Umara Mystic MTG Card


Umara Mystic - Zendikar Rising
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Abilities Flying
Released2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar Rising
Set codeZNR
Power 1
Toughness 3
Number238
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byBryan Sola

Key Takeaways

  1. Umara Mystic leverages instant and sorcery spells in MTG for card advantage and aggressive plays.
  2. Specific mana and discard conditions can limit its playability, potentially hampering its effectiveness.
  3. Despite the constraints, it remains versatile and impactful, especially in spell-heavy decks.

Text of card

Flying Whenever you cast an instant, sorcery, or Wizard spell, Umara Mystic gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

"We tolerate the North Hada thieves' den, but cutthroats who wander downriver earn a skymanta ride out to sea."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Umara Mystic thrives in a deck with a plethora of instant and sorcery spells, potentially creating substantial card advantage by repeatedly triggering its ability to draw a card.

Resource Acceleration: While Umara Mystic itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it enables aggressive plays that can lead to a faster victory, effectively outpacing the opponent’s resource development.

Instant Speed: The damage boost Umara Mystic receives whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell encourages a playstyle of strategic timing, allowing you to cast spells at instant speed for sudden power increases during combat phases.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Umara Mystic amps up its power when you cast an instant or sorcery spell, it’s essential to bear in mind that you’ll need a steady stream of these cards. Without them, the Mystic’s prowess is largely untapped, which can be a disadvantage if your hand is depleted during a lengthy game or if you’re up against a deck that specializes in making you discard your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Umara Mystic’s mana cost demands both blue and red mana, making it a card naturally inclined for inclusion in specific two-color decks. If your deck doesn’t consistently produce both types of mana, the Mystic could be a dead card in your hand at critical times. This requirement may exclude it from a wide range of decks and limit its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including a specific color combination, Umara Mystic’s investment must be weighed carefully. The fact that it’s a 1/3 creature means you’re paying a premium for its potential power boosts tied to noncreature spells. In the context of competitive play, where efficiency is pivotal, there may be comparable or lower-cost creatures or spells that can contribute more immediately to your board state without the conditional triggers.


Reasons to Include Umara Mystic in Your Collection

Versatility: Umara Mystic thrives in decks that capitalize on spell casting. Its ability to get stronger with each noncreature spell makes it adaptable across various blue and red-focused strategies.

Combo Potential: This card’s prowess-like ability allows it to be a formidable piece in combos, especially in decks that cast multiple spells in a single turn, potentially delivering a significant damage spike.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment rich with instant and sorcery spells, Umara Mystic can quickly become a key player, keeping up with the pace of the match and applying pressure where needed.


How to beat

The challenge presented by Umara Mystic in MTG cannot be understated. This creature thrives in a deck that consistently casts noncreature spells, getting a power boost with each spell cast during your turn. To counteract Umara Mystic effectively, it is essential to disrupt this key component of its strategy. Removal spells that can be cast outside of your own turn, such as Instant speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are powerful tools in stifling the Mystic’s momentum.

Moreover, employing counterspells to prevent the casting of noncreature spells altogether not only weakens the Mystic but also saves your resources. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak serve this dual purpose with efficiency. Another effective strategy is to minimize the number of spells your opponent can cast by using cards that restrict their mana usage or impose additional costs like Damping Sphere or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. By implementing these tactics, you can mitigate the advantages Umara Mystic brings to the table and maintain control of the game.

Ultimately, the key to overcoming the immediate threat of Umara Mystic lies in proactive disruption, ensuring that the conditions for its power boost are seldom met. By meticulously managing your removals and counters, Umara Mystic becomes far less daunting.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is akin to a finely tuned chess game, where every piece holds potential for victory. Umara Mystic exemplifies such strategic depth, flourishing in decks rich with instant and sorcery spells. As you’ve seen, it shines in the right environment, yet demands considerate deck construction and playstyle adaptability. For players seeking to harness the true power of Umara Mystic, it’s crucial to have both a reservoir of spells and savvy timing. Curious about optimizing Umara Mystic’s prowess in your deck or finding the perfect counter-strategy? Journey with us deeper into the MTG realm to uncover advanced tactics and enrich your collection for dominance in the skies. Let the intricate dance of spellcasting lead your way to triumph.


Cards like Umara Mystic

Umara Mystic proves its strength in the dynamic aerial battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. It stands out within the archetype of creatures that benefit from casting noncreature spells. Spells like Wee Dragonauts share a similar mechanic, granting a power boost whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell. However, Umara Mystic does not limit its bonus to the end of turn, unlike Wee Dragonauts, which resets its power after the turn.

Similarly, Nivix Cyclops operates on a parallel mechanism, empowering itself with every instant or sorcery cast. While it boasts a defensive bonus with its 4-toughness, Umara Mystic’s flying trait gives it a superior board presence, allowing it to consistently deal damage from the skies. Stormchaser Mage also beckons comparison with its prowess ability, yet it trades overall toughness for haste, making it a more immediate but less enduring threat.

Assessing the nuances of these cards, Umara Mystic exhibits a unique blend of power growth and evasive capabilities that positions it as a pivotal player among creatures that dovetail with spell-slinging strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Stormchaser Mage - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - Arena League 2006 (PAL06)
Nivix Cyclops - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Stormchaser Mage - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Umara Mystic by color, type and mana cost

Frenetic Efreet - MTG Card versions
Whirlpool Warrior - MTG Card versions
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - MTG Card versions
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - MTG Card versions
Veyran, Voice of Duality - MTG Card versions
Jori En, Ruin Diver - MTG Card versions
Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Gelectrode - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Jhoira of the Ghitu - MTG Card versions
Noggle Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Crackleburr - MTG Card versions
Noggle Ransacker - MTG Card versions
Crag Puca - MTG Card versions
Izzet Staticaster - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Spellheart Chimera - MTG Card versions
Stormcaller of Keranos - MTG Card versions
Whirler Virtuoso - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Efreet - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Whirlpool Warrior - The List (PLST)
Yusri, Fortune's Flame - Modern Horizons 2 Promos (PMH2)
Aegar, the Freezing Flame - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Veyran, Voice of Duality - Commander 2021 (C21)
Jori En, Ruin Diver - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Wee Dragonauts - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Gelectrode - The List (PLST)
Frenetic Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Jhoira of the Ghitu - Modern Masters (MMA)
Noggle Hedge-Mage - Eventide (EVE)
Crackleburr - Eventide (EVE)
Noggle Ransacker - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Crag Puca - Eventide (EVE)
Izzet Staticaster - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Nivix Cyclops - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Spellheart Chimera - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Stormcaller of Keranos - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Whirler Virtuoso - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Umara Mystic MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Umara Mystic and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Umara Mystic has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-09-25 A Wizard spell is one with the creature type Wizard. Spells that are Wizard-themed (such as Relic Amulet) aren’t Wizard spells.
2020-09-25 An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger, but after targets have been chosen for that spell (if it has any targets). The ability resolves even if that spell is countered.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks