Zaffai, Thunder Conductor MTG Card


Zaffai excels at generating card advantage by creating creature tokens and enabling powerful spell casts. Its built-in scrying and damage dealing enhances your control over the game by accelerating resources. Strategic instant speed plays with Zaffai elevate MTG gameplay, providing surprise and power simultaneously.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Shaman
Abilities Magecraft,Scry
Power 1
Toughness 4

Text of card

Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, scry 1. If that spell's mana value is 5 or greater, create a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token. If that spell's mana value is 10 or greater, Zaffai, Thunder Conductor deals 10 damage to an opponent chosen at random.


Cards like Zaffai, Thunder Conductor

Zaffai, Thunder Conductor carves out its own space in the realm of MTG combo enablers. It’s an intriguing comparison to other commanders like Mizzix of the Izmagnus with a penchant for instants and sorceries. While Mizzix reduces the cost of spells significantly, Zaffai boasts the unique ability to summon a 4/4 elemental creature or deal 10 damage to any target if a spell with a mana value of 5 or greater is cast. Moreover, both cards incentivize casting numerous spells, but Zaffai directly rewards you with a potentially game-ending bonus.

Another card that often makes waves alongside Zaffai is Melek, Izzet Paragon. Melek allows you to play with the top card of your library revealed and cast the top instant or sorcery card twice. This parallels Zaffai’s knack for adding value to spell casting, but with a different flavor. Zaffai, on the other hand, leans towards creating tangible threats on the board or significant damage, aligning more with a win-now strategy as opposed to Melek’s set-up for a future turn.

Ultimately, Zaffai distinguishes itself in the MTG landscape with its potent mixture of direct damage and creature generation, providing an aggressive and proactive commander for spell-based strategies.

Mizzix of the Izmagnus - MTG Card versions
Melek, Izzet Paragon - MTG Card versions
Mizzix of the Izmagnus - MTG Card versions
Melek, Izzet Paragon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zaffai, Thunder Conductor by color, type and mana cost

Emberwilde Caliph - MTG Card versions
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Emberwilde Caliph - MTG Card versions
Elemental Expressionist - MTG Card versions
Torrent Sculptor // Flamethrower Sonata - MTG Card versions
Galazeth Prismari - MTG Card versions
Torch Drake - MTG Card versions
Steamcore Weird - MTG Card versions
Tibor and Lumia - MTG Card versions
Petrahydrox - MTG Card versions
Shrewd Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Noggle Bridgebreaker - MTG Card versions
Fluxcharger - MTG Card versions
Stormchaser Chimera - MTG Card versions
Dack's Duplicate - MTG Card versions
Scaldkin - MTG Card versions
Reclusive Artificer - MTG Card versions
Mizzix of the Izmagnus - MTG Card versions
Mercurial Geists - MTG Card versions
Marauding Looter - MTG Card versions
Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain - MTG Card versions
Crackling Drake - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zaffai, Thunder Conductor shines in decks focused on casting spells, specifically sorceries, and instants with high mana value. When you roll a high total on a spell’s mana value, you are not only casting a powerful spell but Zaffai rewards you further by creating a 4/4 blue and red Elemental creature token. More creatures mean more power on the field and potentially more cards if you pair Zaffai’s triggers with cards that draw on creature entry or casting big spells.

Resource Acceleration: This commander’s second ability is a built-in resource acceleration mechanism. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery with a mana value of 5 or greater, Zaffai presents the option to scry 1, which is invaluable for filtering upcoming draws. Casting spells with a value of 10 or greater offers you a tempting treasure – literally: Zaffai deals 10 damage to an opponent, which is a significant advantage, potentially swinging the game in your favor by lowering life totals or controlling the board state. This direct damage aspect can also increase your resource lead by taking out key threats from your opponent’s side.

Instant Speed: While Zaffai himself is not an instant, his synergies with high mana value instants allow for strategic plays at instant speed. Having a commander that encourages the use of such spells, you can optimize your plays to respond to threats immediately while developing your board with Zaffai’s triggered abilities, getting the most from both surprise and power.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With no abilities that trigger upon discard, Zaffai, Thunder Conductor doesn’t provide value for discarded cards outside of synergistic deck themes.

Specific Mana Cost: Zaffai’s mana cost is restrictive, demanding both red and blue mana, which may not seamlessly fit into all decks, particularly those running three or more colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five mana to cast, Zaffai presents a hefty investment. For such a mana commitment, players may expect a more immediate impact on the game state than Zaffai’s abilities might provide.


Reasons to Include Zaffai, Thunder Conductor in Your Collection

Versatility: Zaffai, Thunder Conductor excels in decks that play with spells of varying mana values. His ability to create a performance for each spell’s casting cost adds value to a broad spectrum of magic strategies. This makes him a flexible choice for players looking to have a dynamic deck.

Combo Potential: With Zaffai’s ability to scry or deal damage based on the mana value of spells, he can be a lynchpin in spell-slinging decks. His synergy with instants and sorceries allows for potent combinations, making him a catalyst for rewarding and explosive plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favours storm or spell-based tactics, Zaffai’s contribution can be significant. He can transform high mana value spells into impactful board states, keeping pace with prevalent control or combo decks, while simultaneously threatening significant damage to opponents.


How to beat

Zaffai, Thunder Conductor presents a particular challenge on the MTG battlefield due to its ability to conjure powerful multi-spell synergies. One efficient strategy to overpower this formidable card is to disrupt the spell chain necessary for its ability to trigger. Keeping a close eye on the instant and sorcery count that your opponent has is key. Counterspells such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto can thwart essential spells in the sequence, thereby kneecapping Zaffai’s potential.

Another tactic involves applying pressure with creature removals or board wipes to maintain a dominant presence. Cards like Heartless Act or Wrath of God can clear the board, including Zaffai, before it accrues value. Ultimately, swift aggression combined with strategic use of control elements can ensure Zaffai, Thunder Conductor is less of a threat, allowing you to maintain control of the game’s tempo and secure victory.

By understanding and intervening in your opponent’s strategy while building a resilient board state of your own, Zaffai’s thunderous impact can be silenced, turning the tide in your favor and demonstrating the depth of strategic gameplay MTG is celebrated for.


BurnMana Recommendations

Maximizing the potential of Zaffai, Thunder Conductor in your MTG arsenal means diving deep into spell-heavy strategies. With its abilities to turn high mana value spells into a cascade of advantages, from generating elemental tokens to dealing direct damage, Zaffai thrives as the cornerstone of a dynamic deck. If you’re looking to unleash powerful sorceries and instants while keeping your opponents on their toes, this commander could be your ticket to an electrifying victory. Delve into the world of spell-slinging with Zaffai and let each cast catalyze your conquest. Join us to expand your gameplay horizons and integrate Zaffai into your winning lineup.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zaffai, Thunder Conductor MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2021, 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 Zaffai, Thunder Conductor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zaffai, Thunder Conductor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Dmitry Burmak.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 902802015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 42015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 3312015NormalBlackDmitry Burmak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zaffai, Thunder Conductor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 Each magecraft ability has a different effect, although they all have the same trigger condition, whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.
2021-04-16 For example, if you control Archmage Emeritus and cast an instant or sorcery spell, Archmage Emeritus’s magecraft ability will trigger and you will draw a card.
2021-04-16 If an effect creates a copy of an instant or sorcery spell, this will also cause the magecraft ability to trigger.
2021-04-16 If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell, magecraft abilities trigger once for each copy created by the effect.
2021-04-16 If the instant or sorcery spell has in its mana cost, X is the value chosen for X as the spell was cast.
2021-04-16 Some effects instruct you to copy an instant or sorcery card in a zone other than the stack. These copies do not cause magecraft abilities to trigger. However, most effects that do this also allow you to cast the copy, and casting the copy will cause magecraft abilities to trigger.
2021-04-16 The wrong card name was inadvertently included in Zaffai’s printed rules text. The text above is correct and the full name of the card is Zaffai, Thunder Conductor.
2021-04-16 “That spell’s mana value” refers to the spell that caused the ability to trigger, not the card you look at when you scry.