Zirilan of the Claw MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Viashino Shaman |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 204 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Andrew Robinson |
Text of card
o1o Ro R, oc T: Search your library for a Dragon card and put it into play as though it were just played. Shuffle your library afterwards. That creature is unaffected by summoning sickness. Remove the creature from the game at end of any turn.
Cards like Zirilan of the Claw
Zirilan of the Claw is a unique commander in MTG, primarily used to cheat out powerful dragons onto the battlefield. When examining cards with similar dragon-tutoring abilities, Dragonstorm stands out. Dragonstorm is a potent sorcery that can potentially put multiple dragons onto the battlefield in one explosive turn, although it relies heavily on spell chaining to achieve this.
Another card worth comparing is Sarkhan’s Triumph, which allows players to search their library for a dragon and add it to their hand. It provides a more consistent but less immediate impact than Zirilan, which bypasses the hand entirely and puts dragons directly into play, although only temporarily. Crucially, Zirilan’s ability to directly manipulate the battlefield offers a tactical advantage that other cards may not.
On the thematic track of draconic dominance, Lathliss, Dragon Queen also resembles Zirilan in the sense of amplifying the dragon strategy by creating additional dragon tokens whenever another nontoken dragon enters the battlefield under your control. Nevertheless, it lacks the tutoring and immediate board influence intrinsic to Zirilan’s ability.
Considering these comparisons, Zirilan of the Claw holds a special niche within MTG as a formidable and distinctive enabler of dragon-centric strategies, facilitating some of the most awe-inspiring plays a dragon enthusiast can execute.
Cards similar to Zirilan of the Claw by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Zirilan of the Claw propels you into a favorable position by tutoring directly for powerful Dragons from your deck. Having direct access to your behemoth creatures ensures that you always have a threat at hand, keeping your card advantage robust and your opponents on edge.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or Treasure tokens, Zirilan’s ability to cheat Dragons onto the battlefield effectively slashes their mana costs. This action can vastly accelerate your game plan, as you can deploy high-cost Dragons early without paying their mana costs, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Zirilan’s tutoring power at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to actions elevates your tactical flexibility. Being able to instantly introduce a Dragon to the fray can outright disrupt your opponent’s strategies or serve as a surprise blocker or attacker ready to shatter stalemates.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Zirilan of the Claw opens doors to vast draconic power, it does require a certain sacrifice. Upon using its ability, you must discard a dragon at the end of the turn. For players running thin on dragons in their deck, this could pose a significant drawback, potentially depleting their hand of key creatures prematurely.
Specific Mana Cost: Zirilan’s power does not come without a price; it requires a specific investment of two red and three other mana to cast. This can sometimes hinder the deck’s flexibility, making it less adaptable and more predictable to your opponents, while also emphasizing the importance of a solid mana base dedicated to red.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost totaling five, Zirilan of the Claw may be considered a hefty investment in the early game where speed is of the essence. Other cards with lower mana costs could potentially provide more immediate board presence or control, allowing for a quicker pivot into a dominant position in the match.
Reasons to Include Zirilan of the Claw in Your Collection
Versatility: Zirilan of the Claw serves as a toolbox commander, allowing you to access a variety of dragons in your deck at instant speed. Its ability to tutor any dragon card makes it flexible and adaptable to a range of game situations, whether you need a mover, shaker or game-ending behemoth.
Combo Potential: Zirilan’s tutor ability enables a multitude of combo opportunities, such as bringing out Worldgorger Dragon to manipulate mana or Dragon Tyrant for a swift and crushing attack. Players can craft numerous synergies around this card’s dragon-fetching expertise.
Meta-Relevance: In the constantly evolving commander landscape, Zirilan maintains relevance by allowing players to respond to popular strategies. With the ability to summon the right dragon for the right situation, you maintain an edge against various decks that you will face in the meta.
How to beat Zirilan of the Claw
Zirilan of the Claw introduces a unique dynamic to Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to temporarily summon dragons from their deck. This red legendary creature offers a powerful tutor ability tailored for dragon enthusiasts. To effectively counter Zirilan’s strategy, it’s critical to disrupt this tutoring process or neutralize the dragons once they’ve entered the battlefield.
Removal spells like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with both Zirilan and any dragons he may bring forth. If you’re looking to preemptively prevent Zirilan’s ability, cards such as Pithing Needle or Sorcerous Spyglass can shut down activated abilities, severely reducing his impact on the game. Additionally, graveyard exile effects like Relic of Progenitus help counteract strategies that rely on recycling dragons Zirilan has previously summoned.
Besides individual card counters, maintaining a robust board presence can also deter a Zirilan player from capitalizing on his ability. Creatures with flying or reach, alongside those with substantial toughness, can serve as effective deterrents against the airborne threats often associated with dragon decks. Investing in flexible and responsive strategies will keep you one step ahead of Zirilan of the Claw’s fiery onslaught.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Zirilan of the Claw MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Zirilan of the Claw and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Zirilan of the Claw has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Zirilan of the Claw card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Because the “search” requires you to find a card with certain characteristics, you don’t have to find the card if you don’t want to. |
| 2009-10-01 | If the Dragon is put onto the battlefield and then phases out, the “exile it” ability will still apply. It will trigger at the beginning of the next End step and exile the Dragon if it has phased back in. If the Dragon is still phased out, then it cannot be exiled so ability won’t do anything. |