Dina, Soul Steeper MTG Card
2021-04-23 - Number 178
2023-04-21 - Number 167
2023-04-21 - Number 167z
2023-04-21 - Number 102
2023-04-21 - Number 37
2020-09-26 - Number STX-178
2021-04-23 - Number 23
2021-04-23 - Number 23s
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Dryad Druid |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever you gain life, each opponent loses 1 life. , Sacrifice another creature: Dina, Soul Steeper gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the sacrificed creature's power.
Cards like Dina, Soul Steeper
Dina, Soul Steeper, shines in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a unique card with potent synergies in life-gain strategies. She finds her peers in cards like Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim, which also leverages life as a resource, though Ayli focuses on sacrificing creatures for life gain and controlling the board. Unlike Dina, Ayli isn’t inherently a win-condition, but rather a piece of a strategy’s toolbox.
Considering card similarities, Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose is noteworthy for life-gain enthusiasts. While Vito automatically transforms life gain into life loss for opponents, Dina requires a sacrifice to trigger her ability, giving players a more controlled but active role in managing their strategy. Both create dynamic gameplay but take distinct approaches within the life-gain archetype.
In the scope of MTG, Dina, Soul Steeper carves out a niche with a blend of offensive potential and strategic sacrifice, offering players not just a creature but a focal point for deck-building. In the landscape of similar cards, Dina’s low mana cost and potential for game-ending combos affords her a unique and powerful spot in any deck centering around life manipulation strategies.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Dina, Soul Steeper. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Abzan Amalia Combo | Pioneer | Abzan Amalia Combo | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-23 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dina, Soul Steeper can be a pivotal source of card advantage in the right deck. Her ability to sacrifice another creature to gain life permits the utilization of various card draw effects that trigger upon gaining life, thus potentially drawing you into more resources and providing an advantage over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: With Dina on the battlefield, each creature sacrificed not only progresses your board state but can also be viewed as a resource acceleration technique, especially when synergized with cards that generate tokens or allow you to recoup the lost creature directly into your hand or onto the battlefield.
Instant Speed: Dina’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you flexibility in your play. You can choose the best moment to sacrifice a creature, such as in response to an opponent’s action or after blockers are declared during combat, to maximize the life gain and the subsequent benefits it may offer.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In gameplay, Dina, Soul Steeper necessitates a card to be sacrificed whenever you want to capitalize on her life gain ability. This can be problematic in situations where your hand is sparse, forcing you to give up essential cards that could be crucial later in the match.
Specific Mana Cost: This character calls for black and green mana for casting. While versatile in Golgari decks, this specific mana requirement can restrain her inclusion in more varied or multicolored deck builds, potentially limiting her adaptability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of two, Dina, Soul Steeper is considered quite efficient. However, in aggressive decks that rely on quick, impactful plays, the mana might be better allocated towards creatures or spells that offer immediate pressure or board presence. In these scenarios, strategists might find her less than optimal compared to other two-drop creatures in the ecosystem.
Reasons to Include Dina, Soul Steeper in Your Collection
Versatility: Dina, Soul Steeper is a superb fit for a variety of decks, particularly those oriented towards life gain or sacrifice strategies. Her low casting cost and synergistic abilities allow her to be a flexible addition to multiple deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card creates dynamic interactions with other cards that benefit from life gain or whenever another creature you control dies. Pairing Dina with cards that have lifelink or create tokens can set off powerful combos and bolster your board position.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where incremental advantages can lead to victory, Dina’s ability to whittle down opponents’ life while growing stronger can be a game changer. Her relevance gains traction particularly in environments where long games give way to those incremental advantages.
How to beat
Dina, Soul Steeper presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield with her ability to drain life with each sacrifice. Facing this card means having to be strategic, given her low mana cost and the synergy she has with token-generating decks which can perpetuate her life-draining ability. The key is to disrupt her synergy by taking out the creatures she relies on to trigger her ability.
Removal spells are the go-to option here; board wipes or targeted removals can be effective in dismantling the creature base she needs. Consider cards like Doom Blade or Wrath of God, which either removes her directly or clears the board. Graveyard hate cards can also be handy to prevent recurring creature strategies that may support Dina. Cards like Scavenging Ooze can not only exile creatures from the graveyard but can also grow in power, becoming a threat on their own.
Remember that Dina, Soul Steeper thrives in a deck where life gain and sacrifices are prevalent. Plan for her presence, keep your removals ready, and prioritize disrupting the board state to prevent her from gaining too much momentum. With careful play, Dina can be managed effectively and beaten on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dina, Soul Steeper MTG card by a specific set like The List and Strixhaven 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 Dina, Soul Steeper 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 Dina, Soul Steeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The List | PLST | STX-178 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | ||
| 2 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 23 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Chris Rahn | ||
| 3 | Strixhaven Art Series | ASTX | 23s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Chris Rahn | ||
| 4 | 2021-04-23 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | STX | 178 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 5 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 167 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Benjamin Ee | |
| 6 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 167z | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Benjamin Ee | |
| 7 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 102 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 8 | 2023-04-21 | Multiverse Legends | MUL | 37 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Benjamin Ee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dina, Soul Steeper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dina, Soul Steeper card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-04-16 | Dina's first ability triggers only once for each life gain event, no matter how much life was gained. |
| 2021-04-16 | Each creature with lifelink dealing combat damage causes a separate life gain event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, a “whenever you gain life” ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature you control with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once. |
| 2021-04-16 | When Dina's first ability resolves, each opponent loses only 1 life, no matter how much life was gained. |
| 2021-04-16 | X is the power the creature had when it was on the battlefield, not the power it has in the graveyard. |