Burning-Eye Zubera MTG Card

Burning-Eye Zubera - Saviors of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Zubera Spirit
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	95
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

Can replenish your hand upon death, offering a formidable card advantage in the right setup.
Specific mana and high casting cost can limit its inclusion in diverse deck builds.
Potential for direct damage makes it a powerful asset in Zubera-synergized strategies.

Text of card

When Burning-Eye Zubera is put into a graveyard from play, if 4 or more damage was dealt to it this turn, Burning-Eye Zubera deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Burning-Eye Zubera’s ability is activated, it can lead to a significant draw, potentially replenishing your hand and giving you many more options to outmaneuver your opponent. This function is especially useful when you have ways to sacrifice it on your terms, maximizing your card gain.

Resource Acceleration: Although the card itself does not directly accelerate resources, the drawn cards may include land cards or mana-generating spells, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration. Additionally, in a deck designed around sacrificial synergies, Burning-Eye Zubera can be a catalyst for other cards that do accelerate resources.

Instant Speed: While the Zubera itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability triggers upon death, which can be orchestrated to some extent during an opponent’s turn with the right interactions. This timing can be essential in games where maintaining a dynamic board state and reacting to your opponent’s plays is crucial to victory.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A hurdle in making the most out of Burning-Eye Zubera is that you must have cards to discard. This can hinder your gameplay substantially if your hand is already running empty and undermines your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Burning-Eye Zubera’s casting cost includes both red and black mana, which might restrict its integration into a variety of decks. Players not running a Rakdos deck or a deck with sufficient mana fixing might find it challenging to meet the color requirements consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher side for its effects, the Zubera may not be as mana-efficient as other cards in the same casting range. This can be especially noticeable in faster-paced games where tempo and efficiency are critical, making it a less favorable choice against more agile opponents.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Burning-Eye Zubera brings a unique dynamic to spirit or sacrifice-themed decks. Its ability to deal damage upon death makes it an adaptable choice for a range of strategies, from controlling the board to finish off an opponent.

Combo Potential: This creature’s death trigger scales with the number of Zuberas that died this turn, offering significant combo potential in a properly built deck. When combined with other Zuberas or sacrifice synergies, it can lead to explosive turns.

Meta-Relevance: In current metas with creature-heavy strategies, Burning-Eye Zubera can serve as an effective deterrent, as opponents must consider the consequences of triggering its ability through removal or combat.

How to beat

Burning-Eye Zubera can be an unusual challenge on the battlefield. This creature from the Kamigawa set brings something unique with its death-trigger ability. When it’s put into the graveyard from play, it deals damage to any target equal to the number of Zubera that died this turn. While it might seem alarming, especially in a deck focused on Zubera synergies, there are strategies to mitigate its impact.

The key to keeping Burning-Eye Zubera in check is timing and control. Utilize removal spells at a time when the least damage will result, possibly when no other Zuberas are on the field. Keeping the opponent’s Zubera count low stalls their strategy, making the Burning-Eye’s ability less threatening. Additionally, employing graveyard disruption can truncate the effectiveness of any recurring Zubera strategies. Cards that exile from the graveyard, like Relic of Progenitus, can be particularly effective. It’s also wise to have instant-speed interaction to respond aptly to any Zubera that hits the board and threatens to trigger the potent ability.

Always remember, while the Burning-Eye Zubera may test your defenses, it’s the player who keeps a cool head and a clear strategy that remains standing in the face of fiery onslaught.

Cards like Burning-Eye Zubera

Burning-Eye Zubera offers a unique twist within the Zubera creature lineup in Magic: The Gathering. The card stands out with its ability to possibly deal significant damage upon dying, compared to its siblings like Ember-Fist Zubera or Floating-Dream Zubera. Ember-Fist Zubera, for instance, requires a similar condition to deal damage, but it’s commonly seen as less potent due to its restriction to target creatures or players instead of dealing direct damage to each opponent like Burning-Eye Zubera.

Dipping into the Zubera tribe, the Ashen-Skin Zubera provides a different angle, forcing each opponent to discard a card when it dies, which can disrupt your opponents’ plans but doesn’t impact the board state in terms of damage. Silent-Chant Zubera, on the other hand, takes a more defensive route, offering life gain which can be vital in certain matchups, but it doesn’t actively contribute to your offensive strategy as Burning-Eye Zubera does.

Altogether, Burning-Eye Zubera can be a game-changer with its potential for substantial direct damage. In a deck that maximizes creature sacrifice, it can quickly turn the tide of a game, making it an intriguing option for players who enjoy a strategy that revolves around life-point manipulation and board control.

Floating-Dream Zubera - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burning-Eye Zubera MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Burning-Eye Zubera and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Burning-Eye Zubera has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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