Zebra Unicorn MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 290
2020-09-26 - Number MIR-290
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Unicorn |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Grants card advantage through drawing, helping players maintain a robust hand throughout the game.
- Life gain on attack promotes aggressive playstyles and rapid resource accumulation.
- Enhances combat tactics with instant-speed spells for unexpected battlefield twists.
Text of card
For each 1 damage Zebra Unicorn deals, gain 1 life.
"I'll capture gentle zebras / for your steeds and fill the stable with every kind of unicorn." —"Love Song of Night and Day"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Zebra Unicorn card deploys a unique mechanic that gifts you with an additional card whenever it deals combat damage to a player. This built-in ability to draw cards can tip the scales in your favor, ensuring that your hand remains flush with options, and you maintain pressure on your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: When you’re looking to ramp up your resources, Zebra Unicorn doesn’t disappoint. Each time it makes contact with an opponent, you gain life points, effectively accelerating your resource pool. This incentivizes players to focus on attacking strategies, keeping their life total high while deploying bigger threats sooner in the game.
Instant Speed: Zebra Unicorn may not be an instant itself, but its synergy with instant speed spells is noteworthy. Imagine utilizing a flash enchantment or spell to enhance the Unicorn right before it strikes, catching your opponent off guard and possibly changing the course of the battle in an instant.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Zebra Unicorn Mtg card requires players to discard another card from their hand to unleash its abilities. This trade-off can be quite costly, particularly during the late game when each card in hand is precious and could potentially turn the tide in your favor.
Specific Mana Cost: To cast Zebra Unicorn, you need to tap into a specific combination of mana colors. This necessity can be restricting, especially for decks that are not centered around the same color scheme, making it less versatile and harder to fit into a variety of strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a relatively high casting cost, Zebra Unicorn might not come into play as early as you would like. In fast-paced games where efficiency is paramount, the high mana investment might outweigh the benefits provided by this magical equine, especially when considering the array of alternative creatures or spells that may offer a greater immediate impact on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Zebra Unicorn in Your Collection
Versatility: As a multicolored creature, Zebra Unicorn can be seamlessly incorporated into a variety of decks. Its unique color combination opens up avenues for creative deck-building while providing an enchanting creature presence on the battlefield that many enthusiasts strive to achieve in their collections.
Combo Potential: The Zebra Unicorn might synergize with other cards that focus on creature-based strategies or those that benefit from its distinct abilities. In the right combo, this card can help unlock new pathways to victory, making it a potent ally for anyone looking to craft a deck with a surprise element.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the current trends in competitive play, the presence of a Zebra Unicorn could tilt games in your favor. It’s important to keep an eye on how such a card may interact with dominant deck types in the play environment. This analysis ensures that your collection remains ahead of the curve and ready for any challenging meta shifts.
How to beat
The Zebra Unicorn card has quickly established itself as a notable creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Its unique blend of abilities can present quite the puzzle to players facing off against it. Most notably, its ability to grant life points every time you cast an enchantment makes it a resilient adversary.
Defeating this mystical equine often requires a strategy that includes direct removal spells. Cards like Fatal Push and Path to Exile offer swift solutions to remove Zebra Unicorn from the battlefield before its life-gaining ability can become a significant advantage. It’s also beneficial to manage or limit the number of enchantments on the board, minimizing the life-gaining triggers whenever possible.
Adaptation is key when confronting a creature with the capability to swing the game’s momentum. Inclusion of versatile removal in your deck or capitalizing on board wipes like Wrath of God can purge the presence of Zebra Unicorn, restoring balance to the match. Considering its strengths, ensuring that you have answers in your deck to cope with this enchanting creature is essential for those determined to maintain control of the game.
Cards like Zebra Unicorn
The mystique of Zebra Unicorn in the world of MTG lures players into a realm where mythical creatures and extraordinary abilities merge. This alluring card echoes traits found within other noble steeds in the game, such as Armored Pegasus which also graces the battlefield with its presence. But where Zebra Unicorn gallops ahead is in its life-gain ability, offering players a valuable edge during duels.
Examining cards like Sacred Cat further emphasizes Zebra Unicorn’s unique positioning. Much like our striped friend, the Sacred Cat brings a life-gain element to the table. Yet, Zebra Unicorn stands out with its potentially game-swerving ability due to its higher toughness, ensuring it can withstand and rebound from combat more effectively. Contrast that with Lone Missionary, who offers a one-time life boost when it enters play, and it’s clear that Zebra Unicorn’s repeatable effect provides ongoing advantages.
While each of these cards plays a vital role in their respective decks, providing essential life-gain and creature presence, Zebra Unicorn’s combination of resilience and incremental benefits grants it a distinctive place within MTG, catering to players who value endurance and progressive advantage in their game strategy.
Cards similar to Zebra Unicorn by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Zebra Unicorn MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and The List, 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 Zebra 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Zebra Unicorn Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1996-10-08. Illustrated by Margaret Organ-Kean.
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Zebra Unicorn has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
