords card control and unexpected gameplay with its instant speed abilities.
  2. Its specific mana needs and discard requirement may impede the flow of some MTG decks.
  3. A diverse toolkit and combo potential make it a versatile addition to any collection.

Text of card

Yuan-Ti Malison can't be blocked as long as it's attacking alone. Whenever Yuan-Ti Malison deals combat damage to a player, venture into the dungeon. (Enter the first room or advance to the next room.)

Silent. Slithering. Sinister.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Yuan-Ti Malison, players can often gain card advantage through its ability to manipulate the deck and ensure that the necessary resources are within reach. This strategic capability is key in maintaining dominance throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card acts as a resource acceleration tool, potentially streamlining your strategy by enabling the deployment of other cards more swiftly. This can be especially powerful when tempo plays a crucial role in your game plan.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Yuan-Ti Malison’s abilities can catch an opponent off-guard. Whether it’s during a surprise block or in response to an opponent’s actions, the flexibility offered by playing at instant speed is a significant strategic asset.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Yuan-Ti Malison requires the player to discard a card, potentially putting them at a disadvantage if their hand is already depleted or if they’re playing a strategy that relies on maintaining a substantial number of cards in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Yuan-Ti Malison demands a particular blend of mana to cast. This can be restrictive for multicolor decks that may struggle with the required mana base, hindering the card’s versatility and playability across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher side for its effects, players may find that other cards in the MTG landscape could provide a better bang for their buck. When considering the balance of cost versus impact, this factor can affect the inclusion of Yuan-Ti Malison in competitive play.


Reasons to Include Yuan-Ti Malison in Your Collection

Versatility: Yuan-Ti Malison brings flexibility to any deck that thrives on creature variety. As a creature card, it offers diverse options for board presence, making it a fitting choice for multiple strategies.

Combo Potential: With abilities that can intertwine with others, Yuan-Ti Malison has the capacity to be a linchpin in combos, enhancing synergies within decks that harness creature-type mechanics or tribal themes.

Meta-Relevance: Adapting to shifting game dynamics can be the edge a player needs. Yuan-Ti Malison’s adaptability ensures it remains a contender in a constantly evolving meta, supporting strategies that can catch opponents off-guard.


How to beat

Yuan-Ti Malison brings an element of stealth and surprise to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering, often serving as a key piece in decks that favor potent utility over direct damage. To effectively counter this slithery adversary, understanding and disrupting its strengths is essential. One strategy is to manage and monitor graveyard contents, as Yuan-Ti Malison’s abilities are amplified with a well-stocked graveyard. Employing instant removals or exile effects when Yuan-Ti Malison triggers its ability is another tactic, as it relies on resolve to become a threatening force.

Moreover, leveraging cards that restrict creature abilities or continuously clear the board can prevent Yuan-Ti Malison from ever becoming a problem. This includes utilizing global enchantments or creatures that negate triggered abilities and playing sweepers to control the board state. Cards with the ‘graveyard hate’ mechanism, which include cards that exile cards from graveyards or stop cards from entering them altogether, can effectively neutralize the advantages gained from Yuan-Ti Malison’s presence.

Adapting your deck to include a diverse suite of responses will equip you to dismantle the deceptive tactics that Yuan-Ti Malison introduces, ensuring your path to victory remains clear and uninterrupted.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding both the strengths and weaknesses of Yuan-Ti Malison can significantly impact your MTG experience. This card combines deck manipulation, strategic speed, and resource acceleration, potentially bolstering your play options. However, be mindful of the discard cost and specific mana requirements which could impact your hand and deck versatility. Keeping abreast of new additions like Yuan-Ti Malison, recognizing similar cards, and learning to count on its meta-relevance will keep you ahead of the curve. To optimize your gaming strategy and expand your collection with cards that have robust combo potential, delve deeper with us on BurnMana.


Cards like Yuan-Ti Malison

Yuan-Ti Malison weaves an intricate blend of abilities into the creature dynamic of Magic: The Gathering. Reminiscent to other creatures that couple menace with additional abilities, Yuan-Ti Malison stands out through its unique combination of deathtouch and the ability to handle counters efficiently. Cards like Gifted Aetherborn come to mind, though they offer lifelink instead of the counter manipulation that Yuan-Ti Malison provides.

Comparatively, Ochran Assassin is another creature that controls the battlefield by forcing each creature your opponent controls to block if able. While Ochran Assassin may not have the deathtouch inherently, it pairs well with any deathtouch ability to potentially clear a board. The tactical leverage of Yuan-Ti Malison isn’t only in its menace and deathtouch, but also in its interaction with counters, which creates a more flexible strategy within the game.

Examining the synergy and board presence, Yuan-Ti Malison secures a niche role. Its distinctive set of abilities can shift the scales in a match, highlighting its potential beyond just a simple creature card in Magic: The Gathering. This makes it both a unique and strategic option for players seeking to control the game with adroit counterplay.

Gifted Aetherborn - MTG Card versions
Ochran Assassin - MTG Card versions
Gifted Aetherborn - Aether Revolt (AER)
Ochran Assassin - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Yuan-Ti Malison by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Yuan-Ti Malison MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos, 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 Yuan-Ti Malison and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Yuan-Ti Malison Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Oriana Menendez.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 926602015normalblackOriana Menendez
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 86s2015normalblackOriana Menendez
32021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 862015normalblackOriana Menendez
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3712015normalblackOriana Menendez
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 86a2015normalblackOriana Menendez
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 86p2015normalblackOriana Menendez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Yuan-Ti Malison has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-07-23 A player may only have one dungeon in the command zone at a time.
2021-07-23 Choosing the dungeon or room to venture into is part of resolving the venture into the dungeon keyword action. Once that choice is made, players may not respond until after the appropriate room ability has triggered.
2021-07-23 Dungeon cards are not part of a player's deck or sideboard. In both constructed and limited formats, players can use any dungeon card when they venture into the dungeon.
2021-07-23 Dungeons are removed from the game as a state-based action.
2021-07-23 If you somehow venture into the dungeon while a room's ability is on the stack, you will continue on in the dungeon. If you're already in the last room, complete that dungeon and start a new one.
2021-07-23 Moving into a dungeon room will cause its room ability to trigger.
2021-07-23 Once you resolve the last room ability of a dungeon, that dungeon is now completed and is removed from the game.
2021-07-23 The player venturing into the dungeon chooses which dungeon they will venture into. They may choose a dungeon that they have already completed this game.
2021-07-23 To venture into the dungeon, a player moves their venture marker into the next room of the dungeon they are currently in. If they aren't currently in a dungeon, that player instead chooses a dungeon card from outside the game, puts it into the command zone, and moves their venture marker onto the first room.
2021-07-23 You can only move forward (well, downward) in a dungeon, never backwards or sideways.

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