Zendikar Incarnate MTG Card


Leverages land drops for growing power, making it a threat that escalates with game progression. Excels in land ramp decks, each new land amplifying its presence on the battlefield. Instant-speed land spells enhance power unexpectedly, offering tactical mid-combat surprises.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power *
Toughness 4

Text of card

Zendikar Incarnate's power is equal to the number of lands you control.

"Her people angered Zendikar, and they faced the land's wrath. That is why Nissa is the last of the animists." —Numa, Joraga chieftain


Cards like Zendikar Incarnate

Zendikar Incarnate blazes its way onto the field, among other land-centered heavy hitters in Magic: The Gathering. A comparable creature is Ulvenwald Hydra, which grows in power and toughness equal to the number of lands you control. However, the Hydra also fetches a land upon entry, something our Zendikar native doesn’t do. Nonetheless, what Zendikar Incarnate lacks in land tutoring, it makes up for with its lesser casting cost.

Mina and Denn, Wildborn, offer more than just a stat increase per land, allowing you to play an additional land on your turns and providing a bounce back ability, which can be capitalized upon for various landfall triggers. Comparison can also be drawn to Rubblehulk, which not only counts lands like Zendikar Incarnate but can also become a potent, instant-speed attacker with its bloodrush ability—though, it’s at a higher investment for its base card state.

In summary, while Zendikar Incarnate stands out for its simplicity and efficiency in decks that ramp up land counts quickly, Magic: The Gathering features a variety of alternative creatures that leverage lands towards different strategic advantages.

Ulvenwald Hydra - MTG Card versions
Mina and Denn, Wildborn - MTG Card versions
Rubblehulk - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Hydra - MTG Card versions
Mina and Denn, Wildborn - MTG Card versions
Rubblehulk - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zendikar Incarnate by color, type and mana cost

Tuknir Deathlock - MTG Card versions
Jungle Patrol - MTG Card versions
Yavimaya Kavu - MTG Card versions
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Bloodbraid Elf - MTG Card versions
Goblin Clearcutter - MTG Card versions
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Spellbreaker Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells - MTG Card versions
Polis Crusher - MTG Card versions
Kird Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Tuknir Deathlock - MTG Card versions
Jungle Patrol - MTG Card versions
Yavimaya Kavu - MTG Card versions
Voracious Cobra - MTG Card versions
Chishiro, the Shattered Blade - MTG Card versions
Hans Eriksson - MTG Card versions
Bloodbraid Elf - MTG Card versions
Goblin Clearcutter - MTG Card versions
Giant Solifuge - MTG Card versions
Gruul Scrapper - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Slum - MTG Card versions
Yule Ooze - MTG Card versions
Rosheen Meanderer - MTG Card versions
Thorn-Thrash Viashino - MTG Card versions
Hellkite Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Rhox Brute - MTG Card versions
Spellbreaker Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells - MTG Card versions
Polis Crusher - MTG Card versions
Kird Chieftain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zendikar Incarnate’s potency scales with your land count, inherently promoting a strategy that leverages land drops for increased power. The advantage here isn’t in drawing cards but in maximizing the value of each card played—particularly lands—to establish a formidable board presence.

Resource Acceleration: In a deck built around land ramp, Zendikar Incarnate becomes a key player. It transforms your natural progression of land plays into tangible power on the battlefield, accelerating the threatening state of your board with each land drop.

Instant Speed: While Zendikar Incarnate itself is a creature cast at sorcery speed, it pairs well with instant-speed land-fetch spells. This not only bolsters your mana resources but can unexpectedly enhance Zendikar Incarnate’s power mid-combat, catching opponents off guard and potentially swinging the tide of battle in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Zendikar Incarnate doesn’t directly have a discard requirement, it’s imperative to keep in mind that its power is tied to the number of lands you control. Managing your land count effectively becomes essential, as falling behind can significantly weaken this creature’s board impact.

Specific Mana Cost: Zendikar Incarnate’s specific mana cost demands both red and green mana. This can be a hurdle in building a multicolored mana base, especially in formats where land destruction or color-denying effects are prevalent.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Zendikar Incarnate competes with other four-drop creatures in your deck. Evaluating its cost against its dependability on land quantity makes it a potentially costly option when measured against creatures with immediate impact or standalone strength.


Reasons to Include Zendikar Incarnate in Your Collection

Versatility: Zendikar Incarnate thrives in decks that take advantage of land count, making it a strong fit for a variety of Green or Red-Green strategies. Its power scales with your land drops, ensuring that it remains a significant threat as the game progresses.

Combo Potential: Being a land-based creature, Zendikar Incarnate pairs well with effects that allow additional land plays or cards that count the number of lands you control for various effects. It works wonders with landfall abilities or as a recipient for auras and equipment that boost power.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that either accelerates quickly with numerous lands or stretches to long games where land count is high, Zendikar Incarnate’s power level can become extremely formidable, making it a valuable inclusion against a range of popular decks.


How to beat

Zendikar Incarnate is a formidable presence on the battlefield, gaining strength from the number of lands you control. To effectively counter this creature, consider strategies that restrict land play or remove lands from the game. Land destruction or bounce spells can significantly weaken Zendikar Incarnate’s power.

Control decks that focus on permission-style play can also be effective, using counter spells to prevent Zendikar Incarnate from ever entering play. For those that deal with this creature once it’s on the board, exile effects or spells that can bypass its power, like unconditionally sending it to the graveyard, prove to be invaluable.

Moreover, Zendikar Incarnate has no inherent protection from being targeted, so any efficient removal spells can handle it without much fuss. It’s also worth noting that Zendikar Incarnate’s power is entirely dependent on lands, so spells that tap or transform lands into creatures can also mitigate the risk posed by this elemental. Always be prepared with a responsive strategy to neutralize this card’s growing threat on the ever-shifting battlefields of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the battlefield in MTG is an evolving challenge that rewards clever deck construction and strategic foresight. With cards like Zendikar Incarnate, players can harness the raw power of their lands to build imposing threats. As you continue to curate your collection, consider the strategic depth Zendikar Incarnate offers. Whether it’s maximizing your lands’ value or incorporating it into multi-faceted combo plays, this card can be a game-changer. Want to discover the optimal way to wield Zendikar Incarnate’s might or find alternatives that synergize with your existing deck? Dive deeper with us into the world of MTG strategies and card nuances to elevate your gameplay experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zendikar Incarnate MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Commander 2018, 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 Zendikar Incarnate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zendikar Incarnate Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2192015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1952015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
32020-09-26The ListPLST ORI-2192015NormalBlackLucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zendikar Incarnate has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-06-22 The ability defining Zendikar Incarnate’s power works in all zones, not just the battlefield. Zendikar Incarnate’s power changes as the number of lands you control does.