Descendant of Soramaro MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2005-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Saviors of Kamigawa |
| Set code | SOK |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 33 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Brian Despain |
Text of card
: Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of cards in your hand, then put them back in any order.
"Soramaro speaks through me. Listen! And I will tell the wisdom of the ancestors."
Cards like Descendant of Soramaro
The Descendant of Soramaro carves a niche for itself as a formidable blue creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Its potential to control the top card of a player’s library draws an exciting parallel to the abilities exhibited by the classic Sage of Epityr. Both are blue creatures that excel in manipulating deck order, but Descendant of Soramaro goes further by allowing outright hand swaps with the top card, ensuring more consistent draw quality. Another similar creature with library interaction is Crystal Ball. While not a creature, this artifact also allows players to look at the top cards and rearrange them or shuffle the library, presenting a different approach to deck manipulation.
In contrast, we observe creatures like Augury Owl, which also offers insight into the top cards of your library, though via a one-time scry upon entering the battlefield. Unlike Descendant of Soramaro, its influence on the game tends to be a singular event. Analysts of MTG acknowledge that while these cards share thematic elements of foresight and manipulation, Descendant of Soramaro stands out for its continuous and dynamic library management abilities, offering adept player’s strategic advantages throughout the game.
Cards similar to Descendant of Soramaro by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ascending to new heights in your deck’s strategy, Descendant of Soramaro shines by fine-tuning your hand. This mystical being taps into the wisdom of the clouds, enabling you to peek at the top card of your library, and if it’s a coveted spell or essential land, discretely move it to your hand, thus ensuring a steady flow of resources. With this aerial intelligence, outmaneuvering opponents becomes as serene as the skies it soars.
Resource Acceleration: The true power of this card lies not just in knowledge, but in the ability to ascend above the mundane. Each time you activate its ability, you’re taking a step towards thicker mana clouds. Get ready to deploy your high-cost spells sooner than expected, as this sage descendant grants you the potential to progress your board state at an accelerated pace, all while keeping the threats and answers well within reach.
Instant Speed: The serene agility of Descendant of Soramaro is its greatest virtue—no need to rush your turns or telegraph your moves. Its ability at instant speed is like having eyes in the storm, watching and waiting for the right moment to react. Whether during a lull in the battle or in the eye of the tempest itself, this card’s fluid adaptability keeps you one with the sky’s unpredictable nature, ready to draw from your deck’s depth at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Descendant of Soramaro necessitates the discarding of a card as part of its activation cost. This could potentially setback players during crucial turns when hand size equates to options and power.
Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires both generic and blue mana, which can hinder its inclusion in multicolored or mana-tight decks. Players need to ensure a reliable source of blue to harness its abilities effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of four mana to cast, this card faces stiff competition from others offering similar or more impactful effects at a lower mana investment. This might deter players from including it in their decks, preferring cards that promise a quicker impact on the game.
Reasons to Include Descendant of Soramaro in Your Collection
Versatility: Descendant of Soramaro can be a flexible addition to blue-centric decks. With the ability to manipulate the top card of your library, it offers subtle deck manipulation to help set up future draws or synergize with cards that care about the top card of the library.
Combo Potential: This card works extremely well in combinations that exploit knowledge of the deck’s top card. It can work with cards such as Future Sight or Magus of the Future, effectively allowing you to play with an open hand and gain strategic advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where control decks are flourishing, Descendant of Soramaro’s consistent deck filtering ability can be essential for finding key answers or threats within your deck, enabling you to adapt to various situations that may arise during gameplay.
How to beat
Descendant of Soramaro can be an elusive challenge on the battlefield. This card, like many creatures with potent abilities, thrives on the synergy it creates with the number of cards in your hand. It gains strength and offers an edge in combat situations or when used as a strategic blocker. The key here is to disrupt this synergy, which can be achieved through several methods.
Consider employing hand disruption spells that force your opponent to discard cards, thereby weakening Descendant of Soramaro. Targeted removal, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, can efficiently deal with the creature before your opponent can build up a hand-size advantage. Counterspells are also effective here, preventing the Descendant from hitting the board in the first place.
Aside from spell-based strategies, maintaining pressure with fast-paced aggro decks can limit the number of cards your opponent holds and undercut the Descendant’s potency. By staying on the offensive, you reduce their chances to establish a beneficial board state for Descendant of Soramaro.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Descendant of Soramaro MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Descendant of Soramaro 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Descendant of Soramaro has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |