Ezuri, Claw of Progress MTG Card


Ezuri provides a strategic advantage by growing small creatures into larger threats with experience counters. Having specific mana requirements, Ezuri challenges deck builders in mana base optimization. In versatile decks, Ezuri can become a formidable commander, adapting to numerous playstyles.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Elf Warrior
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever a creature with power 2 or less enters the battlefield under your control, you get an experience counter. At the beginning of combat on your turn, put X +1/+1 counters on another target creature you control, where X is the number of experience counters you have.


Cards like Ezuri, Claw of Progress

Ezuri, Claw of Progress, carves a unique niche for itself in the realm of experience counter commanders in Magic: The Gathering. Held up against its counterparts, Ezuri shines by enhancing creatures and fortifying your presence on the battlefield. Akin to Ezuri in this aspect is Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice, which also capitalizes on the proliferation of counters, yet it diversifies among any type of counters, not solely on creatures. Atraxa’s four-color identity allows for a wide array of strategic avenues as opposed to Ezuri’s more focused approach within the Simic guild.

Delving deeper into the pool of comparable commanders, Vorel of the Hull Clade stands out by doubling the amount of counters on any one creature, artifact, or land. The specificity of Vorel’s ability contrasts with Ezuri’s overarching influence on all creatures with power 2 or less, demonstrating a narrower but more powerful targeted effect. Meanwhile, Pir, Imaginative Rascal, though not a commander, synergistically pairs with any counter strategy by incrementing the number of counters placed on your permanents, thereby amplifying Ezuri’s impact with every progression.

Overall, Ezuri, Claw of Progress holds its ground as a formidable commander, particularly for players who prefer to cultivate a board state teeming with increasingly potent creatures, offering a more aggressive tactic than some similar card options.

Atraxa, Praetors' Voice - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Pir, Imaginative Rascal - MTG Card versions
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Pir, Imaginative Rascal - MTG Card versions

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Patagia Viper - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ezuri, Claw of Progress. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
UBGUBG LegacyLegacy League 2024-01-24

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ezuri, Claw of Progress, is particularly adept at maximizing the potential of your creature cards. With every small creature that enters the battlefield, it offers an experience counter, essentially building towards an unstoppable force as your creatures grow stronger with each counter.

Resource Acceleration: The true power of this commander lies in its ability to exponentially increase the potency of your creatures each turn. As you amass experience counters with Ezuri, you accelerate the resources at your disposal, translating small creatures into massive threats.

Instant Speed: While Ezuri itself may not operate at instant speed, it allows for strategic use of instant-speed spells and effects during your turn before the combat phase, ensuring your creatures can swell in power at the crucial moment to overwhelm opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite Ezuri’s ability to rapidly grow your creatures, it necessitates having a creature to cast or enter the battlefield to trigger. This can lead to a hand-depletion scenario, especially if your game plan heavily relies on tossing creatures into the mix regularly.

Specific Mana Cost: Ezuri’s requirement for both green and blue mana can restrict deck-building freedom. Players might find it challenging to accommodate the mana base in multicolor decks that are not focused on the Simic color combination.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of four, Ezuri could be considered a bit costly. When faced with rapid early-game decks, a four-mana investment that doesn’t stabilize the board immediately could put you at a significant tempo disadvantage.


Reasons to Include Ezuri, Claw of Progress in Your Collection

Versatility: Ezuri, Claw of Progress is a commander that adapts to various playstyles, easily slotting into creature-based decks. Its ability to accumulate experience counters and distribute +1/+1 counters as creatures evolve makes it a dynamic card suitable for many strategies.

Combo Potential: Known for its synergy with low-cost creatures, Ezuri enhances the power of each creature that enters the battlefield with power 2 or less. This trait allows the card to unlock combinations with cards like Sage of Hours, achieving potentially infinite turns for the savvy player.

Meta-Relevance: In commander games where the battlefield can be unpredictable, Ezuri’s capacity to consistently strengthen your creatures each turn makes him highly relevant. Against a backdrop of ever-changing metas, Ezuri, Claw of Progress remains a formidable presence capable of catalyzing a win out of a well-tuned deck.


How to beat Ezuri, Claw of Progress

Ezuri, Claw of Progress is an influential commander in MTG that can quickly turn the tide of a game. This particular legendary creature thrives in an environment where smaller creatures can evolve into real threats, thanks to the accumulation of +1/+1 counters. One key strategy to dismantle the tactics around Ezuri is to minimize the number of creatures your opponent controls. This can be accomplished through board wipes or targeted removals, ensuring that Ezuri’s ability to proliferate counters finds no foothold.

Control decks that can manage the pace of the game with counterspells, and return-to-hand abilities, can also keep Ezuri in check. Ensuring that he doesn’t remain on the battlefield to trigger his formidable ability is crucial. Additionally, since Ezuri relies on the combat step to build up power, cards that prevent combat or disable creature abilities may also serve as robust solutions against this commander’s strategy. Effectively, the aim is to control the board state and maintain it, rendering Ezuri’s progressive power boosts null and void.

Overall, success against Ezuri, Claw of Progress involves a blend of prevention and suppression, focusing on keeping the board clear and Ezuri off the field as much as possible to avoid his escalating threat.


BurnMana Recommendations

The multifaceted abilities of Ezuri, Claw of Progress make it a remarkable card in MTG, promising a thrilling challenge to pilots and opponents alike. Understanding and mastering this card’s dynamics could not only increase the thrill of gameplay but also make your deck a formidable adversary. Whether you aim to strengthen your prowess in deck-building or seek to conquer your local meta, Ezuri offers a gateway to innovation and strategic depth. If you’re excited to push your game further and unlock new synergies, join our community for insider tips, strategy guides, and comprehensive analysis that can help you advance your MTG journey with Ezuri at the helm.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ezuri, Claw of Progress MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 Oversized and Commander 2015, 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 Ezuri, Claw of Progress and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ezuri, Claw of Progress Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-11-13Commander 2015 OversizedOC15 442015NormalBlackJames Ryman
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 442015NormalBlackJames Ryman
32015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 1022015NormalBlackJames Ryman
42020-09-26The ListPLST C15-442015NormalBlackJames Ryman
52021-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2021PJ21 42015NormalBlackLivia Prima
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2112015NormalBlackJames Ryman
72022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4942015NormalBlackJames Ryman
82023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 382015NormalBorderlessJungShan
92023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1682015NormalBorderlessJungShan
102023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 168z2015NormalBorderlessJungShan
112023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1032015NormalBlackJames Ryman

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-11-04 All experience counters are identical, no matter how you got them. For example, the last ability will count experience counters that you got from the first ability, from another ability, from proliferating, and so on.
2015-11-04 Each game pack includes a card labeled “Experience” with the suggestion “Place your experience counters here.” This card isn't required for play. It's simply a convenient spot to put your experience counters, which can be represented with dice, glass beads, or other small items.
2015-11-04 Experience counters are the second kind of counters a player can have, joining poison.