Cards from Zendikar Rising as compared to cards from earlier sets.
Strictly better[ | ]
- Ancient Greenwarden is strictly better than Needleshot Gourna.
- Archpriest of Iona is strictly better than Devoted Hero, Eager Cadet, Sanctuary Cat, Squire, and Volunteer Militia.
- Bala Ged Recovery is strictly better than Elven Cache and Recollect.
- Beyeen Veil is strictly better than Turn the Tide.
- Blackbloom Rogue is strictly better than Alley Strangler, Felhide Minotaur, Headless Horseman, Kraul Raider, Mindless Null, Scathe Zombies, Undead Minotaur, and Witch's Familiar.
- Blood Beckoning is strictly better than Disentomb, Dutiful Return, March of the Returned, Raise Dead, and Return to Battle.
- Broken Wings is strictly better than Crushing Canopy, Crushing Vines, Return to the Earth, Verdigris, and Wing Snare.
- Bubble Snare is strictly better than Apathy, Containment Membrane, Controlled Instincts, Dehydration, Glimmerdust Nap, Merseine, Paralyzing Grasp, and Spectral Prison.
- Canopy Baloth is strictly better than Broodhunter Wurm, Golden Bear, Nettle Swine, Order of the Sacred Bell, and Wild Ceratok.
- Dauntless Unity is strictly better than Glorious Charge, Inspired Charge, Virtuous Charge, Warrior's Charge, and Warrior's Honor.
- Deadly Alliance is strictly better than Finishing Blow and Reach of Shadows.
- Dreadwurm is strictly better than Canal Monitor, Dreg Reaver, Lazotep Behemoth, Mass of Ghouls, Renegade Demon, and Zombie Goliath.
- Expedition Champion is strictly better than Goblin Hero, Gray Ogre, Hurloon Minotaur, Minotaur Warrior, Pensive Minotaur, Raging Bull, and Riot Devils.
- Expedition Diviner is strictly better than Cloud Manta, Moon Heron, Snapping Drake, and Talas Air Ship.
- Expedition Skulker is strictly better than Cabal Evangel, Craven Knight, Cyclopean Mummy, Dakmor Scorpion, Exiled Boggart, Felhide Brawler, Filthy Cur, Fleshmad Steed, Gutter Skulk, Headless Horseman, Krovikan Scoundrel, Mindless Null, Queen's Bay Soldier, Scathe Zombies, Skeletal Snake, Spineless Thug, Walking Corpse, Wei Infantry, Whipstitched Zombie, and Young Wei Recruits.
- Felidar Retreat is strictly better than Retreat to Emeria
- Field Research is strictly better than Counsel of the Soratami, Divination, and Touch of Brilliance.
- Gnarlid Colony is strictly better than Balduvian Bears, Barbary Apes, Bear Cub, Cylian Elf, Forest Bear, Grizzly Bears, and Runeclaw Bear.
- Highborn Vampire is strictly better than Dreg Reaver, Giant Cockroach, Nether Horror, and Zombie Goliath.
- Inscription of Abundance is strictly better than Pounce.
- Inscription of Insight is strictly better than Counterintelligence, Into the Void, and Touch of Brilliance.
- Inscription of Ruin is strictly better than Deception.
- Kabira Outrider is strictly better than Mercenaries, Shu Elite Infantry, and Trokin High Guard.
- Kazandu Mammoth is strictly better than Gnarled Mass and Trained Armodon.
- Kazandu Stomper is strictly better than Alpha Tyrranax, Barbtooth Wurm, Canopy Gorger, Craw Wurm, Earthshaking Si, Giant Warthog, Moss Kami, Tusked Colossodon, Vulpine Goliath, and Yavimaya Wurm.
- Kitesail Cleric is strictly better than Aven Skirmisher, Kitesail Scout, Lantern Kami, Royal Falcon, and Suntail Hawk.
- Kor Blademaster is strictly better than Fencing Ace.
- Leyline Tyrant is strictly better than Borderland Minotaur, Geyser Glider, Highland Giant, Hyena Pack, Lowland Giant, Ogre Resister, Orazca Raptor, Shatterskull Giant, Skyraker Giant, and Summit Prowler.
- Glasspool Mimic is strictly better than Mirror Image.
- Nullpriest of Oblivion is strictly better than Child of Night, Cyclopean Mummy, Dakmor Scorpion, Krovikan Scoundrel, Skeletal Snake, and Wei Infantry.
- Reclaim the Wastes is strictly better than Lay of the Land.
- Resolute Strike is strictly better than Qilin's Blessing.
- Risen Riptide is strictly better than Armored Whirl Turtle.
- Roil Eruption is strictly better than Volcanic Hammer.
- Sea Gate Colossus is strictly better than Razorfield Thresher.
- Skyclave Cleric is strictly better than Hipparion and Squire.
- Skyclave Relic is strictly better than Bloodstone Cameo, Celestial Prism, Darksteel Ingot, Drake-Skull Cameo, Manalith, Obelisk of Bant, Obelisk of Esper, Obelisk of Grixis, Obelisk of Jund, Obelisk of Naya, Phyrexian Lens, Seashell Cameo, Sol Grail, Standing Stones, Tigereye Cameo, and Troll-Horn Cameo.
- Spitfire Lagac is strictly better than Barbarian Horde, Canyon Minotaur, Ekundu Cyclops, Highland Giant, Hill Giant, Hyena Pack, Lagac Lizard, Ogre Warrior, Orazca Raptor, Russet Wolves, Tor Giant, and Wild Jhovall.
- Tajuru Paragon is strictly better than Balduvian Bears, Barbary Apes, Bear Cub, Cylian Elf, Forest Bear, Grizzly Bears, Runeclaw Bear, Swordwise Centaur, and Terrain Elemental.
- Tangled Florahedron is strictly better than Woodland Mystic.
- Thieving Skydiver is strictly better than Coral Eel, Coral Merfolk, Curio Vendor, Gossamer Phantasm, Jhessian Lookout, Kitesail Corsair, Sea Eagle, Shaper Apprentice, Tattered Haunter, Vaporkin, Vivid Flying Fish, Welkin Tern, Wetland Sambar, and Wu Infantry.
- Thundering Rebuke is strictly better than Bathe in Dragonfire and Boulder Salvo.
- Umara Mystic is strictly better than Wee Dragonauts.
- Vastwood Surge is strictly better than Explosive Vegetation.
- Windrider Wizard is strictly better than Wind Drake.
- Zulaport Duelist is strictly better than Fugitive Wizard, Merfolk of the Pearl Trident, and Wandering Ones.
Strictly worse[ | ]
- Cliffhaven Sell-Sword is strictly worse than Accorder Paladin, Aethergeode Miner, Audacious Infiltrator, Daring Skyjek, Daybreak Charger, Glory-Bound Initiate, Kor Castigator, Leonin of the Lost Pride, Oketra's Avenger, Seasoned Hallowblade, Shepherd of the Flock, Valiant Rescuer, and Wandering Champion.
- Highborn Vampire is strictly worse than Thrasher Brute.
- Murasa Brute is strictly worse than Hornbash Mentor, Hyrax Tower Scout, Inexorable Blob, Selesnya Eulogist, Vile Redeemer, and Vivien's Crocodile.
- Shell Shield is strictly worse than Dive Down.
- Tajuru Blightblade is strictly worse than Gnarlwood Dryad, Narnam Renegade, and Wasteland Viper.
- Tajuru Snarecaster is strictly worse than Nexus Wardens and Sporecap Spider.
Colorshifted[ | ]
- Akoum Hellhound is a colorshifted version of Steppe Lynx (white to red).