Historian of Zhalfir MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2020-07-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2021 |
| Set code | M21 |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 325 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Denman Rooke |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage with potential for extra draws each turn, crucial in competitive play.
- Offers resource acceleration by untapping lands, increasing mana availability for strategic plays.
- Instant speed casting allows for flexible gameplay, adapting to opponent’s actions effectively.
Text of card
Whenever Historian of Zhalfir attacks, if you control a Teferi planeswalker, draw a card.
"Come and listen. I'll tell you the story of a nation lost to time, and of the man who caused it."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Historian of Zhalfir ensures a steady flow of card advantage by potentially presenting an additional draw each turn. This can be particularly pivotal in matches where maintaining hand superiority can dictate the pace and outcome of the game.
Resource Acceleration: This card can also help in resource acceleration by potentially untapping a land during each player’s turn. With clever play, this ability can effectively double your mana usability in specific turns, giving you a significant edge over your opponent. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to get ahead on resources and overwhelm your opponents with more threats than they can handle.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Historian of Zhalfir at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility that can’t be overstated. This allows players to wait until the most opportune moment before bringing this card into play, whether that’s to surprise an opponent during their turn or to simply ensure that mana is being used in the most efficient way possible.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Historian of Zhalfir requires surrendering another card from your hand, a trade-off that can leave you at a card disadvantage, especially during late-game when each card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Historian of Zhalfir demands a particular blend of mana to cast, including both blue and white. This can restrict its utility to decks that are tuned to accommodate both colors and may not fit into mono-colored or some multicolored strategies effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher end for its abilities, it competes with other cards in the four-mana slot that could potentially offer more immediate impact on the game or have lower mana requirements.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Historian of Zhalfir shines in a range of deck types, as it enables synergies with historic spells. Whether you’re running artifacts, legendaries, or sagas, this card is a conduit for enhanced play.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Historian of Zhalfir can dramatically shift the game in your favor. It interacts well with cards that care about casting historic spells, unleashing a wave of potential combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given the current landscape of MTG, having a solid understanding of historical mechanics provides a tactical edge. Historian of Zhalfir is a timely choice, aligning well with other popular strategies and cards that emphasize the importance of historic plays.
How to beat
The Historian of Zhalfir card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its play from exile ability. In Magic: The Gathering, this characteristic allows players to cast spells that they wouldn’t have access to under normal circumstances, making it a strategic addition to any deck that focuses on maximizing card utility beyond the hand.
To effectively counter this card, players need to be proactive. Employing removals like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can help eliminate the Historian before its abilities come into play. Additionally, hand disruption mechanics are particularly potent against such setups. Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek can pluck essential spells from opponents’ hands, diminishing the Historian’s potential impact. Keeping control of the game’s pace by strategically wiping the board with spells like Supreme Verdict or countering key spells with Dovin’s Veto can also prove to be key in limiting the advantages offered by the Historian of Zhalfir.
Ultimately, while the Historian of Zhalfir provides a solid advantage, understanding its role within the larger context of a deck and preparing your strategy accordingly can effectively neutralize this threat.
Cards like Historian of Zhalfir
The Historian of Zhalfir steps into the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering as a creature card with unique abilities that resonate with players who favor control and tactical play. Within the sphere of MTG, it has parallels with other cards like Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir. Notably, both these cards orbit around the capability to control the timing of spell casting, giving a strategic edge during crucial game moments.
When it comes to manipulating opponent’s options, Venser, Shaper Savant emerges as a similar choice. Venser offers the flexibility of displacing spells or creatures, although he doesn’t directly influence the turn structure as Historian of Zhalfir does. Meddling Mage, another card with a controlling aspect, allows preemptive action against specific threats by naming a card which cannot be played. However, it lacks the global impact on the timing of casting spells.
Assessing the capabilities of Historian of Zhalfir alongside these other selections, players can appreciate the unique position it holds. It strikes a balance between shaping the flow of the game and offering a solid creature presence, a combination that strategically inclined players can leverage to their advantage in MTG.
Cards similar to Historian of Zhalfir by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Historian of Zhalfir MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Historian of Zhalfir and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Historian of Zhalfir has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
