Ugin, the Spirit Dragon MTG Card


Ugin offers significant board control and can swing games with its exile abilities. Its colorless identity allows for deck versatility across all color schemes. Despite its high mana cost, Ugin’s game-altering presence is undeniable.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Ugin
Loyalty 7

Text of card

+2: Ugin, the Spirit Dragon deals 3 damage to target creature or player. −X: Exile each permanent with converted mana cost X or less that's one or more colors. −10: You gain 7 life, draw seven cards, then put up to seven permanent cards from your hand onto the battlefield.


Cards like Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

Ugin, the Spirit Dragon stands tall among powerful planeswalker cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its notable presence can be compared with that of Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh, another heavy-hitting planeswalker with a variety of destructive abilities. However, Ugin’s unique colorless mana requirement sets it apart, allowing it to slot into any deck, regardless of color identity.

Similarly, Karn Liberated is a versatile planeswalker with a colorless identity, yet Ugin’s ability to deal damage and potentially clear the board grants it a distinctive edge. While Karn offers targeted exile, Ugin’s -X ability can be a game-changer by resetting the board. Elspeth, Sun’s Champion also deserves mention, as another high-impact planeswalker capable of creating tokens and wiping out large creatures, yet it lacks Ugin’s potential for direct damage and versatility in deck types.

When delving into the high mana-cost spectrum of planeswalkers, Ugin, the Spirit Dragon emerges as a formidable choice. Its inclusion in decks extends beyond ordinary color parameters, and with a sweeping impact on the game state, Ugin’s influence is a testament to its exceptional design and powerful abilities in the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh - MTG Card versions
Karn Liberated - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Champion - MTG Card versions
Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh - MTG Card versions
Karn Liberated - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Champion - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Green TronMono-Green Tron ModernMono-Green TronModern Challenge 32 2024-04-27
TronTron ModernTronModern Qualifier 2024-05-01

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ugin the Spirit Dragon grants substantial card advantage with its formidable ability to exile each permanent with one or more colors that’s one or less than the number of loyalty counters used. This can lead to a decisive swing in control, clearing the board and maintaining your lead.

Resource Acceleration: Ugin’s colorless nature allows it to slip into any deck, regardless of color identity, providing a resource acceleration to strategies that thrive on high mana output. Its +2 loyalty ability also generates colorless mana which can be crucial for casting costly spells ahead of time.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Ugin’s -X ability can simulate the effects of instant speed interaction by removing threats as they arrive on the battlefield, giving you a reactive edge during the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other planeswalkers or high-impact spells, Ugin the Spirit Dragon doesn’t necessitate discarding cards to be played. This mitigates the potential disadvantage of losing valuable hand content, which can be pivotal in tight gameplay situations.

Specific Mana Cost: Ugin the Spirit Dragon’s mana cost is quite specific, needing eight mana of any color to cast. This requirement makes it challenging to play in decks not tailored for ramping up to large amounts of mana quickly. Decks that operate on a lower mana curve or wish to maintain a consistent board state may find including Ugin problematic.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an eight mana cost, Ugin the Spirit Dragon sits at the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to resources needed for a single play. While its effects are undoubtedly powerful and can be game-changing, its cost means it often comes into play in the later stages of the game. Players may prefer cards that impact the board sooner or are more synergistic with their deck’s overall mana strategy.


Reasons to Include Ugin the Spirit Dragon in Your Collection

Versatility: Ugin the Spirit Dragon is a powerhouse in any MTG deck that can manage its eight mana cost. As a planeswalker that can provide board wipes, direct damage, or even colorless mana acceleration, its ability to adapt to different game states makes it an invaluable addition to control and ramp decks alike.

Combo Potential: Ugin’s -X ability not only clears the board but also bypasses many forms of protection. This sets the stage for game-winning combos in decks designed around big creatures or spells, as it clears the path for them to dominate the battlefield unopposed.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where diverse permanent types are played, Ugin’s universal removal proves essential. Being colorless allows it to fit into any deck configuration, ensuring that it remains a relevant threat to any meta-game heavily influenced by creatures and other planeswalkers.


How to beat

Ugin the Spirit Dragon is a powerful, game-altering planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering, capable of turning the tide of battle in a single turn. With its ability to exile colored permanents and deal damage, it can be a formidable opponent. However, there are strategies to outplay this mighty dragon. Targeted discard spells like Thoughtseize can disrupt your opponent’s hand before Ugin hits the battlefield, while counter spells like Negate ensure Ugin never gets a chance to cast its shadow over the game.

Direct damage spells can also pressure planeswalkers, forcing your opponent to defend or lose their valuable asset. Creatures with haste or those that provide extra value, such as Reclamation Sage, can also be effective once Ugin is on the field, especially if you manage to keep their loyalty in check. Remember, diversifying your threats can help evade Ugin’s -X ability, as it only exiles colored permanents, leaving colorless creatures in the clear.

Tackling Ugin the Spirit Dragon requires foresight and a well-constructed deck, aiming to deny its stay or minimize its impact. With strategic planning and quick action, you can navigate around this emphatic force and claim victory in your Magic: The Gathering matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

The depth of Magic the Gathering is marked by legendary cards like Ugin the Spirit Dragon. Its ability to shape the battlefield with its versatile -X ability and provide advantage through colorless mana generation makes it an exceptional card worth considering for any player’s collection. For those running control or ramp strategies, Ugin is a game-changer that can tip the scales in your favor. If you are looking to elevate your deck with a high-impact planeswalker, diving into the nuances of including Ugin is essential. Explore with us and optimize your deck to harness the raw power of Ugin the Spirit Dragon.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ugin, the Spirit Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ugin, the Spirit Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 557632015NormalBlackChris Rahn
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 859422015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
32015-01-23Fate ReforgedFRF 12015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
42018-10-05Mythic EditionMED WS12015NormalBorderlessChris Rahn
52020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 12015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
62020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2792015NormalBorderlessRyan Pancoast
72020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2852015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ugin, the Spirit Dragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlBanned
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-11-24 If you choose to put permanent cards with morph onto the battlefield with the third ability, you must put them onto the battlefield face up.
2014-11-24 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is not a Dragon card; that is, he doesn't have the creature type Dragon. Spells and abilities that refer to Dragon cards or Dragons don't apply to Ugin.
2020-06-23 A permanent card is an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card.
2020-06-23 If a permanent has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2020-06-23 The mana value of a token that isn't a copy of another object is 0. A token that is a copy of another object has the same mana cost as that object.