Pawn of Ulamog MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts card advantage and accelerates resources by creating Eldrazi Spawn tokens upon creature deaths.
  2. Offers flexible strategies through tokens that can be sacrificed at instant speed for mana.
  3. Despite its specific mana cost and dependency on creature sacrifices, its strategic value is undeniable.

Text of card

Whenever Pawn of Ulamog or another nontoken creature you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may put a 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature token onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this creature: Add to your mana pool."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pawn of Ulamog provides a significant edge by creating 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens that can be sacrificed for additional mana. Whenever another nontoken creature you control is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, this ability triggers, offering a way to stay ahead with resources.

Resource Acceleration: Each Eldrazi Spawn token can be sacrificed for a burst of mana, propelling your gameplay forward. This accelerates your ability to cast higher costing spells earlier and can help you pivot the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: While Pawn of Ulamog itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the tokens it creates can be sacrificed any time you could cast an instant. This flexibility allows for strategic plays, such as dodging removal aimed at your creatures or enabling surprise interactions on your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Pawn of Ulamog doesn’t require a card discard, it necessitates the sacrifice of creatures to fully utilize its abilities. This requirement can be detrimentally restrictive, especially when your board presence is critical for defense or when securing advantageous positions in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Pawn of Ulamog demands a precise combination of one black and two generic mana, which can be cumbersome in multicolored decks. This specific mana alignment may not always align with your mana base, causing potential delays in casting it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Pawn of Ulamog is not the most mana-efficient creature in its category. There are alternatives that offer lower mana costs or more immediate board impact, making Pawn less attractive in fast-paced or aggressive strategies.


Reasons to Include Pawn of Ulamog in Your Collection

Versatility: Pawn of Ulamog offers a great fit for various deck builds, particularly those seeking to capitalize on creature sacrifice or death triggers. Its ability to provide an additional resource when creatures die increases play options and strategic depth.

Combo Potential: This card creates Eldrazi Spawn tokens, which can be sacrificed for mana. These tokens can synergize with numerous combos, especially in decks that use effects triggered by creatures dying or being sacrificed, making it a linchpin in many potent interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Pawn of Ulamog holds significant value. The card reinforces board presence by providing token generators that can either deter opponents’ attacks or be used offensively to ramp up to bigger threats.


How to beat

Pawn of Ulamog is a card that can give players a strategic advantage by creating 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens, which can be sacrificed for additional mana. This capability turns any creature’s death into an opportunity for ramping or fueling other effects. To effectively counteract Pawn of Ulamog, consider using removal spells that exile rather than destroy to prevent triggering the token generation. Cards that can mass exile, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, are exceptional at suppressing Pawn of Ulamog’s abilities. Also, strategies that limit creature deaths on your side of the board, such as indestructible or hexproof granting effects, can minimize the benefits for your opponent. Beware of board wipes since they can flood your opponent’s mana pool with tokens from multiple creatures dying at once.

Control is key in any matchup involving Pawn of Ulamog. Avoiding unnecessary clashes where creatures perish ensures the card doesn’t function at its full potential. Employing graveyard hate spells that handle creatures postmortem can also negate the tokens Pawn of Ulamog provides. Every decision against this potent card should be measured, considering both the immediate and future ramifications on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the tactical depths of MTG with cards like Pawn of Ulamog, a versatile piece that can significantly shape the battlefield. Whether you’re accelerating your resources or constructing combos, the strategic advantages of creature sacrifice mechanics are vast. Solidifying your deck with such cards can lead to pivotal moments in your gameplay, enabling you to outmaneuver opponents with subtle yet powerful moves. Don’t stop at just adding powerful cards; understanding their interactions and potential is key. For more insights and advanced gameplay strategies involving Pawn of Ulamog and similar cards, continue your journey with us and refine your tactics to dominate the game.


Cards like Pawn of Ulamog

Pawn of Ulamog stands out as a unique creature card within MTG, especially prevalent in decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for greater value. It echoes the functionality of cards like Sifter of Skulls, which also generates tokens—specifically Eldrazi Scions—when your own non-token creatures perish. Both cards give players a way to maintain board presence and momentum, albeit Sifter of Skulls’ tokens boast the added utility of being able to contribute mana.

In contrast, another card akin to Pawn of Ulamog is Pitiless Plunderer. Whenever another creature you control dies, it provides you with a Treasure token, which translates into a potential mana of any color. While Pawn of Ulamog’s progeny are confined to colorless mana, Pitiless Plunderer offers a rainbow of possibilities. Yet, Pawn of Ulamog’s creature tokens can double as blockers or fodder for sacrifice, which aren’t viable with Pitiless Plunderer’s Treasures.

Exploring these relationships among cards showcases Pawn of Ulamog’s versatility in creature-based strategies in MTG, particularly in formats where the interplay between resources and creature removal is pivotal.

Sifter of Skulls - MTG Card versions
Pitiless Plunderer - MTG Card versions
Sifter of Skulls - Oath of the Gatewatch Promos (POGW)
Pitiless Plunderer - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pawn of Ulamog MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi, 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 Pawn of Ulamog and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pawn of Ulamog Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2017-08-25. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1222003normalblackDaarken
22015-08-28Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. EldraziDDP 552015normalblackDaarken
32017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1202015normalblackDaarken
42020-09-26The ListPLST ROE-1222003normalblackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pawn of Ulamog has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-06-15 If multiple nontoken creatures you control (possibly including Pawn of Ulamog itself) are put into their owners’ graveyards at the same time, Pawn of Ulamog’s triggered ability will trigger that many times.
2010-06-15 If you control more than one Pawn of Ulamog and a nontoken creature you control is put into a graveyard, each of those Pawns’ abilities will trigger. You may put up to that many Eldrazi Spawn tokens onto the battlefield.

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