Zarichi Tiger MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat
Released	2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set name	Gatecrash
Set code	GTC
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	28
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nic Klein

Key Takeaways

Provides life gain and flexibility during matches, making it useful for outlasting opponents.
Has specific limitations such as mana cost and discard requirements that affect its efficiency.
While not a powerhouse, it can be a strategic addition to decks that thrive on life gain.

Text of card

, : You gain 2 life.

"The taming and consecration of these creatures is evidence of our faith." —Resimir, Zarichi Temple priest

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zarichi Tiger can repeatedly convert life into card quality. While it doesn’t draw cards directly, it allows you to selectively improve your hand by indirectly extending the number of turns you have to draw into your key pieces.

Resource Acceleration: This card offers a strategic advantage in Life Point based decks, giving you a cushion to use life as a resource more liberally for powerful spells or abilities that require life payments.

Instant Speed: Although Zarichi Tiger itself is not an instant, its activated ability can be used at instant speed. This means you can adapt to the ebb and flow of a match, using life gain as a tactical resource during your opponent’s turn or in response to threats, effectively blunting their offensive momentum.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Zarichi Tiger demands a discard to activate its ability, which means you’re potentially losing valuable hand advantage to gain a bit of life.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires one white and three generic mana, which can be challenging for non-monocolor decks that may also need the mana for more impactful plays.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a 2/3 creature, Zarichi Tiger’s stats and abilities might not match up well with other options available at a similar or lower cost.

Reasons to Include Zarichi Tiger in Your Collection

Versatility: Zarichi Tiger offers a unique blend of life gain and creature presence on the board. It can serve as both a defensive blocker and a life total stabilizer, making it a useful card in decks focused on prolonging the game.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on life gain for various triggers and effects, Zarichi Tiger can become a key component. It works well with cards that benefit from life gain or have lifelink to help turn the tide in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: With many aggressive strategies prevalent in the current climate, having a card that counteracts damage and improves longevity can be crucial. Zarichi Tiger’s ability to repeatedly gain life can frustrate opponents and diminish the impact of their attacks.

How to beat

Zarichi Tiger may not be a card that’s often seen at the top tables, but it can present an annoying obstacle to overcome in casual MTG circles. This creature’s ability to exchange life totals by tapping and paying two mana gives it a subtle resilience that can extend the game. The key to outmaneuvering the tiger lies in removing it before its life-link ability can be used. Swift removal spells that can target creatures without limitations, like Path to Exile or Doom Blade, are effective at eliminating the tiger from the equation before your opponent can benefit from its abilities.

Another strategy is to focus on overwhelming the Zarichi Tiger user with aggressive creature strategies. Deploying a rapid succession of creatures can apply pressure and force the player to use the tiger’s ability prematurely or risk falling behind on board presence. Moreover, employing creatures with trample or evasive abilities ensures that life gain won’t be enough to deter your path to victory.

Ultimately, circumventing Zarichi Tiger’s defenses requires a blend of timely creature removal and assertive board strategies. Combining these tactics will diminish the card’s impact and keep you steering the game towards your favor.

Cards like Zarichi Tiger

Zarichi Tiger stands as a unique creature card within Magic: The Gathering, offering a life-gain ability that can be pivotal in outlasting opponents. For players interested in such mechanics, Centaur Healer is a notable comparison. This card immediately grants you 3 life upon entering the battlefield, a faster effect compared to the Tiger’s activated ability, which requires two mana and tapping.

Another card with life-gain features is Ajani’s Pridemate, which grows stronger each time you gain life, thus pairing well with Zarichi Tiger. While Pridemate doesn’t directly provide life gain, it benefits from the repetitive nature of the Tiger’s ability. Rhox Faithmender is an example of a card that takes life gain to another level—by doubling the amount you gain, potentially making the Tiger’s ability even more valuable in the long run.

In assessing the overall utility and impact of Zarichi Tiger, it clearly shines among cards with life-gain abilities. Its flexibility to repeatedly provide life can be instrumental in maintaining your staying power, making it a potentially valuable addition to any deck focused on life manipulation and longevity.

Cards similar to Zarichi Tiger by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Veteran of the Depths - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zarichi Tiger MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Zarichi Tiger and other MTG cards: