Huang Zhong, Shu General MTG Card
1999-05-01 - Number 8
2016-11-16 - Number 65801
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Huang Zhong can draw an additional card each turn, giving players a vital card advantage over opponents.
- The card synergizes with decks that maximize card draw for resource acceleration and strategic flexibility.
- Its potential to deal damage evenly across blockers enhances attack strategies, proving to be a valuable asset.
Text of card
Huang Zhong can't be blocked by more than one creature each turn.
"Virile in war, he kept the north in fear; His prodigies subdued the western sphere."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Huang Zhong, Shu General, offers a consistent card advantage by allowing an additional draw during the draw step. This built-in advantage is critical in outpacing the opponents by having more options every turn.
Resource Acceleration: By smoothly blending into decks that take advantage of card draw, this commander can synergize with effects that turn card advantage into resource acceleration, ensuring you stay ahead on both cards and mana.
Instant Speed: While Huang Zhong, Shu General itself might not operate at instant speed, it encourages a deck build that benefits from holding mana up for instant-speed responses, making your strategy versatile and unpredictable, which is a key tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Huang Zhong, Shu General requires a specific action such as discarding a card that might put you at a disadvantage when your hand is already depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s cost demands a precise combination of mana, which makes it less flexible and harder to cast outside of dedicated color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Huang Zhong brings experience to the battlefield, the card’s mana cost is substantial when considering alternative strategies available within the same mana range.
Reasons to Include Huang Zhong, Shu General in Your Collection
Versatility: Huang Zhong, Shu General offers great flexibility for deck building. His ability to deal damage evenly across blockers ensures that every attack carries the potential for maximum impact, making him a valuable addition to a wide array of red and white decks.
Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with strategies that revolve around attack triggers and damage output. Its interaction with cards that benefit from creatures dealing combat damage can turn it into a powerhouse on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence and combat can dictate the pace, Huang Zhong, Shu General remains a pertinent choice. His presence in your arsenal can disrupt opponent strategies that rely heavily on large groups of blockers, maintaining your foothold in the evolving meta.
How to Beat Huang Zhong, Shu General
Huang Zhong, Shu General stands out in the realm of formidable creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Recognized for its power to force card draw when it deals combat damage, this card offers a strategic advantage by giving its controller extra card advantage each turn. Tackling Huang Zhong effectively requires employing removal spells that can bypass its built-in protections or employing strategies that prevent it from dealing damage in the first place.
Control decks that include ample counterspells and instant-speed removal can manage Huang Zhong by either countering it upon casting or removing it before it can impact the battlefield. Board wipes are another solid solution as they clean the slate without targeting specific creatures. Ensnaring the general with enchantments that keep it tapped or leveraging sacrifice effects can also tip the scales in your favor. Further, strategies that limit combat damage like Ghostly Prison or Propaganda can nullify the card advantage Huang Zhong seeks to provide its controller.
Create a resilient strategy to prepare for the imposing presence of Huang Zhong, ensuring your deck can respond to threats and maintain control of the game’s pace. By doing so, you can mitigate the card draw advantage Huang Zhong offers and maintain the upper hand.
Cards like Huang Zhong, Shu General
Huang Zhong, Shu General is an influential card that brings unique advantages to the battlefield. Its comparison to similar cards reveals its distinct value in player decks. For instance, let’s look at Silverblade Paladin, another card that delivers a double strike ability. While Silverblade Paladin grants double strike to another creature as well, Huang Zhong, Shu General stands out by offering this ability to itself, empowering your frontline without depending on another card.
There’s also Fabled Hero, which shares the double strike ability, but it comes with a twist – the Heroic ability, which adds +1/+1 counters whenever you cast a spell that targets it. Though an exciting capability, this mechanic requires more setup than the self-sufficient strength that Huang Zhong, Shu General brings into play. Another noteworthy comparison is with Skyhunter Skirmisher, a creature with double strike as well yet strongly limited by its low toughness, making it more vulnerable than the sturdier Shu General.
Analyzing these cards together, Huang Zhong, Shu General’s combination of double strike and sturdy resilience makes it a formidable pick. While similar cards may provide unique benefits or different synergies, the Shu General remains a competitive choice for decks focusing on both offensive pressure and staying power on the field.
Cards similar to Huang Zhong, Shu General by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Huang Zhong, Shu General MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Treasure Chest, 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 Huang Zhong, Shu General 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 Magic products
Printings
The Huang Zhong, Shu General Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Quan Xuejun.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 8 | 1997 | normal | white | Quan Xuejun | |
| 2 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 65801 | 2015 | normal | black | Quan Xuejun |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Huang Zhong, Shu General has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Predh | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
