Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Knight
Abilities Eminence,First strike,Flying
Power 4
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants strategic combat advantages, enabling greater control over offensive and defensive plays.
  2. Instant speed allows for flexible and unpredictable gameplay, keeping opponents on their toes.
  3. Demands a precise mana balance, potentially challenging in multicolored decks.

Text of card

Eminence — Whenever you attack with one or more Knights, if Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir is in the command zone or on the battlefield, draw a card, then discard a card. Flying, first strike Whenever Sidar Jabari deals combat damage to a player, return target Knight creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir is a unique addition to any MTG player’s deck, especially in Commander where it shines by providing strategic advantages in both offense and defense. This card enables players to potentially outdraw their opponents over the course of a game, thereby increasing the number of options available and giving them a distinct edge.

Resource Acceleration: Deploying Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir into the battlefield could potentially speed up your gameplay by untapping all creatures you control. This sudden surge in resources gives players the flexibility to outmaneuver their opponents by leaving up a deceptive defense or preparing for an unexpected counter attack.

Instant Speed: With the capability to cast it at instant speed, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir allows players to stay vigilant and reactive. This opens up the playfield for strategic depth, as you can pass the turn with untapped lands, keeping your opponents guessing whether you have a response to their actions or further tricks up your sleeve.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir does not directly involve a discard mechanic, the necessity of having a discard outlet in play to utilize any synergies can be burdensome. This need for additional setup can slow down your game plan considerably, especially if your deck lacks consistent ways to generate card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir demands a precise combination of mana types to cast. If by chance you’re playing a multi-colored deck, you’ll need to ensure a balance of white and green sources which could prove difficult when facing mana disruption or in a deck that heavily favors one color over another.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana cost might not be considered excessively high on its own, but when compared to other commanders or creatures that offer more impactful board presence or immediate value, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir could be seen as a less economical option. Such a cost can be particularly taxing in fast-paced games that require players to establish a presence or defend against threats from the early turns.


Reasons to Include Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir in Your Collection

Versatility: Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir is a dynamic card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds, especially those focusing on creature-based strategies. With its ability to grant your creatures flanking, it can dictate the flow of combat in your favor.

Combo Potential: The flanking ability of this unique card opens up numerous combo possibilities. Pairing Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir with creatures that benefit from attacking or that have tap abilities can create a formidable synergy on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely heavily on creature interaction, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir shines by providing a tactical advantage. In a meta where combat is key, having a creature that tilts skirmishes in your direction can be a game-changer.


How to beat

Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. This character card is known for its ability to bolster others with flanking, a tactic that can be quite effective against creatures without it. This grants players the upper hand during combat situations, subtly whittling down an adversary’s defenses as those without flanking get weaker when facing his persistence.

To outmaneuver Sidar Jabari, consider utilizing creatures with ample toughness to absorb the flanking penalties or leverage spells that can bypass combat entirely. Removal spells are particularly useful here, allowing you to sidestep the combat phase and eliminating the card directly from the equation. Control strategies with counterspells and board-wipes can also mitigate the impact of Sidar Jabari, keeping the board clear of flanking synergies and leaving him isolated and less effective. It’s all about anticipating the combat tricks and staying one step ahead.

Overall, success against Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir lies in a proactive defense and strategic removal, ensuring your opponent’s tactical advantage is substantially reduced and leaving your path to victory clear.


Cards like Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir stands out among the legendary creatures that enable combative strategies. Taking a look at commanders with a supportive angle, cards like Sylas Renn, Seeker Adept share a penchant for empowering other creatures. While Sylas focuses on retrieval of artifacts upon dealing combat damage, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir skews towards making your smaller creatures harder to block by giving them an evasion-like ability.

When analyzing other similar MTG cards, Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive deserves a mention. This card also makes creatures with power or toughness of 1 unblockable. However, the key here is that Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir focuses on power, whereas Tetsuko targets both power and toughness, offering a wider span of unblockability. Edric, Spymaster of Trest can also be compared, as this commander encourages attacks by rewarding players with card draw. Sidar Jabari, however, does not provide the card advantage but rather aims for a cleaner battlefield sweep by assisting multiple creatures in evading blockers.

Considering their unique abilities, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir offers a sturdy deck-building cornerstone for those looking to apply a subtle yet effective evasion tactic, distinguishing it as a tactical choice for players weaving through opponents’ defenses.

Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Commander and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 972015NormalBlackSimon Dominic
22023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 52015NormalBlackSimon Dominic
32023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1382015NormalBlackSimon Dominic

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 Sidar Jabari must be on the battlefield or in the command zone at the moment you attack with one or more Knights and also as the triggered ability tries to resolve. Notably, if Sidar Jabari is on the battlefield and its eminence ability triggers, but it’s put into the command zone before that ability resolves, that ability won’t do anything as it resolves. This is because an object that changes zones is considered a new object.