Zombie Cutthroat MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Abilities | Morph |
| Released | 2003-05-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scourge |
| Set code | SCG |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 81 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Thomas M. Baxa |
Text of card
Morph— Pay 5 life. (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
The single-mindedness of a zombie, the cunning of an assassin.
Cards like Zombie Cutthroat
Zombie Cutthroat is an intriguing creature in the pantheon of undying horrors that inhabit the realms of Magic: The Gathering. It shares its morbid ability to come into play at a moment’s notice with another standout, Dregscape Zombie. However, Zombie Cutthroat offers the unique aspect of morph, allowing you to surprise your opponent by turning it face-up at the right moment, potentially dodging removal or blocking unexpectedly.
When considering other creatures of similar design, Alms of the Vein stands out with its lifeloss component, affecting the opponent’s life total while not offering a board presence. But for players seeking that unsettling blend of board impact and life-draining, Dauthi Marauder presents itself as a worthy alternative. Despite lacking morph, it offers shadow, ensuring it remains unblockable by creatures without shadow or horsemanship.
As we explore card choices with comparable roles, Zombie Cutthroat demonstrates its strength in versatility and surprise factor as a creature card, thereby holding a solid position in strategies geared towards resilience and trickery in the vast collection that is Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Zombie Cutthroat by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Zombie Cutthroat can be a substantial addition in terms of card advantage for those piloting decks centered on graveyard synergy or sacrifice strategies. By utilizing its Morph ability, it maintains pressure on the board while also populating the graveyard, setting up potential future interactions and synergy with other cards.
Resource Acceleration: The potential cost reduction from the Morph mechanic offers a form of resource acceleration. It allows players to deploy this creature for its Morph cost without tapping mana, preserving resources for other spells or abilities in the same turn. This can lead to a more efficient distribution of mana and resources throughout the game.
Instant Speed: Zombie Cutthroat’s ability to be turned face up at instant speed for its Morph cost gives players flexibility and surprise factor. It allows for a tactical advantage by adapting to the state of the game, catching opponents off-guard during combat or at the end of their turn, effectively disrupting their strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Zombie Cutthroat from your hand demands a card sacrifice from your grip. This can be troublesome during late-game scenarios or when your hand is sparse, hindering you from maintaining card advantage against your opponents.
Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Zombie Cutthroat requires two black mana, which could impose restrictions for multicolored decks. The necessity for black mana can challenge deck flexibility, especially in formats that favor diverse mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its casting cost sitting at five mana, Zombie Cutthroat may not always be the most viable option. In environments where tempo and efficiency are key, there are alternative creatures that might provide greater value or impact on the board for a similar or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Zombie Cutthroat’s morph ability allows it to slip onto the board unnoticed and can strategically surprise opponents by unveiling its power at the right moment. This adaptability makes it a useful tool in a variety of gameplay situations and deck types, particularly those capitalizing on creature-based tactics or graveyard synergy.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its ability to be paid for with life via the Phyrexian mana feature, Zombie Cutthroat can be an integral part of combo decks focusing on life manipulation or as a cost-efficient creature in decks that utilize life as a resource to activate powerful effects.
Meta-Relevance: As game environments ebb and flow, Zombie Cutthroat remains relevant in metas that are teeming with creature-centric decks where instant-speed blockers can be essential for survival, as well as in metas that favor aggressive life-total strategies.
How to beat
The Zombie Cutthroat card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature card sets itself apart with its ability to morph, allowing you to play it face down as a 2/2 for three mana and then turn it face up any time you could cast an instant by paying five life instead of its mana cost. This can lead to surprising shifts in the game dynamic and give you unexpected defense capabilities.
Dealing with this shapeshifter means being ready to adapt and think ahead. Removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their face-down status are key. Cards such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile bypass the morph mechanic by exiling the creature, ensuring that it can’t return to haunt your board. Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field even when Zombie Cutthroat is lurking in its morphed form.
Strategically, it’s also crucial to maintain a life advantage and control the flow of the game. This discourages your opponent from paying the life necessary to flip Zombie Cutthroat, keeping its potential threat at bay. In sum, remaining flexible and leveraging targeted and sweeping removal spells are both effective strategies to beat Zombie Cutthroat and keep your game plan on track.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Zombie Cutthroat MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Cutthroat 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 Cutthroat has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |