Ethereal Usher MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Transmute |
| Released | 2005-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ravnica: City of Guilds |
| Set code | RAV |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 47 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mark A. Nelson |
Text of card
, : Target creature is unblockable this turn. Transmute (, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same converted mana cost as this card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Play only as a sorcery.)
Cards like Ethereal Usher
Ethereal Usher is a unique pocket player in the realm of unblockable tactics within Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to cards like Glaring Spotlight, which also offers the ability to make creatures unblockable. Unlike Glaring Spotlight, Ethereal Usher demands a mana commitment but in return, it presents an intriguing transmute ability, allowing players to tutor a specific card for a strategic advantage.
Comparably, Artful Dodge is another spell in this niche, enabling a creature to be unblockable but at a lesser cost. It also presents flashback, granting a second use and thus extended utility. While Whispering Madness is costlier and not directly aiding unblockability, it escalates the game by refilling players’ hands, indirectly supporting the tactic that Ethereal Usher promotes—overwhelming opponents with unanticipated attacks.
Hence, despite the formidable competition, Ethereal Usher secures its spot due to its dual utility of rendering creatures unblockable and the transmute ability, offering a multifaceted tool to players aiming to tactically outmaneuver their opponents in MTG. Its value surpasses the singular focus of similar spells with the added benefit of being a creature itself.
Cards similar to Ethereal Usher by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ethereal Usher enhances your control over the game flow by offering selective access to your library. This action ensures you’re not just drawing a card, but getting one that can shift the tide in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: By providing the utility to filter through your deck, Ethereal Usher can indirectly speed up your resource acquisition. It smoothens out the draws, potentially leading you to the resources you need quicker than you normally would.
Instant Speed: The ability to use Ethereal Usher’s Transmute feature at instant speed grants you immense flexibility. You can adapt to the evolving game state, fetching the appropriate response or threat right when you need it without missing a beat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ethereal Usher commands players to pitch another card from their hand to unlock its ability. In heated matches, sacrificing precious hand resources could tilt the advantage away, especially when the card count runs low.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting parameters dictate a mix of blue mana, making it less flexible in non-blue centric builds. This necessity can hamper deck diversity and limit the Usher’s presence to strictly blue or heavy blue hybrid decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Tapping four mana for its services might strain your mana pool, particularly when there are other cards in circulation that provide similar benefits for less. Seasoned players may opt for alternatives that promise more board impact or strategic versatility per mana spent.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ethereal Usher can adapt to various gameplay styles due to its ability to tutor for any creature card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less. This makes it a fitting addition for decks that rely on specific creatures for their strategy.
Combo Potential: Not only can Ethereal Usher help you retrieve a vital piece of your combo, but its transmute ability ensures that the retrieval is consistent and hard to disrupt, enhancing the reliability of your combo decks.
Meta-Relevance: With creature-based strategies often dominating the meta, having Ethereal Usher in your arsenal provides a direct answer to fetch your silver bullets, ensuring you maintain pace with the prevailing competitive scene.
How to Beat Ethereal Usher
Ethereal Usher is a unique card with the ability to provide unblockable status to creatures, which can be a significant advantage in Magic: The Gathering. One effective strategy to counter Ethereal Usher involves prioritizing the removal of the card itself, utilizing spells like Murder or Path to Exile. These spells provide an immediate answer to Ethereal Usher, effectively negating its transmute ability that could otherwise fetch critical combo pieces from a player’s library.
Another tactic to consider is applying pressure early in the game. Rapidly building a board presence with creatures can force the Ethereal Usher’s controller to use resources for defense rather than enable offense through its unblockable granting ability. Cards with the reach or “can block creatures with flying” attributes offer a further line of defense, as they can be an unexpected obstacle for an opponent who relies on Ethereal Usher to push damage through evasive means.
Maintaining a versatile deck filled with counterspells can also offer a direct way to foil your opponent’s plans, especially if Ethereal Usher is part of a larger combo within their deck. By interrupting their key plays, you undermine the inherent value Ethereal Usher provides, especially in the upkeep of a carefully crafted strategy revolving around specific creature abilities.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ethereal Usher MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Ethereal Usher 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 Ethereal Usher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |