Zephyr Charge MTG Card

Zephyr Charge enhances creature survivability by enabling evasion via flying, improving your board position. Its instant speed activation introduces flexibility and the element of surprise during combat scenarios. While potent, Zephyr Charge demands smart resource allocation for optimal effectiveness in matches.

Magic 2014 (M14)
2013-07-19 - Number 82

Core Set 2020 (M20)
2019-07-12 - Number 82

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment

Text of card

: Target creature gains flying until end of turn.

"All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark." —Sun Tzu, *Art of War*, trans. Giles

Cards like Zephyr Charge

Zephyr Charge is an intriguing utility in the realm of creature enhancement within Magic: The Gathering. Parallel to its effects, cards like Levitation also grant flying to all of your creatures, but unlike Zephyr Charge, Levitation affects the field with a constant passive ability. Zephyr Charge, however, offers more tactical flexibility, allowing players to activate its power at instant speed on a per-case basis, demanding mana investment each time.

Another similar card, Jump, gives a single creature flying until end of turn, much like Zephyr Charge, but without the repeatability factor. This makes Jump a one-and-done deal while Zephyr Charge can be used multiple times, making it a more versatile choice during gameplay. On the other end, we have Flight, a low-cost enchantment that gives a single creature flying permanently, which might be more mana-efficient in the long haul, but lacks the instant speed activation and flexibility of Zephyr Charge.

In terms of strategic adaptability and control over aerial combat, Zephyr Charge offers an interesting dynamic compared to other similar MTG cards. Its instant speed activation allows for unexpected plays and can be a continual threat to opponents who must always account for potentially airborne attackers or blockers.

Cards similar to Zephyr Charge by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zephyr Charge provides a fringe benefit of card advantage, not through direct drawing, but by allowing potentially outmatched creatures to survive combat through its flying ability – effectively saving your cards on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Zephyr Charge does not directly accelerate resources like some ramps or mana artifacts, it does offer a strategic tempo play by enabling any creature to go airborne, potentially hastening the route to victory and giving you the upper hand in resource management.

Instant Speed: The enchantment’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility in combat or when reacting to an opponent’s plays. This allows savvy players to make last-minute decisions that can significantly alter the course of a game, making it a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Zephyr Charge doesn’t directly enforce a discard, but if you’re using it to protect key creatures by granting them flying, you may find yourself discarding cards to fulfill other aspects of your strategy due to the mana invested in this effect.

Specific Mana Cost: While Zephyr Charge has a fairly inclusive mana cost of one generic and one blue mana, it’s narrowly suited to decks that can consistently produce blue mana, thereby potentially limiting its inclusion to certain archetypes or mana-fixing strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating two mana to grant a single creature flying until end of turn can be mana-intensive over multiple turns. For the same mana investment, you may have access to other spells or permanents that offer more lasting or prominent board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Zephyr Charge provides an accessible means to grant flying to any creature. This fits seamlessly into decks that aim to evade blockers or require flying creatures for certain synergies.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in strategies that capitalize on creatures becoming airborne, such as activating abilities when dealing combat damage to a player that are usually hard to achieve with ground-based creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of grounded creature strategies, Zephyr Charge offers a simple and efficient solution to transform a blocked battlefield into one where your creatures soar above the fray, potentially shifting the tide of the game in your favor.

How to beat

Zephyr Charge is a unique utility card in Magic: The Gathering that gives players the power to grant flying to any creature at the cost of two mana. This seemingly simple ability can dramatically alter the battlefield, providing evasion for your formidable ground forces. However, its potency is derived from its active ability, requiring open mana to use effectively, which can be a double-edged sword.

In dealing with Zephyr Charge, the key is to pressure your opponent’s mana availability. By forcing them to commit mana during their own turn, you hamper their ability to make creatures fly when it’s most inconvenient for you. One strategy is to present threats that must be dealt with on their turn or employ instants that disrupt their combat calculations. Additionally, destroying or disabling the enchantment itself through cards like Disenchant or Counterspell can render their setup obsolete.

Ultimately, overcoming Zephyr Charge involves thoughtful mana management and the inclusion of enchantment control in your deck. Monitoring the ebb and flow of available resources will protect you against unexpected aerial assaults and ensure that your opponent’s strategic options remain firmly grounded.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zephyr Charge MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014 and Core Set 2020, 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 Zephyr Charge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zephyr Charge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-07-19 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-07-19	Magic 2014	M14		82	2003	Normal	Black	Steve Prescott
2	2019-07-12	Core Set 2020	M20		82	2015	Normal	Black	Steve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zephyr Charge has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal