Arcades Sabboth MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 218
1995-07-01 - Number 71
2009-09-07 - Number 142
2023-01-13 - Number 187
2023-01-13 - Number 355
2019-12-02 - Number 1067
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 8 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 7 |
| Toughness | 7 |
Text of card
Flying oo W +0/+1 until end of turn. Your untapped creatures gain +0/+2. Attacking creatures do not get this bonus. Pay o Wo Go U during your upkeep or Arcades Sabboth is buried.
Cards like Arcades Sabboth
Arcades Sabboth is a distinctive card in MTG, often discussed alongside other elder dragons like Nicol Bolas and Vaevictis Asmadi. Arcades Sabboth is notable for its combination of flying and toughness-based abilities, providing a unique spin on creature control. While Nicol Bolas commands the board by forcing discards upon dealing damage, and Vaevictis Asmadi focuses on direct damage to creatures and players, Arcades Sabboth gives other creatures with flying a defensive boost with its toughness-enhancing effect.
Chromium, another card from the same set, offers a different take on defense by evading spells with its flash ability, but it lacks the supportive role for other creatures that Arcades brings to the battlefield. Doran, the Siege Tower is a modern card that echoes a related theme, altering combat dynamics by allowing creatures to assign combat damage with their toughness rather than their power, reminiscent of Arcades’ influence. However, Doran lacks the aerial dominance and protective aura that define Arcades Sabboth.
Between these comparisons, Arcades Sabboth stands out for fostering a synergy amongst creatures with flying, creating a uniquely defensive strategy that can stabilize the game for a durable advantage. In the realm of MTG, this makes the elder dragon a robust option for players looking to build around a toughness-oriented defensive strategy.
Cards similar to Arcades Sabboth by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arcades Sabboth provides you with a substantial defensive advantage as it encourages building a deck with numerous defenders. As creatures with defender often cost less and draw a card upon entering the battlefield with Arcades’ effect, this can lead to overwhelming card advantage over your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: This legendary dragon not only fortifies your defense but also enables an alternate attack strategy by allowing creatures with defender to attack as though they didn’t have defender. This turns these typically passive creatures into formidable threats, effectively accelerating your resource utilization from mere defense to potent offense.
Instant Speed: While Arcades Sabboth itself doesn’t function at instant speed, its presence influences decision-making during gameplay. The ability to have a sturdy defense ready and converting that into an offensive force without warning can put opponents on their heels, giving you the tactical edge of playing as both a resilient defender and a calculated aggressor at the precise moment necessary.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: One potential downside of Arcades Sabboth is its need for a specific combination of colored mana to cast. This can pose challenges in a game where mana flexibility can be crucial to a player’s strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, Arcades Sabboth demands a higher mana investment compared to other creatures. This substantial cost can slow down your game, particularly in the early rounds when board establishment is critical.
Discard Requirement: Finally, while not applying directly to Arcades Sabboth, its synergies often revolve around defender cards, which typically aren’t standalone powerhouses. This sometimes requires players to discard valuable cards to optimize Arcades Sabboth’s full potential in the game.
Reasons to Include Arcades Sabboth in Your Collection
Versatility: Arcades Sabboth offers a unique blend of defensive and offensive capabilities. As a commander, it turns your defensive walls into potent attackers, breathing new life into overlooked cards and enabling an unusual but effective deck archetype.
Combo Potential: This elder dragon excels in combination with cards that synergize with defenders. It opens up opportunities for high-impact plays and can quickly turn a board of unassuming walls into a lethal force.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Arcades provides resilience with his ability to boost your creatures’ toughness, making your board difficult to sweep away. Its ability to extract value from low-cost creatures ensures it keeps pace with various trends within the MTG community.
How to Beat Arcades Sabboth
Arcades Sabboth is an elder dragon that commands respect on the battlefield. Known for its aptitude to fortify defenses while striking with a formidable toughness-based offense, it is essential to disrupt this synergy to triumph. One strategy is to use removal spells that can bypass its protection from creatures with power 2 or less. Cards like Path to Exile or Terminate offer a direct solution, effectively removing Arcades Sabboth from play without triggering its ability to prevent damage.
Alternatively, countering Arcades Sabboth as it’s cast can ensure that it never even touches the board. For that, staple counter spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak are invaluable. But if Arcades Sabboth does manage to resolve, edict effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature—such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil—can prove pivotal, as they are not affected by any protection the dragon might offer.
Moreover, transforming your strategy to target the player directly instead of their creatures can circumvent Arcades Sabboth’s influence on the game. Utilizing direct damage spells or leveraging an aggression-based deck can shift the focus and potentially secure your victory before the elder dragon’s power becomes overwhelming.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arcades Sabboth MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, 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 Arcades Sabboth and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Arcades Sabboth Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 218 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 2 | 1995-07-01 | Chronicles | CHR | 71 | 1993 | Normal | White | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 3 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 142 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 4 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 1067 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eshpur | ||
| 5 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 187 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 6 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 355 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arcades Sabboth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arcades Sabboth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-12-08 | As long as Arcades Sabboth is untapped and isn’t attacking, it gets +0/+2 from its own third ability. |