Ugin, the Ineffable MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Ugin
Loyalty 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage and board presence with its token-creating ability upon destroying a permanent.
  2. Colorless spells cost two less to cast, accelerating resource availability in colorless or Eldrazi decks.
  3. His removal ability, while not at instant speed, offers strategic versatility to disrupt opponents effectively.

Text of card

Colorless spells you cast cost less to cast.
+1: Exile the top card of your library face down and look at it. Create a 2/2 colorless Spirit creature token. When that token leaves the battlefield, put the exiled card into your hand.
-3: Destroy target permanent that's one or more colors.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ugin the Ineffable’s ability to create a 2/2 colorless Spirit token upon removing a permanent adds significant value by not only handling threats but also by bolstering your board presence with minimal effort.

Resource Acceleration: His passive ability reduces the cost of colorless spells by 2 generic mana, essentially providing built-in resource acceleration that can be a game-changer in colorless or Eldrazi-themed decks, giving you the ability to deploy threats earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: Although Ugin the Ineffable himself doesn’t operate at instant speed, his “destroy target permanent that’s one or more colors” ability can be indirectly compared for its strategic versatility, akin to instant-speed responses. This lets you disrupt your opponent’s game plan on your turn while establishing your own field, keeping you ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ugin the Ineffable requires no discard to cast, it may leave you vulnerable to opponent strategies that target high-value cards in play. Losing Ugin prematurely, without leveraging his abilities, can lead to a sudden resource gap.

Specific Mana Cost: Ugin the Ineffable demands a specific colorless mana cost of {6}, which can be a constraint for multicolored decks. Ensuring you have the right mana sources consistently available can be a challenge, particularly in formats with a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that falls on the higher end of the spectrum, some players may find it difficult to justify his inclusion in faster-paced decks. He may come into play too late during crucial showdowns when early or mid-game momentum is essential.


Reasons to Include Ugin the Ineffable in Your Collection

Versatility: Ugin the Ineffable’s colorless nature allows him to slide effortlessly into virtually any deck. His ability to reduce the cost of colorless spells gives decks an aggressive economic edge, while his skill at exiling each opponent’s card with his +1 provides a universal answer.

Combo Potential: When paired with other cards, Ugin the Ineffable can unleash formidable combos. His -3 ability destroys a permanent and leaves behind a 2/2 creature which could play a pivotal role in both defense and offense strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In an evolving game where control decks dominate, Ugin the Ineffable offers a versatile threat that demands an answer. His continuous ability to create card advantage while disrupting opponents’ plans keeps him relevant in various meta scenarios.


How to beat

Ugin the Ineffable presents a unique challenge in MTG, offering both a formidable presence on the battlefield and the ability to control the game through its various abilities. This colorless planeswalker can be a headache to deal with, but there are strategies to counter it effectively. Focusing on direct damage spells or abilities can take Ugin off the board before its controller can utilize its full potential. Creature cards with haste also offer a quick way to apply pressure and deal damage to Ugin directly.

Another angle to consider is leveraging counter spells to prevent Ugin from entering the battlefield in the first place, which is often the most straightforward method. If Ugin does hit the field, enchantment and artifact removal can neutralize the card advantage and board presence generated by its ability to cause your permanents to cost less. Protection from colorless spells can also shut down Ugin’s destructive capacity, preserving your key pieces on the board while you mount a counter-offensive. With smart play and timely answers, overcoming the power of Ugin the Ineffable is well within reach for savvy MTG players.


BurnMana Recommendations

For the seasoned or novice MTG player, Ugin the Ineffable offers a multi-faceted approach to gameplay, echoing the diverse strategies that define this enthralling card game. Embracing the strengths of Ugin can shift the tide of battle in your favor, from advancing your board state to strategically distorting your opponent’s plans. Being mindful of his weaknesses will sharpen your deck-building skills and in-game tactics. Continue to expand your understanding; explore the synergy potentials and meta strategies with Ugin as a lynchpin in your deck. Interested in deepening your expertise and refining your strategies with Ugin the Ineffable? Join us to delve deeper and optimize your MTG prowess.


Cards like Ugin, the Ineffable

Ugin the Ineffable is a powerful Planeswalker card in MTG with a unique set of abilities. Its closest peer is Karn Liberated, another colorless Planeswalker capable of dealing with threats by exiling cards. Karn’s versatility is similar, able to target any permanent, while Ugin’s focus is on colorless spells, offering a cost reduction and generating Card Advantage when destroying colored permanents.

Casting cost is a key differentiator between Ugin and other Planeswalkers like Tezzeret the Seeker. Tezzeret searches for artifacts, aligning with Ugin’s colorless theme but falls short in directly impacting the board state. Ugin’s -3 ability, removing a colored permanent, can decisively swing the game, unlike Tezzeret’s more situational utility.

Another comparable card is Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, an older incarnation with a powerful sweeping ability that affects all colored spells. Although Ugin the Ineffable doesn’t impact the board as dramatically, it provides consistent advantage through card draw and a lower casting cost, making it a formidable option in decks leveraging colorless synergies.

Karn Liberated - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret the Seeker - MTG Card versions
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - MTG Card versions
Karn Liberated - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Tezzeret the Seeker - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - Ugin's Fate (UGIN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ugin, the Ineffable MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Ugin, the Ineffable and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ugin, the Ineffable Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 779692015normalblackDaarken
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 722352015normalblackMaekawa Yuichi
32019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 2★2015normalblackMaekawa Yuichi
42019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 22015normalblackDaarken
52019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 2p2015normalblackDaarken
62019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 2s★2015normalblackMaekawa Yuichi
72019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 2s2015normalblackDaarken
82019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 5022015normalblackDaarken
92019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12432015normalborderlessSansyu
102023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 8112015normalblackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ugin, the Ineffable has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ugin, the Ineffable card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-05-03 A colorless spell whose mana cost is or will cost to cast.
2019-05-03 A land normally has no color, even if it can produce one or more colors of mana.
2019-05-03 If an effect such as that of Doubling Season causes Ugin to create two Spirit tokens, you still only exile one card from your library. You’ll put that card into your hand the first time that either of the tokens leaves the battlefield.
2019-05-03 If the Spirit leaves the battlefield for any reason, you’ll put the exiled card into your hand, even if Ugin left the battlefield before that happened.
2019-05-03 If you’ve activated Ugin’s ability multiple times, you must keep track of which exiled card belongs to each Spirit token.
2019-05-03 Once you look at the exiled face-down card once, you may look at it again any time you wish. If another player gains control of the Spirit token, that player can’t look at the exiled card.
2019-05-03 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you’re paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions (such as that of Ugin). The converted mana cost of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.

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