Somberwald Sage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Druid
Power 0
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Allows early summoning of high-cost creatures, gaining an implicit board advantage.
  2. Taps for three mana, accelerating gameplay and enabling powerful combos.
  3. Essential in green-centric decks, it can alter the tempo of the game.

Text of card

: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells.

"You can face any danger when all of nature is on your side."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Somberwald Sage doesn’t provide direct card draw, it plays an essential role in deck strategies that aim to deploy heavy hitters ahead of schedule. The ability to tap for three mana of any one color ensures you can cast high-cost creatures early on, providing an implicit advantage by summoning threats that your opponent must answer.

Resource Acceleration: Somberwald Sage is a key card for resource acceleration. Its unique ability to tap for three mana distinctly amplifies your potential to play impactful creatures much faster than standard progression would allow. This acceleration can be pivotal in outpacing your opponents and establishing dominant board presence.

Instant Speed: Although Somberwald Sage functions at sorcery speed, its synergy with instant-speed spells and abilities shouldn’t be overlooked. The surplus mana it provides means you’re more capable of responding to threats with counterspells or tricks during your opponent’s turn, effectively utilizing your entire mana pool.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Somberwald Sage does not require you to discard a card, this absence can affect the balance of card advantage within your deck. Strategies that could benefit from a discard mechanic for advantage or graveyard synergy miss this opportunity with this card.

Specific Mana Cost: Somberwald Sage demands a precise mana combination to cast, requiring one green mana. This necessity restricts its inclusion to green-centric or multi-color decks that can reliably generate green mana early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, the Sage could be considered an investment, especially in faster-paced games. While it produces substantial mana of any single color, its cost may slow down the initial tempo for decks looking to cast low-cost creatures or spells in the early phases of a game.


Reasons to Include Somberwald Sage in Your Collection

Versatility: Somberwald Sage is a notable addition to green-centric or multicolor decks that thrive on casting high-cost creatures. Its ability to turn one green mana into three mana of any one color can accelerate your game plan by several turns.

Combo Potential: Acting as a ramp card, Somberwald Sage offers substantial combo potential. It can be the key to unleashing powerful creatures early or enabling multistage combos that would otherwise be too mana-intensive.

Meta-Relevance: Given its mana ramping capabilities, Somberwald Sage remains relevant in various metas that favor quick deployment of heavy-hitting creatures or expensive spells that can dominate the board and lead to a swift victory.


How to beat

Somberwald Sage is a potent mana accelerator in Magic: The Gathering, allowing for the rapid deployment of large creatures and spells. To effectively neutralize this advantage, consider employing removal spells that target creatures directly, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, to eliminate the Sage before it can be used to its full potential.

Another strategy is to disrupt your opponent’s game plan using counterspells like Mana Leak or Negate when they attempt to cast Somberwald Sage, preventing them from ever taking advantage of the additional mana. Alternatively, board control cards like Wrath of God can clear the battlefield of Somberwald Sage along with other troublesome creatures your opponent has summoned.

Controlling the battlefield and keeping the Sage off the board is crucial, as it then becomes challenging for your opponent to leverage its powerful effect to gain an overwhelming lead in the game. With careful planning and timely reactions, you can mitigate the impact of Somberwald Sage and maintain the upper hand.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embark on a journey to deepen your MTG prowess with Somberwald Sage. This mana accelerator is a powerful addition to any green-centric or versatile deck, propelling you towards victory with its potential to summon formidable creatures swiftly. Understand its strengths and weaknesses to enhance your gameplay and outmaneuver opponents with confidence. Whether you seek to harness its combo potential or counteract its influence in battle, knowledge is power. Immerse yourself in strategic play where every card counts. Explore more with BurnMana and wield the sage’s mana-rich capabilities to triumph in your next MTG duel.


Cards like Somberwald Sage

Somberwald Sage stands out as a unique mana accelerator in Magic: The Gathering, much like its counterparts Birds of Paradise and Sylvan Caryatid. This Druid offers a significant boost in mana, especially for casting creature spells. Birds of Paradise, an MTG classic, also provides mana flexibility with its ability to tap for any color. However, it doesn’t match the sheer volume of mana that Somberwald Sage can generate for creature spells.

Then there’s Sylvan Caryatid, a sturdy defender with hexproof that also taps for any color mana, presenting a reliable source of acceleration without targeting vulnerabilities. But again, it lacks the specialized surge for the creature-heavy decks Somberwald Sage excels in supporting. Other cards in this category don’t quite compare to the raw potential in creature spell facilitation that the Sage brings to the table, defining its unique role in ramp strategies.

Ultimately, Somberwald Sage may find its niche in decks that prioritize casting high-cost creatures quickly. While the Sage lacks the resilience of Sylvan Caryatid or the color versatility of Birds of Paradise, its specialized mana production can be a game changer in decks built to harness its abilities.

Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Caryatid - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Caryatid - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Somberwald Sage MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Midnight Hunt Commander, 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 Somberwald Sage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Somberwald Sage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Steve Argyle.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 1942003NormalBlackSteve Argyle
22021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 1442015NormalBlackSteve Argyle
32023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 552015NormalBlackSteve Argyle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Somberwald Sage has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-05-01 Mana produced by Somberwald Sage can be spent on any part of a creature spell's total cost. This includes additional costs (such as kicker) and alternative costs (such as evoke costs).
2012-05-01 Mana produced by Somberwald Sage can't be spent on activated abilities, even ones that put a creature card directly onto the battlefield, such as unearth or ninjutsu.
2012-05-01 Mana produced by Somberwald Sage can't be spent on noncreature spells that would put creature tokens onto the battlefield.

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