Stratozeppelid MTG Card


Stratozeppelid - Guildpact
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Abilities Flying
Released2006-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameGuildpact
Set codeGPT
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number36
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byIttoku

Key Takeaways

  1. Cycling allows for hand replenishment and strategic adaptability at instant speed.
  2. Mana requirements and discard costs may limit play, testing strategic resource management.
  3. Offers aerial advantage vital for certain deck strategies and meta shifts.

Text of card

Flying Stratozeppelid can block only creatures with flying.

The "Days of Darkness" mark the stratozeppelids' annual migration, when for five days they blot out the sun and trumpet their passing.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stratozeppelid can be a valuable addition to any deck that utilizes flying creatures or benefits from synergy with aerial strategies. By offering the ability to cycle itself, Stratozeppelid gives players the option to draw a new card, ensuring that their hand remains replenished and potentially offering new opportunities for plays.

Resource Acceleration: For those decks focusing on resource acceleration, Stratozeppelid may not be the foremost choice since it does not directly produce additional mana or allow for the early play of higher-cost cards. It does, however, offer cycling, which for a meager investment, can help sift through the deck and perhaps reveal cards that do accelerate resources.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Stratozeppelid can be activated at instant speed, granting a level of flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions. Should the board state not require the deployment of Stratozeppelid, a player can opt to cycle it away, ideally drawing into a card more suited to the current situation. This adaptability makes the card a situational asset, one that offers utility even when it is not the right time to summon the creature itself.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Stratozeppelid card necessitates that you toss another card from your hand into the graveyard to harness its full potential. This can prove to be a detrimental move, especially when the cards in hand are crucial for the upcoming plays, stripping you of significant resources at a pivotal moment in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The deployment of Stratozeppelid onto the battlefield demands a precise combination of mana, including blue, which can be restrictive. This requirement can pose a challenge in multicolored decks that strive to maintain a balanced mana base to effectively cast spells from various color identities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing a considerable amount of mana to summon Stratozeppelid can hamper your game tempo, particularly when the mana curve in your deck is vital to progression. With a steep mana cost, other creatures or spells within the same range might offer you greater strategic depth or immediate board presence at a lower value investment.


Reasons to Include Stratozeppelid in Your Collection

Versatility: Stratozeppelid is not merely a creature; it grants any deck aerial superiority. With its flying ability, it can become an essential component in strategies focusing on air dominance or need blockers for other flying menaces.

Combo Potential: Given its inherent characteristics, Stratozeppelid can be a lynchpin in combos that capitalize on creatures with specific abilities, becoming more than a simple creature, but a tool that expands combo diversity within a deck.

Meta-Relevance: Should the environment be conducive to slower matchups or if flying threats are prevalent, Stratozeppelid’s ability to circumvent ground-based defenses becomes significantly valuable, making it a key piece in dealing with contemporary deck builds.


How to Beat Stratozeppelid

Stratozeppelid is a unique creature in the world of MTG, tempting players with its ability to soar over defenses thanks to its flying trait. However, despite its evasive capabilities, there are several strategies that players can employ to successfully challenge this high-flying threat.

Dealing with Stratozeppelid begins on the ground with ensuring a robust mana base to cast spells that can either remove it directly or negate its advantages. Removal spells, like Murder or Path to Exile, can swiftly dispatch Stratozeppelid, circumventing its air superiority. Counter spells are also your allies here, especially if you can stop Stratozeppelid before it even enters the battlefield. In a pinch, enchantments and artifacts that neutralize flying abilities, such as Gravity Sphere, can clip Stratozeppelid’s wings and bring it within reach of your grounded forces.

It’s also advantageous to consider the timing of your plays. Instant-speed interaction allows you to wait for the optimal moment to strike, perhaps when your opponent is low on resources or after they’ve committed to an aggressive attack. Ultimately, while Stratozeppelid can be a daunting challenge, a combination of preparedness, precise timing, and chosen removal tactics will ensure you maintain control of the skies and the game.


Cards like Stratozeppelid

Stratozeppelid offers a unique angle in the skies of MTG, hovering alongside cards like Wind Drake. Both creatures share the ability to soar over the battlefield, granting players an aerial advantage. Stratozeppelid distinguishes itself with its “forecast” ability, allowing players to glimpse the future by revealing it from their hand to create a token creature at a potential cost-savings compared to casting it directly.

Another card worth mentioning is Sky Theater Strix, which also promises an airborne edge but synergizes with spells, increasing its power each time you cast a noncreature spell. While the Stratozeppelid doesn’t grow stronger with spellcasting, its forecast ability offers consistent utility and strategic flexibility each turn it remains in hand.

The versatile nature of Stratozeppelid’s forecast ability places it in an interesting position within the realm of flying creatures in MTG. Its capability to impact the board without being cast gives players creative control over their game, presenting a distinct role compared to its counterparts like Wind Drake and Sky Theater Strix.

Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Sky Theater Strix - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - Portal (POR)
Sky Theater Strix - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Stratozeppelid by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Mirror-Mad Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Water Elemental - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Air Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Sandbar Crocodile - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Pirate Ship - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Segovian Leviathan - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Mawcor - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Timin, Youthful Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Geology Enthusiast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Coastal Hornclaw - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Cloudhoof Kirin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drelnoch - Coldsnap (CSP)
Adarkar Windform - Coldsnap (CSP)
Infiltrator il-Kor - Future Sight (FUT)
Mulldrifter - The List (PLST)
Chasm Drake - Magic 2012 (M12)
Mirror-Mad Phantasm - Innistrad (ISD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stratozeppelid MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact, 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 Stratozeppelid and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stratozeppelid has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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