Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Sorin
Loyalty 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Sorin provides card advantage by deploying vampires without paying mana costs, altering the game’s momentum.
  2. Instant speed-like abilities disrupt opponents’ strategies by introducing unexpected vampire plays.
  3. Specific downsides include potential hand depletion and a restrictive two black mana casting cost.

Text of card

+1: Target creature you control gains deathtouch and lifelink until end of turn. If it's a Vampire, put a +1/+1 counter on it. +1: You may sacrifice a Vampire. When you do, Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord deals 3 damage to any target and you gain 3 life. −3: You may put a Vampire creature card from your hand onto the battlefield.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sorin Imperious Bloodlord provides significant card advantage through its ability to cheat vampire creatures into play. This not only generates immediate board presence but also allows players to bypass mana costs of high-value vampires, potentially drawing them into a winning position without expending resources from their hand.

Resource Acceleration: The vampire-themed planeswalker can immediately impact the board state by boosting your mana curve. By utilizing its -3 ability, players can deploy heavy-hitting vampires earlier than usual, giving them the power to outpace opponents and control the pace of the game.

Instant Speed: Although Sorin itself is not an instant, its -3 ability creates an effect similar to instant speed interaction. By putting a vampire creature onto the battlefield at no cost, it can surprise opponents during your turn, and it synergizes well with vampires that have flash, enabling potential plays during an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sorin Imperious Bloodlord allows you to put a Vampire creature card from your hand onto the battlefield, this can deplete your hand quickly. In games where resource management is key, being forced to lose card advantage can put you in a vulnerable position against strategies that capitalize on card superiority.

Specific Mana Cost: Sorin Imperious Bloodlord has a casting cost that includes two black mana symbols. This mana specificity dictates deck construction, primarily limiting the planeswalker to black-centric or Vampire-themed decks, potentially reducing its versatility in a diverse metagame.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, a planeswalker like Sorin comes with powerful abilities but the investment can be steep, particularly for aggressive decks that aim to maximize resource efficiency. When looking at the broader spectrum of three-mana planeswalkers, players might find that in certain situations, other options could provide more immediate impact or flexibility, especially in non-Vampire tribal decks.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sorin Imperious Bloodlord is a versatile powerhouse in any black-based Vampire deck. His ability to impact the board with vampire creation, buffing, and direct damage options allows for a dynamic response to various in-game situations.

Combo Potential: This card excels when combined with other Vampire cards, enabling powerful synergies such as immediate +1/+1 counters or even bringing high-cost vampires into play early, which can swing the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-persistent presence of Vampire decks in the meta, having Sorin Imperious Bloodlord in your collection gives you access to a linchpin card that can adapt and excel within a wide array of strategic archetypes, ensuring your deck remains competitive.


How to beat

Sorin Imperious Bloodlord is a powerful planeswalker in the MTG universe known for its vampire synergies and ability to cheat high-cost creatures onto the battlefield. Taking down this formidable card requires strategic planning and the right countermeasures. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells can catch your opponent off guard and disrupt their tempo, targeting Sorin before they can benefit from its loyalty abilities. Cards like Murderous Rider or Hero’s Downfall offer a clean answer to planeswalkers and can be crucial in your arsenal.

Moreover, countering the spells that would bring Sorin into play is also an effective strategy – Essence Scatter or Dovin’s Veto can be game-changers. Remember that the best time to remove Sorin is typically before your opponent moves to their combat phase, preventing any buffs to their vampires or unexpected high-cost threats from appearing on the board. In conclusion, sharp timing and the right removal or countermagic are the keys to defeating Sorin Imperious Bloodlord and maintaining control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into MTG strategy with our breakdown of Sorin Imperious Bloodlord. Perfect your gameplay by mastering the delicate balance between resource acceleration and maintaining card advantage. Learn to harness Sorin’s abilities to reinforce your Vampire deck, creating potent synergies that can overwhelm any opponent. Understanding when and how to optimize Sorin’s abilities can be the difference between victory and defeat. Are you looking to sharpen your deckbuilding skills and elevate your in-game strategies? Let’s refine your approach together and unlock the full potential of your Vampire deck. Explore more insights and tips with us and be prepared to dominate your next MTG match!


Cards like Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord

Sorin Imperious Bloodlord offers a unique blend of abilities to Vampire decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterparts include other planeswalkers like Liliana of the Veil, who also excels at controlling opponents’ creatures and hand, though Sorin’s niche lies in his distinct synergy with Vampire creatures. Unlike Liliana, Sorin can directly put a Vampire creature card from your hand onto the battlefield, an effect reminiscent of the older card Show and Tell, though specifically tailored for the bloodsucking tribe.

Another parallel can be drawn to Sarkan the Mad in terms of his ability to impact the board immediately by affecting creatures, yet Sorin distinguishes himself by boosting a creature’s power and granting lifelink. Then there’s Anowon, the Ruin Sage, a Vampire who demands the sacrifice of non-Vampire creatures each turn. Whilst Anowon dictates the pace of creature play, Sorin’s Vampire-centric benefits and his ultimate ability to summon any black Vampire card directly into play demonstrate his specialized standing within this tribe-centric dynamic.

Sorin Imperious Bloodlord’s design is an amalgamation of tribal support and planeswalker utility, and its contribution to Vampire strategies reinforces its place as a specialized card for enthusiasts and strategists alike within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse metagame.

Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Show and Tell - MTG Card versions
Anowon, the Ruin Sage - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - Innistrad (ISD)
Show and Tell - Urza's Saga (USG)
Anowon, the Ruin Sage - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 1152015normalblackChase Stone
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12442015normalborderlessShowichi Furumi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-07-12 If the target of the reflexive triggered ability is an illegal target as that ability tries to resolve, it doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain 3 life.
2019-07-12 Multiple instances of deathtouch and/or lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
2019-07-12 Sorin’s second ability goes on the stack without a target. While that ability resolves, you may sacrifice a Vampire. When you do, the reflexive triggered ability triggers and you pick a target to be dealt damage. This is different from effects that say “If you do . . .” in that players may take actions after you’ve sacrificed the creature but before damage is dealt.

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