Zurgo Helmsmasher MTG Card


Zurgo Helmsmasher’s indestructibility on your turn gives significant combat stability and card advantage. Though strong, it requires a specific mana combo and can be mana-intensive to redeploy. Its aggressive nature fits various strategies and can quickly shape the flow of the game.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Orc Warrior
Abilities Haste
Power 7
Toughness 2

Text of card

Haste Zurgo Helmsmasher attacks each combat if able. Zurgo Helmsmasher has indestructible as long as it's your turn. Whenever a creature dealt damage by Zurgo Helmsmasher this turn dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Zurgo Helmsmasher.


Cards like Zurgo Helmsmasher

Zurgo Helmsmasher leaves a sizable imprint in the echelon of legendary creatures within Magic the Gathering. Comparable heavyweight rivals include Kresh the Bloodbraided, who also thrives on the battlefield’s chaos, gaining strength for each creature that dies. Yet Zurgo’s unique ability to attack without fear on your turn, as he becomes indestructible, gives him a formidable edge in direct combat scenarios. What’s more, his potential for swiftly ending games with commander damage puts him in league with other brutal commanders like Xenagos, God of Revels who doubles a creature’s power and grants haste, amplifying the threat level on a similar scale.

Another parallel can be drawn with Aryel, Knight of Windgrace, who also commands a presence with vigilance and the capacity to create knight tokens. While Aryel’s utility in managing the board and fueling knight tribe synergy is noteworthy, Zurgo’s onslaught is unhindered by the need for such strategic buildup. Meanwhile, Aurelia, the Warleader offers a different form of aggression, granting an additional combat phase, yet her impact is contingent on having a developed board, unlike Zurgo’s sheer individual dominance.

Overall, Zurgo Helmsmasher distinguishes himself in MTG as a powerful and relentless foe, ideal for players looking to command a fast-paced, aggressive strategy that pressures opponents from the get-go.

Kresh the Bloodbraided - MTG Card versions
Xenagos, God of Revels - MTG Card versions
Aryel, Knight of Windgrace - MTG Card versions
Aurelia, the Warleader - MTG Card versions
Kresh the Bloodbraided - MTG Card versions
Xenagos, God of Revels - MTG Card versions
Aryel, Knight of Windgrace - MTG Card versions
Aurelia, the Warleader - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Zurgo Helmsmasher by color, type and mana cost

Ankle Shanker - MTG Card versions
Mardu Roughrider - MTG Card versions
Malik, Grim Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Negan, the Cold-Blooded - MTG Card versions
Ankle Shanker - MTG Card versions
Mardu Roughrider - MTG Card versions
Malik, Grim Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Negan, the Cold-Blooded - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zurgo Helmsmasher is a powerhouse on the battlefield that can potentially eliminate an opponent’s creature each turn it attacks, due to its unique ability to gain indestructible. This strong board presence often forces opponents to spend multiple cards to deal with Zurgo, effectively granting you card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Zurgo Helmsmasher itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its formidable presence accelerates the game’s pace, making it easier for you to capitalize on any form of mana ramp. Its aggressive stance can dominate games, particularly when paired with cards that generate additional combat phases or ramp spells to cast it ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Zurgo may not operate at instant speed, but its indestructible ability during your turn allows you to play confidently and with less concern for instant speed removal spells commonly played by opponents. The security Zurgo provides enables you to hold back other instant speed interactions or tricks for more opportune moments, knowing that your commander is likely safe during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Zurgo Helmsmasher can be a formidable presence on the battlefield, it’s important to note he doesn’t come without his potential downsides. Being a legendary creature, he cannot sidestep the commander tax in formats like Commander, which can feel like a hidden discard cost as you pay more to deploy him from the command zone after he is dealt with.

Specific Mana Cost: Zurgo demands a specific mana arrangement of red, white, and black. This can be a real constraint unless your deck is finely tuned to produce this combination reliably, which can be a challenge, especially for players who do not have access to a wide variety of mana-fixing resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three that are color-specific, Zurgo comes with a hefty price tag. In the fast-paced world of competitive play, this can sometimes be a turn too late, as there are other aggressive commanders or creatures that hit the battlefield sooner, potentially seizing the advantage before Zurgo can make his mark.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Zurgo Helmsmasher boasts the flexibility to slot into different deck archetypes. As a powerful creature with haste, he can be a major threat in aggressive decks while his indestructibility on your turn allows for unique builds around control and voltron strategies.

Combo Potential: Thanks to Zurgo’s ability to grow stronger whenever he vanquishes a foe, he pairs well with cards that force opponents to sacrifice creatures, or ones that wipe the board, allowing him to become an immense force to be reckoned with.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where Commander games can hinge on powerful, impactful creatures, Zurgo can be the lynchpin of a deck, altering the course of the game with his mere presence and turning the tide in your favor with his brutal efficiency.


How to beat

Zurgo Helmsmasher commands attention on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This fierce legendary creature presents a notable challenge, but strategies exist to turn the tables. One of the most effective ways to deal with Zurgo is through exile effects. Since he’s indestructible on your turn, direct damage or destroy spells won’t always work. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can remove him from the game regardless of his indestructible status.

Control decks excel against Zurgo, utilizing counter spells to prevent him from entering the field in the first place. Suppressive enchantments that prevent attacking or abilities are also potent, as they can neutralize Zurgo without having to remove him. Edicts, spells or effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature, are another route, such as Crackling Doom, which serves the dual purpose of damaging opponents as well.

Overall, to hold the line against Zurgo Helmsmasher, prioritize instant exile spells, embrace control strategies, and keep sacrifice effects in your arsenal. This approach will help you dismantle your opponent’s strategy and maintain a firm grip on the game’s flow.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic play of MTG with insights on the formidable Zurgo Helmsmasher. Mastering this legendary creature requires finesse and an understanding of both its strengths and its weaknesses. From achieving card advantage to mitigating its mana cost challenges, there are numerous tactics to explore. Equip yourself with the right countermeasures against opposing strategies to ensure Zurgo’s dominance on the battlefield. Expand your card collection with synergy-based pieces and acquire the knowledge to outmaneuver your adversaries. Join us and delve into detailed strategies that harness the full potential of Zurgo Helmsmasher, paving your way to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zurgo Helmsmasher MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning, 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 Zurgo Helmsmasher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zurgo Helmsmasher Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2014-09-05 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 545492015NormalBlackRyan Alexander Lee
22014-09-05Duel Decks: Speed vs. CunningDDN 12015NormalBlackRyan Alexander Lee
32014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 214s2015NormalBlackAleksi Briclot
42014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 2142015NormalBlackAleksi Briclot
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10282015NormalBorderlessJohan Grenier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zurgo Helmsmasher 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 Zurgo Helmsmasher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-09-20 Each time a creature dies, check whether Zurgo had dealt any damage to it at any time during that turn. If so, Zurgo’s ability will trigger. It doesn’t matter who controlled the creature or whose graveyard it went to.
2014-09-20 If Zurgo enters the battlefield before the combat phase, it will attack that turn if able. If it enters the battlefield after combat, it won’t attack that turn and will usually be available to block on the following turn.
2014-09-20 If, during your declare attackers step, Zurgo is tapped or is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having Zurgo attack, you aren’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack in that case either.
2014-09-20 You still choose which player or planeswalker Zurgo Helmsmasher attacks.