Zareth San, the Trickster MTG Card


Zareth San excels in card advantage, reanimation, and can substantially disrupt opponent strategies in MTG through combat damage. Its Ninjutsu ability introduces instant-speed play and strategic depth, enhancing rogue decks with surprise reanimation tactics. Despite its benefits, Zareth San requires careful setup and mana management, which can challenge its integration into MTG decks.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Merfolk Rogue
Abilities Flash
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flash , Return an unblocked attacking Rogue you control to its owner's hand: Put Zareth San, the Trickster from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Whenever Zareth San deals combat damage to a player, you may put target permanent card from that player's graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.


Cards like Zareth San, the Trickster

Zareth San, the Trickster emerges as a unique rogue card within Magic: The Gathering’s array of interesting creatures. At a glance, it bears resemblance to another sneaky operator, Gonti, Lord of Luxury. Both share the ability to manipulate and utilize cards from an opponent’s deck. Where Zareth San uses his ability as an attacking rogue to return to the battlefield from your hand and pull any card from an opponent’s graveyard into play, Gonti instead snags a card directly when entering the battlefield, offering a singular but immediate impact.

Looking at Venser, Shaper Savant, we find traits of disruption similar to Zareth San. Venser’s ability to return target spell or permanent to its owner’s hand is a different route to hindering opponents, but lacks the theft and permanence of Zareth San’s acquiring cards from the graveyard. In terms of mana cost, Earwig Squad is another rogue to consider. This card also interferes with the opponent’s strategy by removing three cards from their library, yet it doesn’t have the recurring gameplay presence or the surprise factor of Zareth San.

Ultimately, Zareth San, the Trickster stands out among his counterparts by striking a balance between board presence and strategical depth, appealing particularly to players who craft their strategy around graveyard interaction and cunning maneuvers in MTG.

Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Venser, Shaper Savant - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Venser, Shaper Savant - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zareth San, the Trickster by color, type and mana cost

Nebuchadnezzar - MTG Card versions
Skeleton Ship - MTG Card versions
Nymris, Oona's Trickster - MTG Card versions
Kotose, the Silent Spider - MTG Card versions
Narfi, Betrayer King - MTG Card versions
Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth - MTG Card versions
Consuming Aberration - MTG Card versions
Necromaster Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tattered Drake - MTG Card versions
Dementia Sliver - MTG Card versions
Dralnu, Lich Lord - MTG Card versions
Ghastlord of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Gravelgill Axeshark - MTG Card versions
Nemesis of Reason - MTG Card versions
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born - MTG Card versions
Havengul Lich - MTG Card versions
Horror of the Dim - MTG Card versions
Haunter of Nightveil - MTG Card versions
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker - MTG Card versions
Possessed Skaab - MTG Card versions
Nebuchadnezzar - MTG Card versions
Skeleton Ship - MTG Card versions
Nymris, Oona's Trickster - MTG Card versions
Kotose, the Silent Spider - MTG Card versions
Narfi, Betrayer King - MTG Card versions
Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth - MTG Card versions
Consuming Aberration - MTG Card versions
Necromaster Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tattered Drake - MTG Card versions
Dementia Sliver - MTG Card versions
Dralnu, Lich Lord - MTG Card versions
Ghastlord of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Gravelgill Axeshark - MTG Card versions
Nemesis of Reason - MTG Card versions
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born - MTG Card versions
Havengul Lich - MTG Card versions
Horror of the Dim - MTG Card versions
Haunter of Nightveil - MTG Card versions
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker - MTG Card versions
Possessed Skaab - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Zareth San, the Trickster. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
RoguesRogues PioneerRoguesPioneer League 2023-11-02
Dimir MillDimir Mill ExplorerThe Pizza Box Open: Explorer
Dimir RoguesDimir Rogues PioneerRoguesMTG SEA Championship Final Season 2 Round 1
All Other DecklistsAll Other Decklists PioneerRoguesReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Pittsburgh - Friday - 2:00 pm (Bronze)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zareth San the Trickster enables you to potentially seize a crucial card from your opponent’s graveyard every time it connects in combat. This not only adds valuable assets to your play but also disrupts your opponent’s strategies.

Resource Acceleration: With Zareth San, you can effectively reanimate high-cost creatures or artifacts early in the game without paying their mana costs. This acceleration can tilt the balance of the game in your favor by overwhelming your opponent with powerful permanents ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Zareth San’s ability to be sneaked into play at instant speed using its alternative Ninjutsu ability adds a layer of surprise and strategic depth. You can disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn and potentially change the course of the game with a well-timed ambush.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Zareth San, the Trickster requires an additional setup – specifically, the ability activates only if an attacking rogue you control isn’t blocked. This condition can complicate gameplay, especially if your opponent has a solid defense prepared, restricting the card’s usefulness at pivotal moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Zareth San’s casting cost demands a precise combination of blue and black mana. This can potentially constrain deck building, as players must tailor their mana sources to accommodate not just this card, but the overall strategy of their deck, which might call for a broader or different mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana value to cast — two generic, one blue, and one black — Zareth San’s cost is significant when compared to other cards in the rogue arsenal. This steeper requirement may delay your game plan, and in the fast-paced tempo of competitive play, this delay could prove costly, especially against decks designed for speed and efficiency.


Reasons to Include Zareth San the Trickster in Your Collection

Versatility: Zareth San, the Trickster, offers a unique blend of abilities that can adapt to different gameplay strategies. His ability to sneak into play coupled with his card theft mechanism is valuable in decks that focus on evasion or disrupting opponent strategies.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to reanimate permanents from an opponent’s graveyard when it deals combat damage can be combined with numerous cards and strategies to effectively “steal” the best tools from your opponent’s deck, creating unexpected and powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Given that graveyards are often filled with powerful spells and creatures in many current metas, Zareth San’s potential to use those resources can give players an edge in matches, especially in those metas where graveyard strategies are prevalent.


How to beat Zareth San, the Trickster

Zareth San, the Trickster emerges as a unique and powerful Rogue in the MTG realm, boasting an ability that can potentially turn the tide of the game by stealing opponent’s cards. However, players can strategize to diminish its impact and maintain the upper hand. Ensuring a populated graveyard isn’t in your opponent’s favor is key, as Zareth San’s strength hinges on resurrecting cards from there. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can effectively nullify Zareth San’s ability to reanimate.

Keeping open mana for instant-speed removal or counterspells is also a practical approach to keep Zareth San at bay. Cards like Dismember or Fatal Push can swiftly deal with it upon casting, or during the combat phase when its sneaky ability could be activated. Additionally, being vigilant and careful with your block choices against Rogues can prevent Zareth San from unexpectedly dominating the board. It’s also advantageous to manage your threats and assess if trading creatures or taking damage is worth the risk of letting Zareth San’s ability resolve. With these tactics, you can stifle the Trickster’s antics and continue to dictate the flow of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the MTG universe with Zareth San, the Trickster, a card that adds a cunning edge to your gameplay. Take advantage of its abilities to turn the tide of battle by wielding your opponent’s graveyard against them. While Zareth San presents a few challenges, its potential for game-changing plays cannot be overlooked. Mastering its strategic use could see you dominating matches with unexpected reanimations and swift, stealthy strikes. Keep your MTG experience dynamic and your opponents guessing – elevate your deck’s capabilities and strategize with precision. Join us to discover comprehensive tactics and in-depth analyses to utilize Zareth San to its fullest potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zareth San, the Trickster MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising 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 Zareth San, the Trickster and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zareth San, the Trickster Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Zack Stella.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 838102015NormalBlackZack Stella
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 242p2015NormalBlackZack Stella
32020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 3732015NormalBlackZack Stella
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 242s2015NormalBlackZack Stella
52020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 2422015NormalBlackZack Stella

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zareth San, the Trickster has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-09-25 Although Zareth San is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
2020-09-25 Before blockers are declared, attacking Rogues are neither blocked nor unblocked, so you can’t pay the cost to activate Zareth San’s second ability.
2020-09-25 If Zareth San leaves your hand before its second ability resolves, the ability does nothing as it resolves. Zareth San remains in its new zone and the Rogue you returned remains in its owner’s hand.
2020-09-25 If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate Zareth San’s second ability during the first-strike combat damage step. Zareth San will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step in this case, even if it somehow gains first strike.
2020-09-25 In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any permanents you control from Zareth San’s last ability are exiled.
2020-09-25 To activate Zareth San’s second ability, you reveal it in your hand. It remains revealed until the ability has resolved.
2020-09-25 You choose which player or planeswalker Zareth San is attacking. It doesn’t have to be attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned Rogue was attacking.
2020-09-25 Zareth San’s second ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, Zareth San won’t normally deal combat damage.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.