Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow MTG Card
2016-11-16 - Number 70651
2018-08-09 - Number 52
2019-04-10 - Number 6
2019-11-07 - Number 1515
2020-11-20 - Number 542
2021-06-22 - Number C2
2022-02-25 - Number 4
2023-08-04 - Number 597
2023-08-04 - Number 364
2023-08-04 - Number 690
2002-06-24 - Number 86214
2020-09-26 - Number C18-52
2023-08-04 - Number 62
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Ninja |
| Abilities | Commander ninjutsu |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Commander ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand or the command zone tapped and attacking.) Whenever a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. Each opponent loses life equal to that card's mana value.
Cards like Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow
Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow, carves her unique niche in the realm of MTG ninja commanders. She shares a kinship with other ninjutsu champions like Silent-Blade Oni, allowing for sneaky on-field switches at a moment’s notice. However, Yuriko elevates the mechanic with her ability to pounce from the command zone, eschewing the traditional cast from hand approach.
Yuriko’s closest rival may be Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni. Both benefit from the ninjutsu ability, but where Yuriko excels is in her continual card advantage and potential for game-ending damage based on the top cards revealed. This is a stark contrast to Ink-Eyes’ singular reanimation ability. Another card worth comparing is Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive, which gives creatures with power or toughness one or less the ability to be unblockable. This assists in setting up for a successful ninjutsu deployment, yet it lacks Yuriko’s aggressive card advantage thrust.
In essence, Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow stands out among similar cards through her combination of command zone accessibility, ninjutsu agility, and the capacity to churn through the deck while dealing substantial damage to each opponent, fortifying her position in MTG as a potent ninja commander.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ninjas | Legacy | Ninjas | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-01-20 |
| Dimir Ninjas | Legacy | Ninjas | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Legacy Mainevent |
| Dimir Aggro | Legacy | Ninjas | Legacy Mensal Taverna Nerd 23/04 |
| Eldrazi Stompy | Legacy | Ninjas | 2023 NA Legacy Champs |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow provides a consistent stream of card advantage. Each time a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, her ability allows you to reveal the top card of your library and deal damage equal to the card’s converted mana cost to your opponents. Not only does this erode your opponents’ life totals, but it also keeps your hand replenished with fresh options, ensuring that you stay ahead in the resource game.
Resource Acceleration: While Yuriko herself doesn’t directly produce additional mana, the cards drawn from her ability can lead to resource acceleration by revealing mana-producing spells or cards that untap lands. Additionally, the damage dealt can help close out games quickly, effectively reducing the need for extended resource development.
Instant Speed: Yuriko can be brought onto the battlefield at instant speed thanks to her commander ninjutsu ability. This allows for strategic flexibility, letting you hold up mana for counterspells or other instant speed interactions and only committing to Yuriko when the moment is just right, catching your opponents off guard and slipping past their defenses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow doesn’t require a discard upon casting, its ninjutsu ability can force you to return an unblocked attacker to your hand. This can occasionally mean discarding a card to keep your hand size within the maximum limit at the end of your turn, which could put you at a disadvantage if you’re low on cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Yuriko has a specific mana cost that includes both black and blue, which could restrict her inclusion to just dimir or multi-color decks with access to these colors. This may limit the versatility for players who prefer mono-colored decks or other color combinations without adequate mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though her ninjutsu ability mitigates this somewhat, Yuriko’s actual casting cost is three mana, including two of specific colors. When compared to other commanders or creatures that influence the board upon entry, she might seem less mana-efficient, especially when you cannot make use of her ninjutsu ability.
Reasons to Include Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow in Your Collection
Versatility: Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow offers a flexible approach to gameplay, seamlessly fitting into and enhancing Ninja-themed decks or those seeking to capitalize on top-deck manipulation. Her ability to slip in under defenses and the potential card advantage generated are a boon for various strategies.
Combo Potential: Yuriko’s ability to reveal top cards and deal damage based on converted mana cost creates an avenue for combo plays. Integrating cards with high costs into your deck while utilizing library manipulation techniques can create devastating results for opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where unblocked attackers can repeatedly lead to significant life loss, Yuriko can tilt the scales. Her relevance maintains as she can swiftly change the tide of a game, making her a crucial addition for players aiming to keep pace with current competitive trends.
How to beat Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow
Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow presents a unique challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering with her ability to slip past defenses and deal damage based on the top card of the deck. One effective strategy to counter her is by focusing on controlling the battlefield. This may involve using spells that can remove her from play or using creatures with reach or flash to block her unblockable trait. Another tactic is to manipulate the top deck to limit the damage potential of her triggered ability.
In addition to direct counters, strategic deckbuilding can play a pivotal role in overcoming Yuriko’s strengths. Including cards that shuffle your opponent’s library or exile cards from the top can help mitigate the damage from her ability. Moreover, playing with cards that grant you hexproof can prevent Yuriko from causing you damage directly. Pay close attention to board state and maintain a variety of interactive spells to ensure you’re always prepped for her swift assaults.
Neutralizing Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow requires a blend of disruption and foresight, allowing players to maintain a stable defense against her stealthy tactics while mitigating the high-impact blows from her commander-triggered ability.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Treasure Chest, 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 Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 86214 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | ||
| 2 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 70651 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 3 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 52 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 4 | 2019-04-10 | Judge Gift Cards 2019 | J19 | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1515 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | C18-52 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | ||
| 7 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 542 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 8 | 2021-06-22 | Love Your LGS 2021 | PLG21 | C2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 9 | 2022-02-25 | Year of the Tiger 2022 | PL22 | 4 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Walleystation | |
| 10 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 597 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 11 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 364 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 12 | Commander Masters Art Series | ACMM | 62 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 13 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 690 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Zara H |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Restricted |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | Activating Yuriko's commander ninjutsu ability isn't the same as casting Yuriko as a spell. You won't have to pay the commander tax to activate that ability, and activating that ability won't increase the commander tax to pay later. |
| 2020-11-10 | Although the ninjutsu ability has the creature enter the battlefield attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for the purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example). |
| 2020-11-10 | Commander ninjutsu is a variant of ninjutsu that can be activated from the command zone as well as from your hand. Just as with regular ninjutsu, the Ninja enters attacking the player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. |
| 2020-11-10 | If a card in a player's library has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. |