Prized Unicorn MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Unicorn
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Forces opponents’ creatures to block, enabling advantageous trades and potential board clearance.
  2. Lure effect synergizes with instant speed plays for unexpected combat twists.
  3. Presents deck-building challenges, including specific mana needs and higher casting cost.

Text of card

All creatures able to block Prized Unicorn do so.

"The desire for its magic horn inspires such bloodthirsty greed that all who see the unicorn will kill to possess it." —Dionus, elvish archdruid


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Prized Unicorn might not provide direct card draw, but its distinctive ability forces your opponents to block if able, often leading to advantageous board states where you clear multiple enemy creatures with just one attack.

Resource Acceleration: While Prized Unicorn itself does not facilitate resource acceleration in the conventional sense, its lure effect can be a catalyst for spells or abilities that benefit from the creature being unblocked, thereby accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Prized Unicorn operates at sorcery speed due to being a creature, pairing it with spells or abilities that can be activated at instant speed creates opportunities to surprise your opponent and manipulate combat in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Prized Unicorn doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, its role in a deck often necessitates other cards to ensure its survival, leading to potential loss of card advantage if those protective measures are discarded or become unusable.

Specific Mana Cost: One of the limitations of Prized Unicorn is its specific mana cost, requiring two green mana. This can be restrictive for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana fixing or those that prefer a more flexible mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the ability to attract blockers and facilitate favorable trades, the cost of Prized Unicorn might be considered high. At a total of four mana to cast, there are other creatures or spells that offer more strategic versatility or lower-cost alternatives for attracting blockers.


Reasons to Include Prized Unicorn in Your Collection

Versatility: Prized Unicorn’s ability to force all creatures your opponents control to block it can be remarkably flexible. This utility allows Prized Unicorn to serve as an efficient way to clear a path for other creatures to attack your opponent directly.

Combo Potential: The card’s unique ability creates opportunities for combination plays. When you pair Prized Unicorn with cards that benefit from creatures dying, like those with the Morbid ability, or effects that trigger when damage is dealt, you can turn its forced block into a tactical advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board states can become cluttered with creatures, Prized Unicorn can be a game-changer. By compelling unfavorable blocks, it can break stalemates and can serve as a tactical asset in creature-heavy matchups.


How to Overcome Prized Unicorn in Play

Prized Unicorn is a unique creature card in MTG, well-known for its ability to become the sole focus of blockers when attacking. This means that when the unicorn charges, every able creature your opponent controls must block it if possible. Navigating this forced blocking mechanic can be tricky, but there are several effective strategies available.

To effectively beat Prized Unicorn, it is essential to manage your battlefield tactically. The use of instant-speed removal spells before declaring blockers can turn the tides in your favor, making the Unicorn’s ability a nonfactor. Cards like Murder or Fatal Push can efficiently deal with the Unicorn before it becomes a problem.

Another strategy lies in the realm of counterplay. You can employ cards like Essence Scatter to prevent Prized Unicorn from ever entering the battlefield. Additionally, if the Unicorn is already galloping around, effects that grant your creatures protection from creatures, such as those from Mother of Runes, can prevent them from being forced to block, giving you an edge.

Master these methods and the Prized Unicorn, while a formidable foe, can be bested, strengthening your position in the game and leading you towards victory.


Cards like Prized Unicorn

Prized Unicorn may seem unassuming at first glance, but it carries a unique ability in the world of Magic the Gathering, compelling opponents to block if able. This feature draws a connection to cards like Taunting Elf, which shares this mandatory block effect. Nevertheless, Prized Unicorn is more robust due to its larger body, offering not just strategic play but also improved board presence.

Another card echoing this provoke-like mechanic is Nemesis Mask. Although it’s an equipment rather than a creature, it forces all blockers to one bearer. This provides a similar function but with the flexibility to apply the effect across different creatures. Then there’s the formidable Breaker of Armies, a heavy hitter that demands attention and blocks from all creatures, acting as an all-encompassing lure.

The comparisons highlight Prized Unicorn’s niche role. It’s not merely a creature; it’s a tactical play that can clear the path for your more potent, unblocked threats. With careful timing and execution, Prized Unicorn can be a game-changer in Magic the Gathering, finding a solid middle ground between more frail but sneaky cards like Taunting Elf and costly but powerful ones like Breaker of Armies.

Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Nemesis Mask - MTG Card versions
Breaker of Armies - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Nemesis Mask - Darksteel (DST)
Breaker of Armies - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Cards similar to Prized Unicorn by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Saber Ants - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prized Unicorn MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Prized Unicorn and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Prized Unicorn Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1992003normalblackSam Wood
22010-07-16Magic 2011M11 1932003normalblackSam Wood
32015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2872015normalblackSam Wood
42019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 3422015normalblackRudy Siswanto
52020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 1002015normalblackRudy Siswanto

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prized Unicorn has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Prized Unicorn card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-07-12 If a creature the defending player controls can’t block Prized Unicorn for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn’t block Prized Unicorn. If there’s a cost associated with having a creature block Prized Unicorn, the defending player isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to block.
2019-07-12 If more than one Prized Unicorn is attacking, creatures that could block must block one Prized Unicorn, but they don’t all have to block the same Prized Unicorn.

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