Mesa Unicorn MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 27
2018-11-16 - Number 15
2020-07-17 - Number 122
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Unicorn |
| Abilities | Lifelink |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Lifelink grants Mesa Unicorn inherent value, leading to advantage through sustained life gain.
- Its two-mana cost allows smooth integration in multiple deck types without tempo loss.
- Indirectly affects combat and spell casting, potentially swaying the game’s rhythm.
Text of card
Lifelink
The unicorns of Sursi are a manifestation of Serra's joy and compassion. They frolic and dance like children, offering blessings to anyone they encounter.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The beauty of Mesa Unicorn lies in its sheer resilience as a creature, potentially leading to card advantage. When it’s on the battlefield, opponents may need to use more than one resource to deal with it due to its lifelink ability, allowing you to stay ahead in card economy.
Resource Acceleration: Although Mesa Unicorn does not directly produce mana or accelerate resources, its two converted mana cost can seamlessly fit into your curve, effectively aiding your gameplay rhythm without falling behind on board presence.
Instant Speed: Mesa Unicorn itself might not have an instant-speed mechanic, but its existence can influence the timing of your opponents’ actions. They might hold back on casting spells pre-combat to avoid giving you the opportunity to gain life, which can indirectly grant you the tempo advantage to play your instant speed removals or flash creatures at the most opportune time.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Even though Mesa Unicorn doesn’t specifically require discarding a card, any situation that forces you to use a card as a resource could leave you at a disadvantage. Holding onto key cards often takes priority over playing a creature that may not impact the board significantly.
Specific Mana Cost: With its exclusive white color mana requirement, Mesa Unicorn slots primarily into mono-white or white-centric decks. This can limit your deck-building options and restrict you from taking advantage of more versatile or multicolored cards in other colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two-mana 2/2 creature with lifelink such as Mesa Unicorn can provide early game presence and life gain, there are several other options in the current MTG card pool. Some may offer additional abilities or synergies for the same or slightly higher mana cost, potentially overshadowing the Unicorn’s value.
Reasons to Include Mesa Unicorn in Your Collection
Versatility: Mesa Unicorn is a solid addition to any deck looking for resilient creatures. As a two-cost creature with lifelink, it slots seamlessly into life-gain decks as well as any white-based aggro or midrange strategy needing a reliable early game presence.
Combo Potential: The lifelink ability allows Mesa Unicorn to synergize with cards that trigger off life gains, such as Ajani’s Pridemate or Archangel of Thune. This can create potent combinations that can quickly outpace an opponent’s damage output.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having a creature that can both apply early pressure and stabilize your life total is invaluable. Mesa Unicorn provides that balance, and against decks that struggle to deal with early lifelink creatures, it can be a crucial component for maintaining board presence and life advantage.
How to beat
Mesa Unicorn is a creature well-loved by players for both its simplicity and efficiency in Magic: The Gathering. As a 2/2 creature with lifelink for just two mana, it presents immediate value in terms of health economy and battlefield presence. To outmaneuver this card, understanding the wider context of your opponent’s deck and potential responses is key.
Direct removal spells are always a reliable solution. Cards such as Doom Blade or Murder can outright eliminate Mesa Unicorn regardless of its lifelink ability. Board wipes also serve as a thorough answer to not just the unicorn but potentially to other threatening creatures on your opponent’s board. Additionally, setting up blockers with equal or greater toughness can result in a standstill or favorable trade, essentially neutralizing the lifelink advantage that Mesa Unicorn offers.
It’s also wise to consider the tempo of your actions. In many cases, allowing a few life points to be gained in favor of developing a more commanding board state may outweigh the immediate need to address the unicorn. Ultimately, responding to Mesa Unicorn requires a combination of strategic removal and board control in order to maintain the upper hand in the duel.
Cards like Mesa Unicorn
Mesa Unicorn stands as a resilient creature in Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels to other cards that bolster life totals. Comparable to Lone Missionary, Mesa Unicorn offers a permanent presence on the battlefield while also providing life gain, although the Missionary grants an immediate, one-time increase in life on entering the battlefield. What Mesa Unicorn lacks in immediate impact, it compensates with its potential for recurring life gain, thanks to its lifelink ability.
When considering Ajani’s Pridemate, there’s a clear synergy with the life-gain theme. Unlike Mesa Unicorn, Pridemate doesn’t have lifelink inherently, but it does grow stronger each time you gain life, potentially becoming a more significant threat over time. Comparatively, Mesa Unicorn maintains a steady board presence with the assurance of lifelink without requiring additional life gain triggers to be effective.
In essence, while each card has its unique applications within life-gain strategies, Mesa Unicorn offers a consistent blend of offense and defense, making it a solid choice for players looking to stabilize their life points while engaging in combat.
Cards similar to Mesa Unicorn by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mesa Unicorn MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Game Night, 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 Mesa Unicorn 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 Magic products
Printings
The Mesa Unicorn Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 27 | 2015 | normal | black | Winona Nelson | |
| 2 | 2018-11-16 | Game Night | GNT | 15 | 2015 | normal | black | Winona Nelson | |
| 3 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 122 | 2015 | normal | black | Winona Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mesa Unicorn has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
