Viridian Zealot MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 90
2015-11-13 - Number 210
2017-06-09 - Number 163
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elf Warrior |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice Viridian Zealot: Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
"I will fight only the way nature intended—and nature intended us to win."
Cards like Viridian Zealot
Viridian Zealot stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a potent combination of creature and utility. It’s often looked at in conjunction with Caustic Caterpillar, which shares the ability to sacrifice itself for the destruction of an artifact or enchantment. While Caustic Caterpillar comes in at a lower cost, the Zealot brings more power to the battlefield. Both offer a strategic edge, especially in green decks focusing on creature-based interactions.
Another card reminiscent of this versatile elf warrior is Reclamation Sage. When comparing the two, Reclamation Sage provides immediate impact with its enter-the-battlefield effect. This can be a strong play, particularly in situations that demand an immediate response without the mana investment to activate an ability. Yet, Viridian Zealot’s sacrifice effect being an ability rather than a one-time effect when entering the battlefield, provides more flexibility and can be leveraged at instant speed.
Considering the options, Viridian Zealot holds its own in Magic: The Gathering. With a respectable body for combat and the added benefit of being able to remove troublesome artifacts or enchantments when necessary, it’s a card worth considering for decks that can utilize its dual capabilities.
Cards similar to Viridian Zealot by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Viridian Zealot provides dual utility, both as a creature and an artifact/enchantment removal, which can potentially take out key components of your opponent’s strategy. It can also trade with another creature in combat, offering the chance to affect the board state in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: By removing mana-producing artifacts or potential stax pieces, Viridian Zealot aids in keeping your own resource flow unimpeded while potentially disturbing your opponent’s development, potentially accelerating your board position relative to theirs.
Instant Speed: Though the Zealot’s ability isn’t at instant speed itself, the flexibility to sacrifice it at any time provides a tactical edge, allowing you to wait for the perfect moment to disrupt an opponent’s combo or protect the Zealot from sorcery-speed removal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Viridian Zealot necessitates a sacrifice for its ability to destroy artifacts or enchantments, which could be a strategic setback when you’re aiming to maintain board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: It requires both green and colorless mana, thus restricting its seamless integration into multi-colored decks, particularly those not green-centric.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting and activation cost tallying to a total of four mana, there are alternatives in MTG that may offer a more cost-effective solution for artifact and enchantment removal.
Reasons to Include Viridian Zealot in Your Collection
Versatility: Viridian Zealot offers tactical flexibility across multiple deck builds, readily slipping into green-based commander or legacy decks that appreciate an onboard method for dealing with problematic artifacts or enchantments.
Combo Potential: This card effortlessly interacts with strategies emphasizing creature sacrifices or death triggers, amplifying the value gained from recurring or duplicating its destruction ability.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifacts and enchantments dictate the pace of play, Viridian Zealot stands as a resilient tool, able to disrupt opponents’ setups and maintain board control.
How to beat Viridian Zealot
Viridian Zealot is a staple in decks that value creature versatility and artifact or enchantment destruction in MTG. Its deceptively simple mechanic allows for a self-sacrifice to destroy a target artifact or enchantment, which can be a game-changer. However, this doesn’t mean the Zealot is unbeatable.
To effectively counter Viridian Zealot, it’s critical to limit its opportunities to be used effectively. Graveyard manipulation spells or abilities that exile cards can prevent the Zealot from being a recurring threat. Control decks could leverage instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push to deal with the Zealot before it can use its ability. Timing is everything, and waiting for the Zealot to hit the battlefield without enough mana to activate its ability can be a strategic moment to strike.
Last but not least, overarching strategies that don’t rely heavily on artifacts or enchantments will naturally negate much of the Zealot’s utility. This reduces the impact of its destruction ability and can redirect its role on the battlefield to that of a mere creature—albeit still a respectable 2/1 green creature, yet not an insurmountable challenge.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Viridian Zealot MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Commander 2015, 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 Viridian Zealot 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 Viridian Zealot Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Kev Walker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 90 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 2 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 210 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 163 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Viridian Zealot has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |