Siege Zombie MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 121
2022-01-28 - Number 121
2020-09-26 - Number DBL-121
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Tap three untapped creatures you control: Each opponent loses 1 life.
A barricade only buys time. So the wealthy buy more barricades.
Cards like Siege Zombie
Siege Zombie stands out in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, carving its niche with its tap ability to drain an opponent’s life force. Creatures like Shepherd of Rot offer a similar function, allowing players to tap multiple Zombies to inflict damage equal to the number of Zombies they control. Shepherd of Rot, however, affects both players, not just the adversary, making Siege Zombie a safer option for selective targeting.
Glimpse the Unthinkable acts as a contrast, providing creature control and direct damage without the need to tap multiple creatures, but at a cost. It sacrifices itself upon usage, unlike Siege Zombie, which remains on the battlefield as a persistent threat. Then comes the card Plague Belcher, offering a menace in addition to its Zombie synergy. However, with its higher mana cost and requirement to put -1/-1 counters on other Zombies upon entering the battlefield, Siege Zombie is often chosen for its cost-effectiveness and straightforward life-draining strategy.
Choosing Siege Zombie can be particularly strategic for players looking to combine low-cost creatures with powerful tapping abilities that can continually erode the opponent’s life total while building board presence.
Cards similar to Siege Zombie by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Siege Zombie can play an integral role in decks that rely on having numerous creatures in play. With its ability to potentially tap several creatures for a direct effect, it can convert an otherwise static board presence into damage, keeping the opponent’s life total under pressure. This offers subtle card value, as it transforms any creature into a potential damage dealer.
Resource Acceleration: Although Siege Zombie itself doesn’t produce additional mana or card draws, it complements strategies aimed at swarming the board. In a sense, it accelerates the utility of your resources by enabling your creatures to impact the game irrespective of summoning sickness. This is especially relevant in decks that can populate the board quickly, as every creature summoned increases the potential damage output of Siege Zombie.
Instant Speed: The ability of Siege Zombie to tap two other untapped creatures you control and make each opponent lose one life can be activated at instant speed. This allows for strategic flexibility during the game, potentially enabling you to surprise an opponent with unexpected life loss or even snipe down an adversary in the middle of their own turn. Smart timing can interrupt an opponent’s calculations, making Siege Zombie a versatile inclusion in any deck that can muster a number of creatures on the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Siege Zombie requires a tap of three untapped creatures you control as a part of its ability. While not a traditional discard, this can be a significant commitment of resources, limiting your ability to respond to your opponent’s moves.
Specific Mana Cost: Siege Zombie’s mana cost is locked into the black mana, which makes it exclusive to decks running black mana sources. This specificity restricts deck building and can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Siege Zombie’s mana cost is not exorbitant, there are alternatives that might provide more immediate or impactful effects for a similar investment. In a game where tempo is crucial, the cost of fielding and efficiently using Siege Zombie could be seen as a downside when pacing against faster decks.
Reasons to Include Siege Zombie in Your Collection
Versatility: Siege Zombie serves as a useful tool in decks that capitalize on creature numbers. Its ability to tap alongside others for direct opponent damage fits seamlessly in token strategies and go-wide decks.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with untapping mechanics or cards that care about tap and untap actions, providing continuous damage outputs without the need for a combat phase.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame dominated by stalemates and creature-heavy decks, Siege Zombie can be a quiet cornerstone, providing steady pressure and a path to victory regardless of blockers on the board.
How to beat
Siege Zombie is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, often finding its home in decks heavy with undead synergy. This card stands out with its ability to chip away at an opponent’s life total without needing to attack. By tapping Siege Zombie along with two other creatures, you can drain your opponent for one life, which can add up over the course of a game, especially in decks that flood the board with lots of creatures.
Countering this strategy requires a smart approach. You can mitigate the effect of Siege Zombie by maintaining control of the board. Removal spells are key here, with options like Shock or Fatal Push that can efficiently deal with the Zombie before it can start to drain your life away. Keeping the Siege Zombie tapped with spells like Frost Breath can also be effective, preventing it from tapping for its drain ability. Sweepers, like Wrath of God, can clear multiple creatures at once, limiting Siege Zombie’s utility and potentially removing it altogether.
Ultimately, understanding and interrupting the synergies that make Siege Zombie a nuisance will be your best line of defense in ensuring it doesn’t become an uncontrollable threat on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Siege Zombie MTG card by a specific set like The List and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 Siege Zombie and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Siege Zombie Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The List | PLST | DBL-121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | ||
| 2 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 3 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 121 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Siege Zombie has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Siege Zombie card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | Since Siege Zombie's activated ability doesn't have a tap symbol in its cost, you can tap creatures that haven't been under your control since your most recent turn began (including Siege Zombie itself) to pay the cost. |