Zombie Cannibal MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	169
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Key Takeaways

Grants card advantage through extra draw potential, edging out opponents during critical game phases.
Instant speed ability allows real-time responses, offering flexibility and strategic advantage in play.
Mana cost and discard requirements may restrict deck building and hand resource management.

Text of card

Whenever Zombie Cannibal deals combat damage to a player, you may remove target card in that player's graveyard from the game.

Nothing is sacred to the undead—not even their own kind.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As players delve into the strategic depths of MTG, the value of card advantage becomes clear. The Zombie Cannibal card taps into this critical aspect by enabling players to potentially draw additional cards through its unique abilities, thereby giving them a significant edge over their opponents. This ability to cycle through the deck more rapidly can often lead to finding the right answers or threats at crucial moments in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is paramount in the fast-paced world of MTG, and Zombie Cannibal offers just that. This card can provide players with an opportunity to bring creatures back from the graveyard faster than normal, setting the stage for more aggressive plays or enabling key combos to execute sooner. The acceleration of resources it offers can alter the pace of the match in the player’s favor.

Instant Speed: Instant speed interactions play a pivotal role in MTG, often swinging the tide of battle unexpectedly. Zombie Cannibal’s instant speed capabilities allow players to respond to threats or capitalize on opportunities in real time, without having to wait for their own turn. This flexibility makes it a formidable tool in the hands of a strategic player, able to adapt to the evolving board state seamlessly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Zombie Cannibal comes with a condition that might cause some setbacks. To leverage its ability, you need to discard a card, which could deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options on subsequent turns. This is particularly challenging when your hand is already running thin and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: When building a deck, flexibility is key for many players. The specific mana requirements of Zombie Cannibal means that it locks you into a certain color, potentially limiting the deck archetypes you can comfortably slot the card into. This can hinder players who run multicolor decks and need a more versatile mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given the strategic nuances of deck building, the mana cost for Zombie Cannibal can be a sticking point. While it may offer some unique interactions and advantages, its mana cost is substantial compared to other creatures in its class. Savvy players often seek lower-cost options that preserve mana for other strategic plays over the course of a game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Zombie Cannibal offers flexible interactions in various deck builds, fitting particularly well in strategies that capitalize on graveyard play or creature sacrifice. Its ability to eat away at opponent’s graveyard resources makes it a practical choice for both offense and defense.

Combo Potential: This card has synergistic qualities with decks that revolve around death triggers and reanimation tactics. Pairing it with other cards can set the stage for powerful combos, making it a quietly formidable presence on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that sees frequent use of graveyard strategies, Zombie Cannibal can act as a counterbalance to disrupt those plans. Its place in a player’s collection gains importance as it can give an edge over decks that rely heavily on graveyard recursion.

How to beat

Zombie Cannibal is a crafty creature card that brings a unique dynamic to Magic: The Gathering games. It thrives in decks centered around graveyard manipulation and opponent resource disruption. Its ability to exile cards from an opponent’s graveyard can be both a tactical advantage and a nuisance to face.

Overcoming the challenges posed by Zombie Cannibal requires strategic play. Employing graveyard protection such as Tormod’s Crypt can nullify its ability, as can maintaining graveyard order with cards like Leyline of Sanctity which shield your graveyard. Additionally, quick removal spells like Path to Exile or Abrupt Decay can handle Zombie Cannibal efficiently before its effect becomes a recurring problem.

It’s important to address Zombie Cannibal promptly, especially in matches where your strategy is reliant on a well-stocked graveyard. By prioritizing the removal of this creature and strengthening your own graveyard defenses, you can negate its influence and maintain control over the flow of the game.

Cards like Zombie Cannibal

Zombie Cannibal isn’t just a creature card in MTG, it’s an engaging piece in any deck strategy involving graveyard manipulation. It’s akin to Cemetery Reaper, another zombie-themed card that boosts its kind while weakening opponents through graveyard exiling. While Cemetery Reaper exiles any creature card to create a token, Zombie Cannibal specifically preys on cards in your opponent’s graveyard, offering a narrower yet valuable source of disruption.

Compared to cards like Wight of Precinct Six, which also grows stronger by creatures buried in opponents’ graveyards, Zombie Cannibal has the unique ability to not only grow but to actively deplete the opponents’ resources. It can be a silver bullet in matches where opponents rely on graveyard strategies. Ghoulcaller’s Chant, though not a creature, is another relative worth mentioning. It allows the retrieval of zombie creatures from the graveyard, playing well with the cannibalistic theme, albeit from the player’s own graveyard and not the opponent’s.

Overall, Zombie Cannibal stands out as a tactical option in zombie decks. Its ability to feed on the opponent’s graveyard makes it not only a thematic fit for zombie-based decks but adds a layer of strategy that can be crucial in disrupting your opponent’s plays.

Wight of Precinct Six - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zombie Cannibal by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions

Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions

Stone-Throwing Devils - Arabian Nights (ARN)

Will-o'-the-Wisp - Foreign Black Border (FBB)

Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Bile Urchin - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Kjeldoran Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zombie Cannibal MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Zombie Cannibal and other MTG cards: