Larder Zombie MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 58
2022-01-28 - Number 58
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Abilities | Defender,Surveil |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Larder Zombie enables card advantage by peeking at upcoming library cards, aiding in strategic planning.
- Synergizes with graveyard strategies, contributing to powerful resource acceleration for your deck.
- Serves an instant-speed information role without using the stack, enhancing in-game decision efficiency.
Text of card
Defender Tap three untapped creatures you control: Surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)
The cathars arrived at the abandoned lab to find many of the unfinished projects gnawing on one another.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Larder Zombie contributes to card advantage by allowing you to peek at the top card of your library at any time. This subtle insight can help sculpt your draws and plan future turns, ultimately giving you an edge over the competition.
Resource Acceleration: The synergy with self-milling mechanics or graveyard strategies makes Larder Zombie a vital piece in setting up your deck’s engine. By fueling the graveyard, it helps enable delve, threshold, and other graveyard-dependent abilities, which can accelerate your resource access significantly.
Instant Speed: While Larder Zombie itself isn’t at instant speed, its ability to check the top card of your library at any time doesn’t use the stack. This means you can gather information and make decisions based on that information instantaneously, without waiting for sorcery speed windows, greatly enhancing decision-making speed and efficiency in-game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Larder Zombie is that you may need to fill your graveyard to maximize its effectiveness. This can lead to a scenario where you have to discard valuable cards to get the most out of the zombie’s abilities, potentially reducing your hand advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a specific mana cost that includes black, Larder Zombie can be less flexible when trying to fit it into multi-colored decks. Without access to the required black mana, playing this card can become challenging, limiting its versatility in various deck constructions.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not extreme, the mana cost for what the Larder Zombie offers may be considered on the higher side for its utility. Other creatures or spells at the same cost could potentially provide more immediate impact on the game, making Larder Zombie a less desirable choice in some strategic scenarios.
Reasons to Include Larder Zombie in Your Collection
Versatility: Larder Zombie offers a reliable scrying mechanic that supports consistent deck filtering, making it a valuable asset for decks that seek to optimize their draws and manage the pace of their gameplay.
Combo Potential: With its unique ability to tap three untapped Zombies you control to scry 1, Larder Zombie fits seamlessly into Zombie tribal decks, synergizing with other undead-centric effects to enhance both offensive and control strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where having the right card at the right time is critical, Larder Zombie gains importance. It helps maintain momentum against aggressive decks, while providing utility and incremental advantages in longer, grindy games.
How to beat
Larder Zombie is an interesting creature card in Magic: The Gathering, especially for players leveraging a self-mill strategy. As a single mana, 1/3 Zombie creature with a unique ability to mill a card, it offers consistent graveyard setup each turn. But how do you combat an opponent’s Larder Zombie effectively?
Removing the creature is a straightforward strategy. Spells like Shock or Fatal Push are efficient choices to dispose of it early on, as its toughness is within range. If Larder Zombie has already begun to fill the opponent’s graveyard, graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt can disrupt their plans, neutralizing benefits from Larder Zombie’s milling effect. Moreover, controlling the pace of the game is key. Applying pressure with aggressive creatures can distract your opponent from their milling game plan, forcing them to block and eventually lose their Larder Zombie. Lastly, if the game progresses later, sweepers like Shatter the Sky clear Larder Zombie along with other creatures, pushing the advantage back in your favor.
Ultimately, while Larder Zombie can be a nuisance if unaddressed, there are plenty of methods within Magic: The Gathering to counteract its milling strategy and take control of the game.
Cards like Larder Zombie
Larder Zombie steps into the world of utility creatures in MTG with a nuanced approach to deck manipulation. Resembling its peers such as Stitcher’s Supplier, Larder Zombie allows players to stock their graveyard, a strategy that numerous decks capitalize on. Stitcher’s Supplier, while it fills the graveyard more rapidly upon entering the battlefield or dying, doesn’t offer the predictable, repeatable nature of Larder Zombie’s scry ability.
Moving to another comparison, Merfolk Secretkeeper also enables players to tuck away cards in their graveyard. While Merfolk Secretkeeper can affect the board faster by milling four cards immediately, it lacks the continuous control over the upcoming draws that Larder Zombie provides. Additionally, Secretkeeper’s mill effect is a one-off, unlike the Zombie’s ongoing influence every turn.
Assessing Larder Zombie amidst its peers, it emerges as a dependable option for decks that thrive on both graveyard management and top-deck awareness. It might not fill your graveyard as swiftly as others, but it gives you a sustained insight into your future plays, ensuring each draw step is maximized to its full potential—a trait that’s hard to overlook in strategic MTG play.
Cards similar to Larder Zombie by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Larder Zombie MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Larder Zombie and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Larder Zombie Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by E. M. Gist.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 58 | 2015 | Normal | Black | E. M. Gist | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 58 | 2015 | Normal | Black | E. M. Gist |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Larder Zombie has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
