Ashen-Skin Zubera MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zubera Spirit |
| Released | 2004-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Champions of Kamigawa |
| Set code | CHK |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 101 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Wayne Reynolds |
Text of card
When Ashen-Skin Zubera is put into a graveyard from play, target opponent discards a card for each Zubera put into a graveyard from play this turn.
When the Honden of Night's Reach began to crumble, its attendants swarmed Kamigawa to haunt mortal dreams.
Cards like Ashen-Skin Zubera
The Ashen-Skin Zubera offers a distinctive twist in MTG, serving as part of a niche set of creatures known as Zuberas, which capitalize on death-trigger effects. When compared to its kin, such as Ember-Fist Zubera and Floating-Dream Zubera, it provides less immediate value in terms of board presence and card advantage, since the latter can result in card draw upon its death.
Sifting through the spectrum of MTG cards, the Sultai Emissary stands out as a similar creature with both a death benefit and a mana cost of two. However, it manifests its value differently by creating a new creature upon its demise rather than affecting an opponent’s hand. Dripping-Tongue Zubera is another relative; when it dies, it has the potential to generate a field of tokens, offering a more tangible resource as compared to the subtle disruption of discarding provided by Ashen-Skin Zubera.
Ultimately, while Ashen-Skin Zubera may appear to have a narrower impact on the game, faced with a scenario where manipulating an opponent’s hand can be crucial, this card can be surprisingly effective within the right strategy or deck framework in MTG.
Cards similar to Ashen-Skin Zubera by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Ashen-Skin Zubera provides an edge when confronting decks that force discards. Each time it dies, you can compel an opponent to discard, benefitting you by chipping away at their hand.
Resource Acceleration: A deck built around Zuberas can swiftly optimize resources. When multiple Zuberas perish in a single turn, their effects stack, turning each death into a potential surge in board state or card advantage, edging you closer to victory.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, this creature pairs nicely with instant-speed sacrifice outlets. It allows you to spring a surprise discard on an opponent at the most inconvenient time, disrupting their carefully laid plans right when they least expect it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of playing Ashen-Skin Zubera is the need to have a discard outlet to maximize its ability. Without the means to voluntarily discard it from your hand, you may not fully benefit from its potential effect on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a black mana to play, which may not always align seamlessly with your deck’s mana base. Decks that do not run black mana won’t be able to utilize this card, limiting its versatility across different deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana including one black, Ashen-Skin Zubera might be considered costly considering its ability and stats. Other creatures or spells at the same cost could provide greater impact or value to a player, especially in decks that prize efficiency and speed.
Reasons to Include Ashen-Skin Zubera in Your Collection
Versatility: Ashen-Skin Zubera blends seamlessly into various deck types, particularly those centered around sacrifice effects or graveyard synergies. Its ability to force opponents to discard when it dies makes it a useful tool in disruption strategies.
Combo Potential: With its death trigger, this card can work wonders in a focused deck. It can be repeatedly sacrificed to wreak havoc on an opponent’s hand, combine with other Zuberas to maximize effect, or be part of a persistent recursion loop.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where hand size matters and control decks reign, Ashen-Skin Zubera’s discard effect disrupts opponents’ carefully curated hands. Plus, if graveyard-based strategies or Aristocrats decks are popular, it becomes even more valuable as part of those synergies.
How to beat
Ashen-Skin Zubera presents a unique challenge in MTG games, offering a potent effect upon its departure from the battlefield. Understanding the essence of its power is the first step in countering it. When Ashen-Skin Zubera dies, its ability to make an opponent discard cards for each Zubera that died this turn can be disruptive. To mitigate its impact, consider strategies that remove it without triggering death effects or that can exile it outright, thereby bypassing its ability.
Counter spells are also an effective line of defense. By preventing Ashen-Skin Zubera from hitting the field in the first place, you keep your opponent’s potential disruptive plays at bay. If the Zubera is already in play, consider using cards that can tap it down or prevent it from engaging in combat, as preventing the death trigger is key. Lastly, hand disruption tools can ensure the Zubera gets discarded before being played, or graveyard manipulation that removes it once it’s there can hinder the synergies your opponent might be planning around their Zubera suite.
Adapting your MTG strategy to the presence of Ashen-Skin Zubera is crucial. Successful players will always have a plan to counter not just the Zubera itself, but the strategies that surround it. By doing so, you maintain control of the game and diminish the chances of your opponent leveraging their Zubera for a win.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ashen-Skin Zubera MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Ashen-Skin Zubera and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ashen-Skin Zubera has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |