Izoni, Center of the Web MTG Card
2024-02-09 - Number 362
2024-02-09 - Number 209
2024-02-10 - Number 209p
2024-02-10 - Number 209s
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Elf Detective |
| Abilities | Collect evidence,Menace,Surveil |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Izoni heralds a tactical edge, enriching the battlefield with a token influx conditioned by graveyard stock.
- Enables mana acceleration and instant-speed card advantage, pivotal for responsive and flexible plays.
- Challenges include meticulous graveyard setup, restrictive mana costs, and balancing its high mana investment.
Text of card
Menace Whenever Izoni, Center of the Web enters the battlefield or attacks, you may collect evidence 4. If you do, create two 2/1 black and green Spider creature tokens with menace and reach. Sacrifice four tokens: Surveil 2, then draw two cards. You gain 2 life.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Izoni, Thousand-Eyed provides significant card advantage by creating 1/1 black and green Insect creature tokens equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard when it enters the battlefield. This ability not only floods the board with potential blockers or attackers but also sets up your graveyard for further synergy with other undergrowth mechanics.
Resource Acceleration: This card shines in resource acceleration by allowing you to sacrifice another creature to gain one black and one green mana. This mana can be crucial for casting crucial spells in a turn or providing the necessary resources to activate abilities that can sway the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: While Izoni itself is not an instant, it permits instant-speed interactions by granting the ability to sacrifice a creature to draw a card at any time. This flexibility allows players to wait for the most opportune moment to use this ability, such as in response to an opponent’s actions or to surprise an unaware opponent during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Izoni, Thousand-Eyed requires strategic planning as it necessitates a significant number of creatures in your graveyard to optimize its Undergrowth ability. This can be particularly challenging because it forces you to ensure creatures are sent to the graveyard ahead of time, which might not align with your game plan or could become a liability against graveyard-hate strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Izoni demands a specific mix of black and green mana, which could potentially restrict deck-building options. While it’s a natural fit for Golgari decks, those who wish to incorporate it into a multi-colored setup may find the mana requirement restrictive and the card harder to cast consistently, especially in the early game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At six mana (four generic, one black, and one green), Izoni comes with a hefty cost. Although her abilities can be quite valuable, the mana investment is high when compared to other options in the current meta-game that may provide similar or increased value at a reduced cost. This can slow down your momentum, particularly in the fast-paced environments where speed and efficiency can often dictate the winner of a match.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Izoni, Center of the Web weaves its strength into various deck themes, especially those that focus on graveyard interaction and creature recursion. With an ability to generate creature tokens, it not only strengthens your board presence but also fuels strategies involving sacrifice and death triggers.
Combo Potential: The undergrowth ability of Izoni allows players to construct combos based on the number of creature cards in their graveyard, opening pathways to synergize with cards that mill or self-mill, enhancing the deck’s internal mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In environments that foster a longer game, Izoni can shine, providing both an immediate impact on the field and the potential for overwhelming advantage in creature-heavy metas where every death furthers your strategic web.
How to beat Izoni, Center of the Web
Izoni, Center of the Web is a unique card that brings a blend of creature generation and graveyard interactions to the table in Magic: The Gathering. Much like the popular card Grave Titan, which creates tokens upon entering the battlefield and when attacking, Izoni excels at filling the board with Insect creature tokens. Yet, what sets Izoni apart is its Undergrowth ability, which counts the number of creature cards in your graveyard and rewards you with that many tokens.
To effectively counter Izoni, consider graveyard disruption strategies. Cards like Leyline of the Void can render Undergrowth powerless by exiling cards before they hit the graveyard. Board wipes, such as Wrath of God, can also clear the swarming insects and Izoni itself in one fell swoop. It’s crucial to manage her ability to draw cards upon sacrifice, which can be mitigated by limiting the number of available insects or by using spot removal to target Izoni before the token generation gets out of hand.
Whether through graveyard control, strategic removal, or mass creature extermination, countering Izoni, Center of the Web requires careful planning but can effectively neutralize this arachnid threat and her brood within the game.
Cards like Izoni, Center of the Web
Izoni, Thousand-Eyed offers a unique spin on graveyard utility cards in Magic: The Gathering. The card has parallels with other creatures like Sifter of Skulls, which also gives an advantage when creatures die. Sifter of Skulls lacks Izoni’s direct way of populating the board with insect tokens, but it provides colorless Eldrazi Scions that can be sacrificed for mana.
Another creature of note is Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder, who brings a multitude of Thrull tokens into play whenever you cast a creature spell—unlike Izoni, which relies on a one-time effect upon its own entry. Endrek Sahr’s ability can repeatedly trigger, but it doesn’t utilize the graveyard as a resource. Lastly, we consider Pitiless Plunderer, which provides Treasure tokens for additional mana every time a creature you control dies. While Pitiless Plunderer offers a consistent source of ramp unlike Izoni’s static token generation, it doesn’t match Izoni’s potential to overwhelm opponents with a swarm of insects in a single turn.
Thus, while various MTG cards interact with creature deaths to create tokens, Izoni, Thousand-Eyed stands out by converting graveyard quantity directly into board presence—a critical strategic advantage for players seeking to capitalize on creature accumulation.
Cards similar to Izoni, Center of the Web by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Izoni, Center of the Web MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Izoni, Center of the Web 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
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Printings
The Izoni, Center of the Web Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 362 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Marko Manev | |
| 2 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 209 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Cruz | |
| 3 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 209p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Cruz | |
| 4 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 209s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Cruz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Izoni, Center of the Web has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |