Unearthly Blizzard MTG Card

Unearthly Blizzard - Champions of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery — Arcane
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Number	196
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Joel Thomas

Key Takeaways

Unearthly Blizzard manipulates in-game tempo, freezing opponents’ resources and swinging momentum in your favor.
It offers versatility in multiple formats, becoming an asset in control and tempo-oriented strategies.
While potent, its restrictive mana and discard requirements demand strategic deckbuilding and careful play.

Text of card

Up to three target creatures can't block this turn.

"We are trapped. The mountains and blinding kami storms have made us hopelessly lost. We are starving. In the name of all things sacred, please, send help . . . ." —Lost Battalion, final message to General Takeno

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unearthly Blizzard offers a unique approach to card advantage, allowing players to disrupt opponent strategies while potentially drawing into key pieces of their own deck.

Resource Acceleration: This card can unexpectedly hinder an opponent’s resource acceleration, by freezing lands or creatures that could be tapped for mana, which indirectly bolsters your tempo.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant-speed play makes Unearthly Blizzard a tactical tool in any match. It can be cast in response to an opponent’s actions during their turn, preserving the element of surprise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unearthly Blizzard demands a card discard from your hand to activate its chilling effects. This prerequisite can be a setback when your hand is already scarce, forcing you to forfeit potentially crucial strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: To conjure this icy tempest, a precise mana arrangement is needed. This can be restrictive, particularly in multicolored decks that may struggle to produce the necessary mana blend consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Tapping into the power of Unearthly Blizzard comes at a steep cost. With a mana value that leans toward the higher end, you may find that deploying this spell hampers your ability to cast other spells in the same turn, potentially leaving you in a frigid state during critical gameplay junctures.

Reasons to Include Unearthly Blizzard in Your Collection

Versatility: Unearthly Blizzard brings flexibility to your arsenal, capable of disrupting opponent strategies in various formats. Whether it’s Commander or Standard, its ability to affect multiple targets makes it a strategic inclusion in any deck that emphasizes control or tempo.

Combo Potential: For those who enjoy crafting intricate plays, this card’s potential to be part of a powerful combo is considerable. Its ability to tap creatures can synergize with cards or mechanics that capitalize on opponents having tapped creatures, opening the door for interesting deck-building options.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that heavily favors creature-based decks or where maintaining board control is paramount, Unearthly Blizzard can play a critical role. Its inclusion in your collection can help you keep up with or outmaneuver the ever-changing competitive landscape, ensuring that your deck remains a formidable contender.

How to beat

Unearthly Blizzard is a card that requires strategic planning and a well-timed response. If you’re facing this frosty spell, one method to counter its sweeping effects is to have creatures on your board that are resilient to damage. Creatures with indestructible, for example, won’t flinch at the chilling blast that Unearthly Blizzard brings to the battlefield. Additionally, instant-speed creature protections or spells that grant temporary invulnerability can be a lifesaver against this icy onslaught.

Another approach is to use hexproof to shelter your creatures from being targeted directly. This approach can effectively render the blizzard’s impact null on key creatures, preserving your board presence. Bouncing your creatures back to your hand as Unearthly Blizzard is cast can also help you save them for a counter-attack on your next turn. Lastly, playing around Unearthly Blizzard involves careful management of your creature deployment, ensuring you don’t overextend on the board and leave yourself vulnerable to a single, devastating wipe.

Knowing how to navigate around potential game-changing spells like Unearthly Blizzard can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. Adapt your strategy accordingly to find your way to triumph, even amidst the coldest of magic.

Cards like Unearthly Blizzard

The enchanting world of Magic: The Gathering introduces the chilling Unearthly Blizzard card, a spell that can freeze the battlefield with its potent abilities. If comparing it to other cards, Frost Breath is a capable counterpart which, like Unearthly Blizzard, taps into the power to incapacitate multiple creatures by freezing them, disrupting your opponent’s next turn. However, Unearthly Blizzard typically affects a wider scope of the board, depending on its casting conditions.

Furthermore, Winter’s Rest stands as another spell with this chilling effect. It showcases the ability to lock down a single creature until the controlling player manages to shed the icy grasp with another snow spell. Unearthly Blizzard, in contrast, has the potential to apply its effect on multiple targets, offering a strategic advantage for controlling the pace of the game. Then there’s Sleep, a spell that can tap all creatures an opponent controls. While Sleep is comprehensive in its reach, it doesn’t offer the ongoing control that Unearthly Blizzard might provide turn after turn.

Examining these spells together shows that Unearthly Blizzard has a niche in MTG as a frosty force that can sway the momentum of the game, especially in formats where controlling the board is crucial.

Cards similar to Unearthly Blizzard by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unearthly Blizzard 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 Unearthly Blizzard and other MTG cards: