Zephid MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Illusion
Abilities	Flying,Shroud
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	113
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daren Bader

Key Takeaways

Offers top deck manipulation, enhancing potential card advantage during the match.
Activates at instant speed, allowing strategic responses to evolving battlefield scenarios.
Demands discarding for ability use, which may complicate tight situation strategies.

Text of card

Flying Zephid cannot be the target of spells or abilities.

Once you've seen one, you'll understand why spells won't go near them.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zephid showcases its ability to let you manipulate top deck cards, subtly gearing you up for potential card advantage during the game.

Resource Acceleration: Granting you untapped permanents, Zephid can significantly shift the tide of the game by offering resource acceleration that can outpace your opponent.

Instant Speed: Zephid’s capabilities can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to adapt to battlefield changes dynamically and utilize your mana efficiently, keeping opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Zephid card necessitates discarding another card to enable its key abilities. This can be a tough decision in high-stakes situations where every card in hand counts towards your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Zephid requires a unique combination of mana types to cast. Being a blue-centric card, decks that don’t extensively utilize islands might find integrating Zephid challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher end of the spectrum, Zephid can be a cumbersome addition to your deck when faster, more immediate solutions are needed to combat opponents’ threats.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Zephid’s ability to protect itself with hexproof makes it a resilient threat in many deck archetypes. Its ability to slot into control or midrange decks as a reliable finisher makes it a versatile card to own.

Combo Potential: Due to its hexproof ability, Zephid works well with auras and equipment, allowing it to become part of powerful synergistic combinations without the worry of being easily removed by targeted spells.

Meta-Relevance: As the game shifts and evolves, having a card like Zephid that can effectively counteract a variety of strategies ensures it remains a relevant choice for many metagames, especially if a lot of targeted removal is being played.

How to beat

Zephid is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, often remembered for its ability to evade most removal spells. It carries the rare protection from creatures attribute, which initially can make it seem invincible on the battlefield. This protection provides a stout defense against being targeted by other creatures, be it through combat damage or abilities. However, there are still creative strategies players can employ to tackle this elusive adversary.

To bypass Zephid’s protective measures, players can opt for global effects or spells that don’t specifically target it. Board wipes or cards that change the rules of combat, like Earthquake or Star of Extinction, can effectively clear Zephid from the field without having to target it directly. Mass removal is your friend here, as it’ll bypass Zephid’s selective shield. Moreover, cards that force a player to sacrifice creatures, such as Diabolic Edict, can indirectly remove Zephid without having to engage its protection ability. Employing these tactics can decisively navigate around Zephid’s defenses and claim victory.

Understanding that the strength of a card comes not only from what it can do but also from what it can withstand, Zephid stands out in MTG’s vast array of creatures. It requires specific strategies to defeat, but with the right approach, even the most daunting foes can be brought to heel.

Cards like Zephid

Zephid is a unique creature in the world of MTG, sharing traits with other high-cost blue flyers like Sphinx of Magosi and Air Elemental. While Sphinx of Magosi brings card draw and stat boosting to the table, it commands a higher mana commitment than Zephid. Likewise, Air Elemental is a straightforward flyer with a lower casting cost but lacks Zephid’s protective aspect.

Zephid actually shines due to its built-in protection from enchantments. This makes it a resilient choice in metagames where enchantment-based removal is prevalent. Comparably, Serendib Sorcerer also provides a form of resilience but trades protection for the ability to manipulate creature stats, offering a different kind of strategic advantage.

When assessing the role Zephid plays in a blue-focused flyer deck, its unique ability to dodge common forms of removal, alongside its competitive power and toughness, place it favorably in the landscape of MTG creatures, particularly for players looking to maintain a persistent airborne threat.

Cards similar to Zephid by color, type and mana cost

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions

Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp - MTG Card versions

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zephid MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Zephid and other MTG cards: