Sarkhan's Rage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Easily removes creatures or targets opponents directly, enhancing MTG gameplay with its one-for-one exchange value.
  2. Instant speed allows strategic flexibility, making it a powerful surprise element during opponent’s turns.
  3. Requires specific mana and can lead to hand disadvantage, challenging MTG deck builders with tactical decisions.

Text of card

Sarkhan's Rage deals 5 damage to target creature or player. If you control no Dragons, Sarkhan's Rage deals 2 damage to you.

The people of Tarkir speak of an ancient legend, of the dragon-man called Sarkhan who was greatest of all khans.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sarkhan’s Rage may not draw cards directly, but by dealing damage directly to a creature or player, it can effectively remove an opponent’s creature from the board. This will often result in a one-for-one exchange, helping you maintain or gain card advantage as your opponent’s resources are diminished.

Resource Acceleration: While Sarkhan’s Rage doesn’t explicitly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it offers a different kind of acceleration by quickly dealing 5 damage. This can accelerate the game towards a conclusion by swiftly diminishing an opponent’s life total or clearing the way for your creatures to attack.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Sarkhan’s Rage provides flexibility and surprise, allowing you to respond to threats during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn. This instancy adds a layer of strategic depth as you can choose the optimal moment to unleash its power.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Sarkhan’s Rage demands a specific combination of mana to cast, including both generic and red mana. This requirement may restrict its inclusion only to decks that can consistently generate that mana composition.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having to allocate five mana to unleash this spell can be taxing on your turn, especially when considering that there might be other spells or creatures you could play with a similar impact for less investment.

Discard Requirement: If Sarkhan’s Rage is cast using the formidable mechanic, there’s a condition that might compel a player to discard another card from their hand. This can lead to a decrease in hand advantage, which is often critical in the later stages of the game.


Reasons to Include Sarkhan’s Rage in Your Collection

Versatility: Sarkhan’s Rage is a solid inclusion in any collection due to its immediate impact on the game. This instant card serves as an efficient removal option and can also be directed at opponents for a quick damage boost.

Combo Potential: For players intrigued by combo synergies, this card beautifully complements strategies that benefit from spell casting or direct damage. It can trigger prowess or boost spells with damage-increasing effects.

Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by aggressive creature-based strategies, Sarkhan’s Rage stands out as a relevant card. It allows you to remove key creatures from the battlefield or close out games by reducing an opponent’s life total directly.


How to beat

Sarkhan’s Rage is a powerful instant card that presents a formidable challenge in Magic: The Gathering battles. It allows a player to inflict a significant five damage to any target, possibly tipping the scales in their favor. In addition, if you control no Dragons at the time you cast it, this card also forces you to pay an additional cost of two life, making it even more impactful in the late game where Dragons are common.

To counteract Sarkhan’s Rage, consider playing spells that grant you hexproof to prevent it from targeting you directly. Cards like Shalai, Voice of Plenty can provide a strong defense against such targeted spells. Another strategy is to maintain a high life total, or use damage prevention effects like those from The Wanderer, ensuring that even if Sarkhan’s Rage hits a creature or planeswalker, your overall game position remains stable.

It’s also wise to be wary of your opponent’s mana pool and to anticipate the casting of high-impact spells like Sarkhan’s Rage. Efficient counter spells could negate it entirely if timed correctly. Ultimately, staying one step ahead and being prepared with defensive measures can help you overcome the challenges posed by this fiery card in your MTG encounters.


Cards like Sarkhan's Rage

The world of Magic: The Gathering is brimming with fiery spells, and Sarkhan’s Rage is a prime example of a potent direct damage spell. When looking at cards akin to Sarkhan’s Rage, we might consider Lava Axe, which also deals 5 damage to a target. However, Lava Axe is limited to being cast only on players and lacks the flexibility of Sarkhan’s Rage that can target a creature or player.

Then there’s Flame Lash, which offers the same damage as Sarkhan’s Rage but at instant speed and a lower mana cost. Nonetheless, Flame Lash doesn’t carry the same potential for a reduced casting cost that Sarkhan’s Rage can boast when there’s a dragon to reveal in hand. On the other end, there’s Explosive Impact, which inflicts 6 damage instead of 5 but does it at a steeper mana cost and at sorcery speed just like Sarkhan’s Rage.

In analyzing these cards side by side, it’s clear that Sarkhan’s Rage has its niche, especially in decks that can exploit its dragon-synergy cost reduction and need the versatility of targeting creatures or players directly, making it a solid option for MTG players looking to wield fire with strategy.

Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Flame Lash - MTG Card versions
Explosive Impact - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - Portal (POR)
Flame Lash - Kaladesh (KLD)
Explosive Impact - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Sarkhan's Rage by color, type and mana cost

Fissure - MTG Card versions
Melee - MTG Card versions
Omen of Fire - MTG Card versions
Cinder Cloud - MTG Card versions
Lava Storm - MTG Card versions
Brawl - MTG Card versions
Thermal Blast - MTG Card versions
Radiate - MTG Card versions
Invoke Calamity - MTG Card versions
Pinpoint Avalanche - MTG Card versions
Forge Armor - MTG Card versions
Savage Beating - MTG Card versions
Rain of Rust - MTG Card versions
Feedback Bolt - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions
Devouring Rage - MTG Card versions
Through the Breach - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Beam - MTG Card versions
Word of Seizing - MTG Card versions
Riddle of Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fissure - Masters Edition (ME1)
Melee - Ice Age (ICE)
Omen of Fire - Alliances (ALL)
Cinder Cloud - Mirage (MIR)
Lava Storm - Weatherlight (WTH)
Brawl - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Thermal Blast - Odyssey (ODY)
Radiate - Torment (TOR)
Invoke Calamity - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Pinpoint Avalanche - Onslaught (ONS)
Forge Armor - Mirrodin (MRD)
Savage Beating - Commander Masters (CMM)
Rain of Rust - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Feedback Bolt - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Beacon of Destruction - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Devouring Rage - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Through the Breach - Ultimate Box Topper (PUMA)
Cleansing Beam - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Word of Seizing - Commander Legends (CMR)
Riddle of Lightning - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sarkhan's Rage MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Sarkhan's Rage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sarkhan's Rage Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 1532015normalblackChris Rahn
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10512015normalblackChris Rahn
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3602015normalblackChris Rahn
42020-09-26The ListPLST DTK-1532015normalblackChris Rahn
52022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 5942015normalblackChris Rahn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sarkhan's Rage has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-02-25 Sarkhan’s Rage checks whether you control a Dragon as it resolves.

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