Zur the Enchanter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 12 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Zur’s attack triggers allow fetching powerful enchantments, bypassing the draw phase for sustained advantage.
  2. His unique ability to retrieve enchantments accelerates resources, outpacing opponents with strategic plays.
  3. Accessing enchantments from the deck at instant speed provides tactical adaptability during matches.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Zur the Enchanter attacks, you may search your library for an enchantment card with mana value 3 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

"Now they always say 'Congratulations'"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zur the Enchanter’s unique fetching ability activates each time he attacks. This grants you access to valuable enchantments from your deck, circumventing the need to draw them, and paves the way for a steady influx of advantageous tools tailored to any situation unfolding on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Enchantments that Zur can retrieve can range from mana-fixing auras to cost-reducing sigils. This ensures an acceleration in resources that can be pivotal in outpacing opponents by deploying bigger threats or having access to more mana for critical spells when it matters most.

Instant Speed: While Zur himself doesn’t operate at instant speed, many of the enchantments he can pull from the deck do. This allows for tactical plays such as fetching removal or protection in response to an opponent’s move. This degree of flexibility in maneuvering game state at a moment’s notice can be a driving force for overwhelming dominance in matches.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Zur the Enchanter’s abilities necessitate careful planning around your hand contents. If you’re deploying enchantments with his triggered ability, that can thin your hand quickly, leaving you with fewer options and responses.

Specific Mana Cost: His casting cost includes not just one, but three different colored mana, making him slightly less flexible for deck building. This specific demand can put a strain on mana resources, especially in the early game where color fixing may be less stable.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of four, including three different colors, he can be relatively costly to get onto the battlefield compared with other commanders or creatures that may provide immediate impact or value. This may hinder your game tempo, particularly in formats where speed is crucial.


Reasons to Include Zur the Enchanter in Your Collection

Versatility: Zur the Enchanter slides smoothly into a variety of deck styles, particularly those focusing on enchantment strategies. This card gives you access to a vast array of enchantments every time it attacks, making it a consistent and reliable way to get the tools you need.

Combo Potential: Zur’s ability to fetch the perfect enchantment for any given situation can be key to setting up powerful combinations. A range of enchantments from control elements to card advantage engines become readily available, opening doors to game-winning synergies with ease.

Meta-Relevance: In ever-evolving game formats where adaptability is critical, Zur the Enchanter remains a pertinent choice. Its ability to fetch the right answer or threat directly from your deck can maintain your edge against a wide spectrum of opposing deck archetypes.


How to beat

Zur the Enchanter is a notoriously powerful commander in Magic: The Gathering, well-known for his ability to fetch enchantments from the deck and put them directly onto the battlefield. This capability makes him a central piece in decks focusing on enchantment synergies, presenting a challenge for opponents who need to disrupt this strategy effectively.

To counteract Zur’s game plan, consider using instant-speed removal that can target Zur before he declares an attack, thus preventing the fetch ability from activating. Cards like Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile are prime examples of efficient removal that can remove Zur from play outright. Additionally, playing counter magic to stop Zur at the time of casting can keep him off the board entirely. Counter spells like Counterspell or Negate are useful tools in this scenario.

Beyond the immediate removal, you can employ strategies that mitigate the enchantments Zur brings into play. Cards that destroy or exile multiple enchantments, like Back to Nature or Merciless Eviction, can be game-changers. Utilizing these methods will hinge on timing and resource management, but a well-timed removal could tilt the scales in your favor against the enchanting menace of Zur the Enchanter.


BurnMana Recommendations

Zur the Enchanter is a cornerstone in enchantment-based MTG decks, sharpening your strategies and paving the way for formidable plays. With every attack, Zur becomes a tool to pull game-altering enchantments, granting you the sheer delight of tailoring answers to challenges on the fly. His power, however, needs careful deliberation over your mana mix and hand management. Dive into your pile of potential wins with Zur as your guide. He’s not just a card but a gateway to attuning your gameplay to outsmart and outpace your rivals. Explore our insights and bend your MTG experiences towards triumph with Zur leading the charge.


Cards like Zur the Enchanter

Zur the Enchanter stands out in the Magic: The Gathering realm as a formidable choice for decks revolving around enchantments. With a unique ability to fetch an enchantment card with converted mana cost 3 or less from your deck each time it attacks, it invites comparison with other tutor cards in the game. Sovereigns of Lost Alara comes to mind, offering a somewhat similar function by letting you search for an Aura card to attach to the attacking creature when it attacks.

However, while Sovereigns of Lost Alara caters particularly to the Aura subtype, Zur the Enchanter’s ability is broader, reaching any enchantment, thus providing greater versatility. Another comparable card is Idyllic Tutor; it’s a straight-forward spell that fetches any enchantment card to hand. Yet, Zur has the advantage of putting the enchantment directly into play, bypassing any casting cost, and can do it repeatedly every turn it attacks.

This directly into play effect gives Zur the Enchanter a unique tactical edge, making it an essential player in enchantment-themed decks where the synergy of your cards is key for creating powerful, game-winning combinations. Therefore, Zur remains a distinct and impactful presence in MTG, offering enchantment support that few cards can rival.

Sovereigns of Lost Alara - MTG Card versions
Idyllic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sovereigns of Lost Alara - MTG Card versions
Idyllic Tutor - MTG Card versions

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Stormscape Master - MTG Card versions
Varina, Lich Queen - MTG Card versions
Alela, Artful Provocateur - MTG Card versions
Queza, Augur of Agonies - MTG Card versions
Obscura Interceptor - MTG Card versions
Kamiz, Obscura Oculus - MTG Card versions
A-Queza, Augur of Agonies - MTG Card versions
Bane, Lord of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Inquisitor Greyfax - MTG Card versions
Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zur the Enchanter MTG card by a specific set like Celebration Cards and Magic Online Promos, 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 Zur the Enchanter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zur the Enchanter Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1996-08-15 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-08-15Celebration CardsPCEL 82015NormalBorderlessChase Stone
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 861962015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
32006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 1352003NormalBlackPete Venters
42012-11-02Commander's Arsenal OversizedOCM1 102003NormalBlackPete Venters
52016-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2016J16 82015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
62017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 2042015NormalBlackPete Venters
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 7262015NormalBlackChase Stone
82020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5442015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
92022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5542015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
102022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2972015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
112023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2062015NormalBlackPete Venters
122023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3741997NormalBlackPete Venters

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-12-08 If you put an Aura card onto the battlefield with Zur's ability, you choose what it will enchant as it enters the battlefield. An Aura put onto the battlefield this way doesn't target anything (so it could be attached to an opponent's permanent with hexproof, for example), but the Aura's enchant ability restricts what it can be attached to. If the Aura can't legally be attached to anything, it remains in your library.

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