Zurgo Bellstriker MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 169
2015-03-28 - Number 169s
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Orc Warrior |
| Abilities | Dash |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Zurgo Bellstriker can't block creatures with power 2 or greater. Dash (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
Cards like Zurgo Bellstriker
Zurgo Bellstriker is a unique entry in the pantheon of aggressive red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card can be likened to other one-drop creatures like Monastery Swiftspear. Both excel at applying early-game pressure, but Zurgo Bellstriker brings the added perk of being able to dodge spells with its Dash ability, offering flexible combat strategies. Monastery Swiftspear lacks this, yet compensates with prowess, increasing its power whenever you cast a noncreature spell.
Turning our gaze to Goblin Guide, another renowned one-mana creature, we can appreciate similar aggressive attributes. Goblin Guide boasts immediate impact with its haste ability, allowing for quick hits, potentially as early as the first turn. However, unlike Zurgo, it inadvertently aids the opponent by potentially providing extra land draws. The Dash ability is absent, making Zurgo a potentially safer bet in later turns when facing removal-heavy opponents.
In the sphere of red aggressive one-drops, Zurgo Bellstriker stands out for its blend of early assault capacity and resilience to control. While Monastery Swiftspear and Goblin Guide have their strengths, Zurgo’s ability to adapt to the battlefield dynamics with Dash offers it a distinct tactical edge.
Cards similar to Zurgo Bellstriker by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Zurgo Bellstriker. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gruul Bard Class | Pioneer | Gruul Bard Class | Pioneer Showcase Challenge 2024-02-11 |
 | Gruul Aggro | Pioneer | Gruul Aggro | Pioneer League 2024-01-28 |
 | Boros Aggro | Legacy | MO82#CS | |
 | Decklist | Free form | MO89#CS | |
| Grixis | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | Boros Burn | Pioneer | Boros Burn | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-02-09 |
 | Kuldotha Aggro | Modern | Kuldotha Aggro | Modern Preliminary 2024-02-15 |
 | Mono-Red Aggro | Pioneer | Mono-Red Aggro | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-02-06 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Zurgo Bellstriker’s Dash ability, you’re able to repeatedly play him from your hand, essentially bypassing certain control elements and ensuring you have a threat each turn. This repeated playability can indirectly contribute to card advantage by taxing your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: Zurgo’s low cost of one red mana makes him a prime choice for early game pressure. By deploying him quickly, you accelerate your board presence and resource distribution, leaving mana open for other strategic moves as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: While Zurgo himself is not an instant, his Dash ability can be activated “at instant speed” during your main phase. This means you can wait until the most opportune moment within your phase to decide whether deploying him or holding back for other actions is the best tactic, giving you a strategic speed advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Zurgo Bellstriker’s Dash ability, although providing flexibility, requires careful hand management. Using Dash repeatedly can deplete your hand, leaving fewer options for subsequent turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a red card, Zurgo Bellstriker demands a dedicated mana base. This restricts the card to red-centric or two-color decks where red mana is readily available, potentially limiting its versatility in a broader range of deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering Zurgo Bellstriker’s Dash ability cost alongside its summoning cost, the cumulative mana investment may become substantial over multiple turns. There are alternative one-drop creatures in Magic that can offer similar or better long-term advantages without this recurring mana expense.
Reasons to Include Zurgo Bellstriker in Your Collection
Versatility: Zurgo Bellstriker’s low mana cost and Dash ability enable it to fit seamlessly into various red decks, including aggressive and tempo-driven strategies. With the ability to play it early or at opportune times to avoid sorcery speed removal, it adapts to different game states effectively.
Combo Potential: As a 2/2 for one mana, Zurgo can synergize with equipment and spells that leverage swift attacks. This orc warrior facilitates explosive starts and combos well with cards that benefit from dealing combat damage early in the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where quick creature damage is paramount or where numerous low-cost spells being cast can be advantageous, Zurgo Bellstriker offers a foothold. It’s particularly potent in formats like Legacy, where a one-mana investment can lead to a significant early board presence or be the quick clock a deck needs against slower, controlling archetypes.
How to beat
Zurgo Bellstriker is a formidable one-drop creature in Magic: The Gathering, known for its dash ability and ability to dodge sorcery-speed removal due to being able to return to your hand. Facing off against Zurgo can be intense as he can rapidly alter the battlefield dynamics with swift attacks.
To overcome Zurgo, effective strategies include utilizing instant-speed removal spells that can target him even when dashed. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile offer solid answers, removing Zurgo before he can deal damage. Additionally, because of his low toughness, sweepers like Pyroclasm can be especially devastating against him after a regular cast, efficiently dealing with him alongside other early-aggressive creatures.
Another tactic is to block Zurgo with creatures that have at least two toughness, nullifying his attack and potentially trading favorably. Tempo plays can also be effective; bouncing Zurgo back to the opponent’s hand can set them behind, especially if they’ve invested in pumping him with spells or auras. Bearing these strategies in mind can help keep Zurgo Bellstriker in check and maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Zurgo Bellstriker MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Dragons of Tarkir Promos, 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 Zurgo Bellstriker and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Zurgo Bellstriker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2015-03-28. Illustrated by Jason Rainville.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 169 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville | |
| 2 | 2015-03-28 | Dragons of Tarkir Promos | PDTK | 169s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Rainville |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Zurgo Bellstriker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Restricted |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Zurgo Bellstriker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-25 | Even though both cards portray the same character, Zurgo Bellstriker and Zurgo Helmsmasher have different names. Controlling both of them won’t invoke the “legend rule.” |
| 2015-02-25 | If a creature enters the battlefield as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose dash cost was paid, the copy won’t have haste and won’t be returned to its owner’s hand. |
| 2015-02-25 | If you choose to pay the dash cost rather than the mana cost, you’re still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its dash cost only when you otherwise could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty. |
| 2015-02-25 | If you pay the dash cost to cast a creature spell, that card will be returned to its owner’s hand only if it’s still on the battlefield when its triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is. |
| 2015-02-25 | Once Zurgo Bellstriker has legally blocked a creature, raising that creature’s power to 2 or greater won’t undo the block. |
| 2015-02-25 | You don’t have to attack with the creature with dash unless another ability says you do. |