Ursine Fylgja MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit Bear |
| Released | 2006-07-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Coldsnap |
| Set code | CSP |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Yokota Katsumi |
Text of card
Ursine Fylgja comes into play with four healing counters on it. Remove a healing counter from Ursine Fylgja: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to Ursine Fylgja this turn. : Put a healing counter on Ursine Fylgja.
Cards like Ursine Fylgja
Ursine Fylgja is a noteworthy creature within Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of the versatile guardians like Loxodon Lifechanter and Feasting Troll King in terms of its protective abilities. Ursine Fylgja stands out with its capacity to self-heal through its cumulative upkeep, allowing for repeated rounds of prevention counters to be placed on it. This mitigates the damage it would otherwise take, akin to the regeneration mechanic found in cards like Drudge Skeletons, yet with a more robust offense capacity. Loxodon Lifechanter brings additional life gain based on your creatures’ total power, whereas Feasting Troll King offers a formidable presence with the added benefit of food token creation for life gain and resurrection.
In comparison, cards with similar protection strategies such as Knight Exemplar grant indestructibility to fellow knights while also bolstering their attack and defense. Ursine Fylgja may not affect other creatures but ensures its own survivability on the battlefield. Additionally, Mother of Runes provides a more targeted approach, giving protection from a color of your choice until the end of the turn, which can be strategically advantageous depending on the matchup.
When considering cards that specialize in self-preservation, Ursine Fylgja presents a unique blend of resilience and offense that can be a game-changer in creature-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Ursine Fylgja by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ursine Fylgja provides a durable presence on the battlefield with its ability to bolster itself using its own ability. Each usage effectively adds a layer of protection and increased stats, keeping it relevant as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of resource acceleration, the stability Ursine Fylgja brings to your side of the board allows for more aggressive use of resources elsewhere, safe in the knowledge that you have a reliable defender in play.
Instant Speed: With the ability to boost its toughness at instant speed, Ursine Fylgja can surprise opponents during combat, turning potentially unfavorable blocks into advantageous trades. This innovative use of mana at critical moments can shift the tide of a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: It doesn’t take more than glancing over Ursine Fylgja’s abilities to figure out that, unlike some other creatures within a similar mana range, there isn’t an initial discard mechanic at play. However, its reliance on other cards for optimal use can indirectly lead to depleting your hand more quickly, which might position you unfavorably against opponents wielding hand disruption tactics.
Specific Mana Cost: Ursine Fylgja calls for a precise combination of mana to play—two white plus three others. This requirement can make it challenging to integrate into multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency or those that operate on a tight color curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With five mana required to bring this card into play, there’s an evident heftiness to its cost, especially when comparing it to other creatures in the format. Players needing to maintain tempo might find that such an investment slows them down just as much as it bolsters their board presence.
Reasons to Include Ursine Fylgja in Your Collection
Versatility: Ursine Fylgja serves as a flexible role-player in decks, offering protective abilities to your most valuable creatures. Its ability to accumulate counters over time means it can grow alongside your game plan, adapting to the evolving battlefield.
Combo Potential: With the ability to accumulate and transfer protective counters, Ursine Fylgja has natural synergy with mechanics that benefit from counters or require safeguarding key creatures. It can be the linchpin in strategies aiming to maximize the potential of +1/+1 counters.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where threats can often outpace defenses, having a card that provides a sturdy shield to your creatures can be pivotal. Ursine Fylgja can become an essential piece in decks that face a slew of removal spells or engage in creature-based combat.
How to beat
Ursine Fylgja is a noteworthy creature in your MTG collection, especially for its unique self-buffing capability. With the power to heal itself using the snow mana, it can be a real challenge to take down. This bear-like creature starts modestly but can quickly become a formidable blocker or attacker as counters are placed on it.
Defeating Ursine Fylgja requires strategic planning. Targeted removal spells that can bypass the self-healing ability are essential. Consider spells like Murder or Doom Blade, which can destroy the creature outright, preventing it from using its snow mana ability. Keeping pressure on your opponent and managing the board with strategic creature placement can also mitigate the impact of Ursine Fylgja. For those who prefer to take a more cunning route, transforming the bear with cards like Polymorph or using enchantments like Frogify can render it harmless, stripping away its capabilities and leaving your opponent at a distinct disadvantage.
Though Ursine Fylgja can be a tenacious adversary, its reliance on snow mana for protection opens avenues for thoughtful counterplay. By making intelligent choices around removal and control, you can effectively neutralize this resilient creature, ensuring it won’t stand in your way to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ursine Fylgja MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Ursine Fylgja 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ursine Fylgja has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |