Zhur-Taa Ancient MTG Card


Zhur-Taa Ancient creates a mana advantage, best exploited with dedicated deck designs meant to leverage additional resources. It necessitates specific mana color commitment and has a high mana cost, impacting versatility and strategic planning. Similar cards provide varying degrees of risk and control, with Zhur-Taa Ancient offering bold, game-altering potential.
Zhur-Taa Ancient - Dragon's Maze
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beast
Released2013-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameDragon's Maze
Set codeDGM
Power 7
Toughness 5
Number119
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAdam Paquette

Text of card

Whenever a player taps a land for mana, that player adds one mana to his or her mana pool of any type that land produced.

Many Ravnicans think of nature as orderly groves and elf-tended rot farms. They haven't seen the Gruul wilds.


Cards like Zhur-Taa Ancient

The Zhur-Taa Ancient card represents a notable force in ramp strategies within the Magic: The Gathering landscape. It shares the ramp terrain with cards like Karametra’s Acolyte, which taps for a formidable amount of mana based on devotion to green. While Karametra’s Acolyte is limited by the number of green symbols you have on the battlefield, Zhur-Taa Ancient provides a universal benefit by allowing both players to tap their lands for double mana. This advantage, though risky, can be a game-changer in the right deck.

In a closely related manner, we discover the card Heartbeat of Spring. This enchantment also doubles the mana from lands, yet, unlike Zhur-Taa Ancient, it affects all players unconditionally. Heartbeat of Spring could potentially be more dangerous for its controller due to this lack of control. Lastly, we look at Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger, which not only doubles the mana of the lands you control but also punishes opponents by causing their tapped lands not to untap on the next turn. A brutal comparison, for it translates into a significant advantage and possible game dominance.

To encapsulate, while analyzing options for escalating mana generation in your deck, Zhur-Taa Ancient stands out for its immediate impact on the game’s dynamics, offering bold players the chance to leverage its benefits to fuel powerful plays.

Karametra's Acolyte - MTG Card versions
Heartbeat of Spring - MTG Card versions
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger - MTG Card versions
Karametra's Acolyte - MTG Card versions
Heartbeat of Spring - MTG Card versions
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zhur-Taa Ancient by color, type and mana cost

Sunastian Falconer - MTG Card versions
Sawback Manticore - MTG Card versions
Segmented Wurm - MTG Card versions
Serpentine Kavu - MTG Card versions
Shivan Wurm - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Quartzwood Crasher - MTG Card versions
Streetbreaker Wurm - MTG Card versions
Steam Spitter - MTG Card versions
Stonebrow, Krosan Hero - MTG Card versions
Scuzzback Marauders - MTG Card versions
Deus of Calamity - MTG Card versions
Blitz Hellion - MTG Card versions
Gorger Wurm - MTG Card versions
Deadshot Minotaur - MTG Card versions
Thromok the Insatiable - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Swine - MTG Card versions
Ulrich of the Krallenhorde // Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha - MTG Card versions
Raging Swordtooth - MTG Card versions
Regisaur Alpha - MTG Card versions
Sunastian Falconer - MTG Card versions
Sawback Manticore - MTG Card versions
Segmented Wurm - MTG Card versions
Serpentine Kavu - MTG Card versions
Shivan Wurm - MTG Card versions
Harbinger of the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Quartzwood Crasher - MTG Card versions
Streetbreaker Wurm - MTG Card versions
Steam Spitter - MTG Card versions
Stonebrow, Krosan Hero - MTG Card versions
Scuzzback Marauders - MTG Card versions
Deus of Calamity - MTG Card versions
Blitz Hellion - MTG Card versions
Gorger Wurm - MTG Card versions
Deadshot Minotaur - MTG Card versions
Thromok the Insatiable - MTG Card versions
Zhur-Taa Swine - MTG Card versions
Ulrich of the Krallenhorde // Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha - MTG Card versions
Raging Swordtooth - MTG Card versions
Regisaur Alpha - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The presence of Zhur-Taa Ancient on the battlefield significantly alters the flow of the game, providing all players with exponential mana growth. While this effect is symmetrical, strategically built decks around Zhur-Taa Ancient create distinct card advantage as they are designed to exploit the extra resources better than their opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Doubling the amount of mana that lands produce is a powerful form of resource acceleration, which can lead to game-changing plays much earlier than usual. This ramp capability allows players to outpace the opposition by casting high-cost cards or activating demanding abilities ahead of time, effectively using the additional mana as a springboard to dominance.

Instant Speed: Though Zhur-Taa Ancient itself does not operate at instant speed, the mana it provides can empower a player’s ability to react with instant-speed spells during any phase of the game. Having a surplus of mana available means that a player can comfortably play out their threats while keeping enough resources to interact with the opponent’s actions at crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Zhur-Taa Ancient does not necessitate discarding cards itself, its inclusion in a deck might compel you to opt for discarding other cards to make room for its specific mana-intensive nature. This can lead to potential disadvantages in game states where resource retention is paramount.

Specific Mana Cost: The Ancient demands a precise combination of red and green mana to hit the battlefield. This necessity can restrict its integration to specific types of decks, often necessitating a Gruul deck archetype or those with a flexible mana base, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including one red and one green, it is seen as a commitment of resources. While it does allow each player to tap lands for additional mana, which can benefit ramp strategies, its cost is considerably high when compared to other cards that can provide similar mana acceleration or advantages without the same investment or the drawback of aiding your opponents as well.


Reasons to Include Zhur-Taa Ancient in Your Collection

Versatility: Zhur-Taa Ancient offers a significant boost in mana generation. This card is a great addition to decks that are mana-hungry and seek to deploy high-cost spells ahead of the curve.

Combo Potential: This five-mana creature synergizes well with strategies looking to capitalize on large amounts of mana, such as casting powerful X spells or activating costly abilities. Its ability also doesn’t limit the mana doubling to its controller, presenting intriguing multiplayer dynamics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where ramp decks prevail or the format slants towards longer, more drawn-out games, the Ancient can provide the extra mana necessary to dominate the battlefield and outpace your opponents’ resources.


How to beat Zhur-Taa Ancient

The Zhur-Taa Ancient card provides an unusual advantage to players in MTG by not only doubling your own mana resources but also your opponent’s. This feature positions it as a double-edged sword, and effectively countering it requires a strategic approach. Maneuvering against this formidable creature involves denying its benefits by using instant speed removals or counter spells before the extra mana can be used.

Consider spells like Murder or Doom Blade when facing off against decks that feature Zhur-Taa Ancient. These efficient removal options can disrupt your opponent’s plans by eliminating the Ancient before they can leverage the mana acceleration. Additionally, utilizing counter measures such as Essence Scatter or Negate can preemptively neutralize the threat before it hits the battlefield, ensuring that you maintain control over the game’s tempo and resource distribution.

In essence, when confronted with the might of Zhur-Taa Ancient, it’s critical to utilize timely removal or denial tactics. By doing so, you can preserve your tactical edge and keep the mana scales tipped in your favor, all while navigating the delicate balance of resources in your MTG confrontations.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gathering knowledge on MTG’s diverse card pool is essential to elevating your gameplay, especially when it comes to cards like Zhur-Taa Ancient that can transform the battlefield. Understanding the intricacies and interactions of such a unique mana amplifier is crucial for strategies that rely on resource acceleration. Assembling a deck that harnesses its power without succumbing to its pitfalls is a skillful endeavor. Interested in unlocking the full potential of Zhur-Taa Ancient or similar cards? Dive deeper with us, as we explore sophisticated deck-building techniques and potent combos to ensure your mana works for you, securing your triumph in the vast universe of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zhur-Taa Ancient MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Zhur-Taa Ancient and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zhur-Taa Ancient has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal