Zombie Assassin MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Assassin |
| Released | 2001-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Odyssey |
| Set code | ODY |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 168 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
oc T, Remove two cards in your graveyard and Zombie Assassin from the game: Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.
"Zombies don't kill. They recruit." —Braids, dementia summoner
Cards like Zombie Assassin
Zombie Assassin embodies a unique design in the world of Magic: The Gathering creature cards. Its aptitude for self-sacrifice and regenerative removal bears resemblance to the functions of Nekrataal. Like Zombie Assassin, Nekrataal can remove creatures from the game. However, Nekrataal’s ability is triggered when it enters the battlefield and is limited to nonartifact, nonblack creatures, while Zombie Assassin offers a more flexible removal option albeit at the expense of two other creatures from the graveyard.
Comparatively, there’s Skinrender that brings a similar creature elimination utility. Skinrender enters the battlefield with -1/-1 counters to distribute, potentially leading to a creature’s downfall. Unlike Zombie Assassin’s need for a build-up in the graveyard, Skinrender acts swiftly but can’t bypass indestructible creatures like Zombie Assassin can with its targeted removal ability.
Evaluating these cards side by side, Zombie Assassin stands out for players who favor strategic graveyard play and have a lineup that enables creature recycling. It hints at a slower yet more deliberative playstyle, rewarding careful planning and the understanding of sacrificial exchanges within MTG’s wide array of tactics.
Cards similar to Zombie Assassin by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Zombie Assassin card presents a tactical advantage by enabling you to pressure your opponent. Its abilities often lead to beneficial trades, ensuring that you stay ahead in resources. Being able to eliminate key threats from your opponent’s board while maintaining a presence can be a deciding factor in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Zombie Assassin cards can offer indirect resource acceleration by impairing your opponent’s board state, potentially setting them back on their mana curve. This hindrance can be akin to accelerating your own resources, as one player’s loss is the other’s gain in the balanced ecosystem of MTG.
Instant Speed: The valuable trait of instant speed removal that some Zombie Assassin cards possess gives you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy at critical moments. This can be a game-changer, allowing you to react to threats immediately and often at a tempo that is favorable to your game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Zombie Assassin demands a card to be discarded as part of its activation cost. For players already facing resource scarcity, this requirement can deplete their hand, potentially leaving them at a disadvantage for future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and generic mana, Zombie Assassin’s casting cost can be restrictive, particularly for multicolor decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary mana types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s combined mana value may be considered steep for its provided abilities. Players often analyze the cost-efficiency ratio, and in this case, they might find alternative creatures or removal spells that offer similar or better functionality for a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Zombie Assassin in Your Collection
Versatility: Zombie Assassin offers a dual advantage of creature control and resilience. Easily sliding into any black-themed deck, it serves as both a reliable removal option and a persistent board presence against foes.
Combo Potential: When partnered with graveyard-filling strategies or reanimation tactics, this card’s morbid potential skyrockets. It can become a repeating factor in dismantling opponent’s creatures, feeding on the endless cycle of death and revival.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based decks are a cornerstone of many metas, Zombie Assassin becomes an essential tool. Its ability to selectively remove key threats makes it a tactical asset in many competitive scenarios.
How to beat
Zombie Assassin is a card that can be quite challenging to face in Magic: The Gathering due to its pesky removal abilities. To effectively counter it, strategies should focus on minimizing the card’s impact. First and foremost, controlling your graveyard is essential. By limiting the number of creatures in your graveyard, you reduce Zombie Assassin’s ability to exile your important creatures. Utilizing exile effects on your cards first, or even graveyard shuffling mechanics, can be highly advantageous.
Aggressive strategies that apply early pressure can also be effective. By forcing your opponent to block with Zombie Assassin before it can utilize its removal effect, you preemptively remove the threat. In longer matches, enchantment removal spells or abilities can bypass Zombie Assassin’s defenses. Cards that specifically address creatures without targets, such as board wipes or sacrifice effects, can remove the creature without allowing the activation of its abilities.
Through clever deck building and nimble on-the-fly decision making, players can navigate around the difficulties posed by Zombie Assassin. And while direct removal spells are always an option, planning for non-targeted removal gives you an upper hand in protecting your creatures and maintaining board presence against this tenacious undeath menace.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Zombie Assassin MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Zombie Assassin and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Zombie Assassin has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |