MTG Zur Eternal Schemer
Zur, Eternal Schemer is a fascinating and highly strategic legendary creature in Magic: The Gathering, especially effective in formats like Commander where enchantment synergies can truly shine. As a three-mana Esper-colored commander, Zur offers a unique blend of value and control by turning your enchantments into creatures, while also providing potent protection through lifelink, deathtouch, and hexproof. This card appeals to players who enjoy intricate board states, layering buffs, and maximizing synergy with enchantments. Understanding how to build around Zur, Eternal Schemer is key to unlocking his full potential and dominating games through carefully crafted enchantment-based strategies.
Card Overview and Abilities
Stats and Mana Cost
Zur, Eternal Schemer costs {W}{U}{B}, making him a three-mana creature in Esper colors. He has a power and toughness of 1/4, which gives him enough toughness to survive light combat and remain on the battlefield. These stats are decent for a utility commander who is more focused on generating advantage than attacking directly.
Ability Breakdown
Zur comes with multiple static and activated abilities:
- Flying: Evasion for potential aerial damage or defense.
- Lifelink, Deathtouch, Hexproof: These keyword abilities are granted to your enchantment creatures, which adds resilience and power to the board.
- Activated Ability: {2}: Target non-Aura enchantment you control becomes a creature in addition to its other types and has base power and toughness each equal to its mana value.
This ability is the cornerstone of Zur’s design. It allows players to turn powerful enchantments into threats on the battlefield, opening up both offensive and defensive options that enchantment decks typically lack.
Strategic Benefits of Zur, Eternal Schemer
Esper Enchantment Synergy
Traditionally, enchantment-based decks are found in white and green. However, Zur allows enchantments to flourish in the Esper color identity, giving access to blue and black enchantments like counterspells, discard effects, and removal. This combination allows for a wider range of control tools, while still building around enchantments as the central theme.
Turning Enchantments Into Threats
The real strength of Zur lies in his ability to animate enchantments. Cards likeRhystic StudyorNecropotencenormally passive value engines can suddenly become creatures. Combined with Zur’s keyword granting, these enchantment creatures become difficult to remove and dangerous in combat.
Hexproof Advantage
Giving enchantment creatures hexproof is especially powerful, as it shields them from targeted removal spells likeSwords to PlowsharesorTerminate. This makes your important enchantments far more difficult to deal with and adds a layer of security to your board state.
Deckbuilding Around Zur, Eternal Schemer
Key Enchantment Cards
A strong Zur deck relies on enchantments that provide value and can double as creatures when needed. Some notable enchantments include:
- Shark Typhoon: Castable or cyclable for creatures, and a powerful 6/6 when animated.
- Phyrexian Arena: A value engine that becomes a 3/3 threat.
- Smothering Tithe: Mana generation and a 4/4 body when needed.
- Mirage Mirror: Not an enchantment, but with cards likeCopy Enchantment, you can copy any non-Aura enchantment and animate it later.
Auras vs Non-Aura Enchantments
It’s important to note that Zur’s ability only targets non-Aura enchantments. This means typical enchantment strategies involving Auras, like Voltron-style buffs, are less effective. Focus on enchantments that provide static abilities, value, or disruption instead of those that target other permanents.
Control Package and Removal
Blue and black provide a solid suite of control tools to support Zur:
- CounterspellandArcane Denialto protect Zur and your board.
- ThoughtseizeorInquisition of Kozilekfor early-game disruption.
- Supreme VerdictorWrath of Godto reset the board while leaving enchantments intact.
Combat and Keyword Strategy
Maximizing Lifelink and Deathtouch
Zur grants lifelink and deathtouch to your animated enchantments, which means even a 2/2 enchantment creature becomes deadly in combat and a source of life gain. Deathtouch ensures trades in your favor, while lifelink keeps your life total healthy in long games.
Hexproof: A Protective Blanket
Because Zur gives all enchantment creatures hexproof, mass enchantment animation can create a nearly untouchable board. Cards likeCopy Enchantment,Estrid’s Invocation, andEnchanted Eveningcan further amplify this protective layering by multiplying the enchantments you control.
Synergistic Cards and Combos
Supporting Planeswalkers
In Esper colors, many planeswalkers synergize well with enchantment control:
- Teferi, Hero of Dominaria: Draw and control rolled into one.
- Estrid, the Masked: Untap animated enchantments and protect them with totem armor synergy.
- Dovin Baan: A minor control planeswalker that fits thematically.
Card Draw and Ramp
Despite Esper’s lack of traditional ramp, enchantments likeSmothering TitheorBlack Marketcan create pseudo-ramp. Card draw options likeRhystic StudyandPhyrexian Arenanot only fuel your hand but become potent creatures when animated by Zur.
Win Conditions
Zur isn’t a combo commander by nature, but he enables board-centric wins:
- Overwhelming the board with animated enchantments.
- Locking down opponents with effects likeRule of Lawwhile attacking safely behind hexproof and lifelink.
- Using cards likeSigil of the Empty Throneto create angel tokens each time you play an enchantment.
Commander Strategy and Gameplay
Opening Turns
Your early turns should focus on ramp and setting up key enchantments. Zur himself is cheap to cast, so dropping him on turn 3 or 4 is realistic. Protect him with counterspells or backup enchantments likeGreater Auramancyif possible.
Midgame Decisions
Once you have several enchantments online, begin animating them selectively. Consider which ones are most valuable and which can safely become creatures. Remember, your animated enchantments are not immune to board wipes unless they retain hexproof or are indestructible.
Late Game Domination
In the late game, Zur’s power shines brightest. With a full suite of enchantments turned into deadly creatures and protected by hexproof, you can swing with impunity. Use lifelink to stabilize and remove threats with pinpoint control spells. Carefully manage your resources and apply pressure strategically.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Excellent synergy with enchantments
- Hexproof and deathtouch offer strong battlefield presence
- Access to blue and black enchantments, not just white
- Low mana cost for high impact
Disadvantages
- Weak to board wipes that hit enchantments
- Requires build-around strategy to be effective
- Can be slow to finish games if not backed by strong threats
Zur, Eternal Schemer is a flexible, rewarding commander that turns the enchantment archetype into an aggressive and protective force. His ability to animate enchantments and shield them with hexproof makes him both a control tool and a win condition in the right deck. Whether you’re building a grindy, value-focused control deck or a combat-ready enchantment army, Zur offers plenty of strategic depth. With careful deckbuilding and tactical gameplay, he can become a powerful centerpiece in any MTG collection, especially for players who enjoy complex synergies and enchantment interactions.
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