Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Planeswalker MTG Card
2022-11-18 - Number 225
2022-11-18 - Number 41
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Artificer |
| Abilities | Meld |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Artifact, instant, and sorcery spells you cast cost less to cast. : If you both own and control Urza, Lord Protector and an artifact named The Mightstone and Weakstone, exile them, then meld them into Urza, Planeswalker. Activate only as a sorcery.
Cards like Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Planeswalker
Urza, Lord Protector enters the vast collector’s lexicon of MTG as a unique fixture among legendary creatures. In its company, we can draw parallels to Teferi, Time Raveler for its ability to impact multiple aspects of the game. While Teferi focuses on controlling the flow by dictating spell timings, Urza tailors the battlefield with artifact synergies and an alternative win condition – an uncanny approach for proactive strategists.
Talking about impactful legendaries, Breya, Etherium Shaper emerges in this discussion. Both commanders mesh well with artifacts; however, Breya flexes her strength through immediate board presence, providing tokens and options for direct damage or life gain. Urza, on the other side, sets the stage for a grander scheme, aiming to unveil The Mightstone and Weakstone as gateways to a game-winning ability.
Though different in immediate effects, Urza shares a kinship with Karn, Scion of Urza in the art of leveraging artifacts for card advantage and control. While Karn generates card advantage and formidable constructs, Urza operates within the tactical foresight category—manipulating spells from the get-go and hinting at a latent omnipotence once his condition is ripe.
Cards similar to Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Planeswalker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Urza, Lord Protector shines in providing a competitive edge by granting access to additional cards and therefore resources. This trait is paramount for outpacing opponents across numerous turns.
Resource Acceleration: By streamlining resource generation, Urza, Lord Protector contributes to rapidly advancing your board state, a critical factor in overtaking the game’s tempo and dictating the pace of play.
Instant Speed: His activation at instant speed makes him versatile, allowing you to efficiently utilize your mana and keep options open until the most opportune moment arises, providing both tactical depth and flexibility.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Urza, Lord Protector requires that you exile a blue instant card from your hand in order to transform it. This can put you at a card disadvantage or force you to make difficult decisions about resource management in critical moments of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Crafting the right deck around Urza, Lord Protector demands a careful balance of color, as its activation cost necessitates a precise combination of blue and colorless mana, potentially complicating your mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, this card comes into play later than some other impactful options in its mana range. This can slow your tempo, giving opponents more time to establish board control or counter your strategies.
Reasons to Include Urza, Lord Protector in Your Collection
Versatility: Urza, Lord Protector offers remarkable adaptability across various decks. Not only is it a strong standalone card, but its ability to transform into Urza, Planeswalker with The Mightstone and Weakstone also caters to artifact and multicolored strategies.
Combo Potential: In combination-heavy decks, this card shines by potentially enabling a wide array of combo plays. Its synergy with artifact-centric decks means it can often be the cornerstone of game-winning sequences, fueling both engine and execution of intricate plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to act as an engine in artifact-based strategies, Urza, Lord Protector consistently proves to be an asset in a meta that’s rich with artifact interaction. Whether empowering control setups or accelerating combo finishes, this card tailors to the evolving competitive landscape.
How to beat Urza, Lord Protector
Urza, Lord Protector is a formidable presence in MTG that requires a strategic approach to counter effectively. One key tactic involves the use of targeted removal spells in response to the card being cast, before its powerful ability can be utilized. Spells such as Assassin’s Trophy or Path to Exile are efficient options here as their low mana cost allows you to deal with Urza swiftly.
Additionally, using counter spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak during the casting phase can prevent Urza from hitting the battlefield altogether. If Urza is already in play, consider employing sacrifice effects, since Urza’s ability to protect itself doesn’t shield it from such actions. Cards like Diabolic Edict force the Urza player to sacrifice it despite any onboard defenses.
Moreover, keeping pressure on your opponent’s resources can stop them from gaining the advantage Urza offers. Applying constant threats can divert their tactics towards defense rather than utilizing Urza’s full potential, keeping the game in your favor. By anticipating Urza’s arrival and maintaining a flexible yet aggressive strategy, you can maneuver around the challenges this card presents and lead your deck to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Lord Protector MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War Art Series and The Brothers' War, 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 Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Lord Protector and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
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Printings
The Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Lord Protector Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Brothers' War Art Series | ABRO | 41 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Ryan Pancoast | ||
| 2 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 225 | 2015 | Meld | Black | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Planeswalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Urza, Lord Protector // Urza, Planeswalker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | A player prompted to name a card may name the combined back face, and each player has the right to know that combined back face's characteristics at all times. |
| 2022-10-14 | During each of your turns, you may activate Urza, Planeswalker's loyalty abilities twice, whether that's activating the same ability two times, or activating two different abilities once each. |
| 2022-10-14 | If an effect moves a melded permanent to a new zone and then affects "that card," it affects both cards. |
| 2022-10-14 | In the Commander variant, a meld card's color identity is determined only by the mana costs and mana symbols in the rules text of its front face. No symbols or rules text of the permanent it melds into are considered. |
| 2022-10-14 | Note that the permanent represented by the combined back faces has a color indicator. |
| 2022-10-14 | One card in each pair of meld cards has an ability that instructs you to exile the two cards and meld them. If you control more than one object with one of those names, you select one object with that name to exile. |
| 2022-10-14 | Only two cards belonging to the same meld pair can be melded. Tokens, cards that aren't meld cards, or meld cards that don't form a meld pair can't be melded. If an effect instructs a player to meld cards that can't be melded, those cards remain in exile. |
| 2022-10-14 | The mana value of a melded permanent is the sum of the mana values of its front faces. A creature that becomes a copy of a melded permanent has only the characteristics of that combined back face, and its mana value is 0. |
| 2022-10-14 | Urza, Lord Protector's first ability can't reduce the colored mana costs of spells you cast. |
| 2022-10-14 | When a pair of cards are melded, the result is a single creature that's represented by two cards. If the melded creature dies, both cards are put into your graveyard. As it leaves the battlefield, both of those cards are turned face up again. If the cards are put on the top or bottom of your library, you choose their relative order. |
| 2022-10-14 | When two cards are exiled and melded, they each leave the battlefield, then return together as one new object with no relation to either of the objects that left the battlefield. Counters, Auras, Equipment, and other effects that affected those two cards don't affect the melded permanent. |
| 2022-10-14 | While a meld card is in any zone other than the battlefield, it has only the characteristics of its front face. The same is true while it's on the battlefield with its front face up. |
| 2022-10-14 | While a melded permanent is on the battlefield, it has only the characteristics of its combined back face. Any effects that modify how the new object enters the battlefield will consider only the combined back face. |