Vulturous Zombie MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Plant Zombie
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Vulturous Zombie provides continuous power growth tied to opponent’s graveyard card count.
  2. Has potential mana and pace limitations in multi-color and fast MTG decks.
  3. A versatile inclusion for MTG decks capitalizing on graveyard and counter mechanics.

Text of card

Flying Whenever a card is put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, put a +1/+1 counter on Vulturous Zombie.

"When something dies, all things benefit. Well okay, just our things." —Ezoc, Golgari rot farmer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Vulturous Zombie can quickly become a massive threat by gaining +1/+1 counters every time a card is put into an opponent’s graveyard from anywhere. This can lead to a dominating presence on the board, providing you with significant card advantage as the creature’s size becomes harder to manage for your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By converting cards cycled or discarded by your opponents into power on the board, Vulturous Zombie turns potential temporary setbacks for your opponents into lasting advantages for you. Each counter gained is a proactive step towards victory which accelerates your win condition without relying on additional mana resources.

Instant Speed: While Vulturous Zombie itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability triggers during any phase of the game, including your opponent’s turn. This aspect of the card ensures that your resource acceleration does not pause and could deter opponents from their typical graveyard strategies, knowing the Zombie will only grow stronger as a result.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Vulturous Zombie can be less effective in decks that don’t maintain a full graveyard. It relies on cards being sent to the graveyard to grow, so without this constant stream, it’s not reaching its full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires both black and green mana, which can limit deck-building options and make it harder to cast on curve, especially in multicolored decks that may need mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined cost of five mana, the card may take too long to hit the board in faster-paced games. In competitive play, where efficiency is key, its cost can be a significant drawback amidst a field of lower-cost, high-impact creatures and spells.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Vulturous Zombie floats effortlessly into a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those revolving around the graveyard or counters strategies. Its ability to grow in power with each card put into an opponent’s graveyard, makes it a dynamic asset in any match.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with mechanics that force discards or mill opponents, amplifying its stat line exponentially. These combinations can quickly spiral out of control, making it an integral part of decks that focus on such synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creatures regularly hit the graveyard due to high removal rates or self-mill strategies, Vulturous Zombie can become a significant threat. Its relevance grows in metas filled with fetch lands, sacrifice mechanics, and board wipes, ensuring that it scales with the pace of the game.


How to beat

Vulturous Zombie can be an intimidating presence on the battlefield in MTG. This flying creature grows stronger with each card that hits the graveyard, posing a significant threat over time. Tackling this menace requires a strategic approach. Targeting its weaknesses is crucial such as employing removal spells that can bypass its ability to grow. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can exile the Zombie, ensuring it doesn’t come back to haunt you.

Another effective tactic is to manage your graveyard interactions meticulously. With fewer opportunities for the Vulturous Zombie to feed upon, its potential threat diminishes. Graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus or Rest in Peace can also be invaluable in this matchup. They not only contain the growth of the Zombie but also render many graveyard-dependent strategies moot. Timing is everything, and holding back these spells until the critical moment can ensure that Vulturous Zombie doesn’t spiral out of control.

By understanding the nature of Vulturous Zombie and incorporating effective countermeasures into your deck, you can contain and overcome this potent adversary in your MTG matches. Remember, swift removal and graveyard control are your best allies in this battle.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the mechanics of Vulturous Zombie is critical in MTG, whether you’re incorporating it into your deck or devising strategies to counter it. Embrace the card’s strengths, like its impressive board presence and potential for exponential growth, making it a formidable opponent. Take into account its vulnerability to specific removal spells and limitations due to mana cost. MTG players eager to exploit graveyard synergies or seeking an imposing airborne creature will find the Vulturous Zombie an attractive choice. Dive deeper with us and discover the myriad ways to optimize your gameplay with this card. Learn more and harness its full potential in your matches.


Cards like Vulturous Zombie

Vulturous Zombie flies high in the realm of creature cards with an insatiable appetite for growth as it feeds off the demise of other creatures. Amid the roster of similar cards, we have Scavenging Ooze, which also takes advantage of creatures hitting the graveyard by allowing you to exile them and in turn, bolstering its power. But unlike Vulturous Zombie, Scavenging Ooze offers the benefit of life gain in addition to power growth.

Another contender in the category is Lhurgoyf, which shares the graveyard-dependant power dynamic. Lhurgoyf’s strength and toughness are directly tied to the number of creature cards in all graveyards, not just from card deaths during the game. However, it doesn’t boast the aerial advantage or the ability to grow during your opponents’ turns which the Zombie does. Lastly, we consider Izoni, Thousand-Eyed. While this card doesn’t grow in power, it creates creature tokens and has built-in sacrifice mechanics, offering a form of utility and board presence that contrasts with Vulturous Zombie’s straightforward size increase.

Ultimately, each of these cards has its situational strengths, but for MTG players looking to build a deck around graveyard synergy with a high-flying beatstick, Vulturous Zombie stands out with its distinctive growth mechanic and evasion in the air.

Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Izoni, Thousand-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Lhurgoyf - Ice Age (ICE)
Izoni, Thousand-Eyed - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

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

Wormwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spiritmonger - MTG Card versions
Deathbloom Ritualist - MTG Card versions
Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper - MTG Card versions
Grave-Shell Scarab - MTG Card versions
Golgari Rotwurm - MTG Card versions
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf - MTG Card versions
Deity of Scars - MTG Card versions
Creakwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Sapling of Colfenor - MTG Card versions
Marrow Chomper - MTG Card versions
Lord of Extinction - MTG Card versions
Golgari Longlegs - MTG Card versions
Korozda Gorgon - MTG Card versions
Pharika's Mender - MTG Card versions
Kheru Dreadmaw - MTG Card versions
Brood Butcher - MTG Card versions
Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest - MTG Card versions
The Gitrog Monster - MTG Card versions
Ishkanah, Grafwidow - MTG Card versions
Wormwood Treefolk - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Spiritmonger - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Deathbloom Ritualist - The Brothers' War Promos (PBRO)
Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grave-Shell Scarab - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Golgari Rotwurm - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf - Lorwyn (LRW)
Deity of Scars - Eventide (EVE)
Creakwood Ghoul - Eventide (EVE)
Sapling of Colfenor - Commander 2021 (C21)
Marrow Chomper - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Lord of Extinction - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Golgari Longlegs - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Korozda Gorgon - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Pharika's Mender - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
Kheru Dreadmaw - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Brood Butcher - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest - Double Masters (2XM)
The Gitrog Monster - Judge Gift Cards 2021 (PJ21)
Ishkanah, Grafwidow - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vulturous Zombie MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Commander 2011, 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 Vulturous Zombie and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Vulturous Zombie Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 2382003normalblackGreg Staples
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2362003normalblackGreg Staples
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2382015normalblackGreg Staples
42016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2282015normalblackGreg Staples
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1962015normalblackGreg Staples
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1702015normalblackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Vulturous Zombie has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2005-10-01 The ability doesn’t care why a card goes to your opponent’s graveyard — only that it does. The ability triggers when a card is put into your opponent’s graveyard from the stack (a spell resolves, fails to resolve, or is countered), from the battlefield (a permanent is destroyed or sacrificed), from the player’s hand (a card is discarded), from the player’s library (from a Millstone-like effect), or from any other zone.
2005-10-01 This ability triggers only on cards, so it won’t trigger when a token is put into your opponent’s graveyard.

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