Benalish Sleeper MTG Card


Benalish Sleeper offers card advantage through transformation into a powerful late-game creature. It requires discarding a card and specific white mana, limiting some strategic plays. Despite a higher mana cost, its versatility and scaling make it a meta-relevant card.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Human Soldier
Abilities Kicker
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) When Benalish Sleeper enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, each player sacrifices a creature.

Even he didn't know what he was until he felt his skin shifting and splitting, his mind overtaken by a chaos of whispers.


Cards like Benalish Sleeper

Benalish Sleeper is an intriguing creature card that draws valid comparisons to others in its class within MTG. Just like the Sleeper, Knight of Grace stands out as a two-mana Human Knight, with a strength bolstered by a specific subtype presence. Where Benalish Sleeper gains power and toughness from Historic spells, Knight of Grace benefits from Hexproof against a particular color, providing strategic advantage in the color matchup.

Daring Skyjek is another card that shares characteristics with Benalish Sleeper, offering an upward potential in power based on certain battlefield conditions. Skyjek, with its Battalion ability, can gain flying, which closely mirrors the situational growth in prowess that Benalish Sleeper can achieve. The crucial difference lies in the trigger for their respective abilities, with Benalish Sleeper depending on the Historic spells you’ve played rather than a condition that requires a particular number of attackers.

Contrasting these creatures showcases the unique adaptability of Benalish Sleeper in decks that reward playing a broad spectrum of Historic cards. It exemplifies how MTG continues to build on creature dynamics, promoting diversity in deck building and strategic gameplay.

Knight of Grace - MTG Card versions
Daring Skyjek - MTG Card versions
Knight of Grace - MTG Card versions
Daring Skyjek - MTG Card versions

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Putrid Warrior - MTG Card versions
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Shaile, Dean of Radiance // Embrose, Dean of Shadow - MTG Card versions
Suture Spirit - MTG Card versions
Cloistered Youth // Unholy Fiend - MTG Card versions
Loyal Cathar // Unhallowed Cathar - MTG Card versions
Vizkopa Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Cartel Aristocrat - MTG Card versions
High Priest of Penance - MTG Card versions
Chief of the Edge - MTG Card versions
Chief of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Wayward Servant - MTG Card versions
Legion Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Syndicate Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Cruel Celebrant - MTG Card versions
Corpse Knight - MTG Card versions
Wintermoor Commander - MTG Card versions
Tithe Drinker - MTG Card versions
General's Enforcer - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Benalish Sleeper. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Orzhov AggroOrzhov Aggro Free formStandard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the Benalish Sleeper, you can unlock potential card advantage by transforming it into a powerful creature under the right conditions. This not only bolsters your field presence but also can outvalue opponents who are managing resources at face value.

Resource Acceleration: The Benalish Sleeper can be an essential piece in your deck’s resource acceleration strategy. By fulfilling its transformation condition, you have a cost-effective creature ready for combat or other synergy-driven card interactions, propelling your game state forward without the need for additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Benalish Sleeper works well with instant speed spells in your arsenal. It can quickly become a formidable threat during your turn if you’ve managed to set up your board with instants that alter the state of play or the power dynamics of creatures during your opponent’s end step.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Benalish Sleeper demands a fairly steep price from players looking to unlock its full potential. To evolve this creature from a humble soldier to a formidable Knight, you’re compelled to part with a precious card from your hand. This, unsurprisingly, could set you back at crucial moments, especially when you’re grasping for each available option to outmaneuver your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: For aspiring tacticians in the multiverse of MTG, mana flexibility can spell the difference between victory and defeat. Alas, Benalish Sleeper comes with a stringent requirement for white mana. For those not solely devoted to the plains, this condition may render the Sleeper a cumbersome addition, failing to find synergy in the more diverse and vibrant mana bases of multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In a world where the economy of actions can dictate the tide of battle, Benalish Sleeper’s resource demands might seem exorbitant. Four mana could otherwise summon beings of equal or greater might, or sway the course of the game through more impactful spells. Scrutinizing the meta, you’ll likely encounter alternatives that achieve more for less, casting doubt on the Sleeper’s efficacy in battle-hardened decks.


Reasons to Include Benalish Sleeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Benalish Sleeper aligns well with various deck builds that pivot on creature-based strategies. Its adaptability makes it a solid addition, whether you’re deploying an aggressive early game plan or looking for key pieces to establish board control.

Combo Potential: This card, with its potential to become a potent force as the game progresses, holds immense synergy with decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or human tribal themes. The ability to grow over time can prove to be a game-changer in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: As the current meta shifts, the importance of having creatures that scale with the game’s progression can’t be overstated. Benalish Sleeper offers relevance in matches where tempo and scaling power can spell victory against an array of popular strategies.


How to beat

The Benalish Sleeper is a noteworthy creature in the MTG landscape, providing players with an escalating challenge as the game progresses. Combatting this card requires a blend of strategy and timing. Early removal spells are effective means to counteract its growing power. Consider low-cost options in your deck like Fatal Push or Shock to eliminate the Sleeper before it awakens to its full potential.

Another tactic to outmaneuver the Sleeper’s transformation is enforcing continuous pressure. If you maintain an aggressive stance, you can keep your opponent on the defensive, leaving them with less opportunity to bolster the Sleeper. Additionally, you might incorporate cards that restrict your opponent’s ability to amass permanents, directly hindering the Sleeper’s condition for level up.

Lastly, exile effects prove exceedingly potent against the Sleeper, as they prevent it from returning to the battlefield, contrary to simple destruction. Cards such as Path to Exile offer a lasting solution, ensuring that the Sleeper doesn’t reemerge later in the game. With these methods in mind, overcoming the challenge of the Benalish Sleeper is well within reach for any adept player.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of each MTG card is critical to your success as a player. With the Benalish Sleeper, you’ve explored the delicate balance of its pros and cons, as well as strategies to use it effectively, or counter it should you face one across the table. Whether it’s optimizing your deck for acceleration, card advantage, or simply finding that perfect synergy in your collection, knowledge is power. For those intrigued by the Sleeper’s potential or seeking alternatives, our insights aim to guide you in refining your strategies. Embrace the dynamic nature of MTG and expand your repertoire by delving further with us into the game’s endless possibilities.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Benalish Sleeper MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United and Dominaria United Art Series, 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 Benalish Sleeper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Benalish Sleeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Josu Hernaiz.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 82015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
22022-09-09Dominaria United Art SeriesADMU 42015Art seriesBorderlessJosu Hernaiz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Benalish Sleeper has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-09-09 As Benalish Sleeper’s ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is chooses a creature to sacrifice, then each other player in turn order does the same knowing the choices made before them. Then all those creatures are sacrificed simultaneously.
2022-09-09 If you kicked it, you may sacrifice Benalish Sleeper itself as its ability resolves. If you control no other creatures, you’ll have to sacrifice Benalish Sleeper.