Glissa Sunseeker MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 120
2019-12-02 - Number 491
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Elf Warrior |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
First strike : Destroy target artifact if its converted mana cost is equal to the amount of mana in your mana pool.
"There's a secret at the heart of this world, and I will unlock it."
Cards like Glissa Sunseeker
Glissa Sunseeker holds her own as a unique blend of creature and removal in MTG. Her ability to destroy artifacts without a cost beyond tapping makes her reminiscent of cards like Viridian Shaman. While the Shaman offers a one-time artifact destruction upon entering the battlefield, Glissa provides repeatable utility throughout the game.
Another card that echos Glissa’s artifact hate is Oxidda Scrapmelter, which also boasts the capacity to shatter enemy artifacts upon arrival. But unlike Glissa, it sacrifices flexibility for a more immediate effect. On the flip side, Treasure Hunter retrieves artifacts from the graveyard, serving as a counterbalance to Glissa’s removal capabilities, but doesn’t help control the board.
Comparatively, each of these similar cards has their niche, but for players looking for consistent, tactical control over artifacts, Glissa Sunseeker emerges as a potent mainstay in artifact-heavy metas. Her role in MTG decks isn’t just to remove threats but also to pose a threat herself, combining offense with a strategic defense.
Cards similar to Glissa Sunseeker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Glissa Sunseeker offers a unique form of card advantage by allowing you to systematically dismantle your opponent’s artifacts each turn, indirectly generating advantage as they lose resources while you maintain your board presence.
Resource Acceleration: As a versatile tool in artifact-centered decks, Glissa can be used to control the battlefield. While she doesn’t directly produce mana, her ability to liberate the board from opponent artifacts can accelerate your game plan by removing their mana rocks and other accelerants.
Instant Speed: Glissa’s activated ability works at instant speed, providing the flexibility to disrupt your opponents’ strategies during their turn or at the end of their turn to preserve mana for your own spells and abilities. This instant-speed capability can seamlessly integrate into your game flow, keeping your opponents on their toes and your mana efficiently allocated.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Glissa Sunseeker’s abilities do not have a discard requirement. Instead, she has a tap ability that could prohibit you from using instant-speed interactions during your opponents’ turns, which could be a strategic disadvantage in games where timing is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Glissa Sunseeker demands a precise arrangement of mana types to be cast efficiently. With a casting cost that includes both green and generic mana, integrating her into a multi-colored deck can sometimes pose a challenge, especially in fast-paced games where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Glissa’s abilities can be potent, her initial casting cost is relatively steep, especially when considering that many decks seek to deploy their game changers earlier in the match. At four mana, some players might find that other cards can provide either similar or more immediate impact on the game state without the same investment.
Reasons to Include Glissa Sunseeker in Your Collection
Versatility: Glissa Sunseeker’s ability to destroy artifacts with ease slots into numerous deck archetypes. Whether it’s control, combo, or artifact-heavy decks, her ability can be a key asset in managing the battlefield and keeping potentially game-changing artifacts in check.
Combo Potential: The flexibility to untap Glissa with other cards provides players with the opportunity to create powerful, repeatable effects every turn. This can disrupt your opponents’ strategies or give you the edge by eliminating crucial artifacts at the right moment.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifacts play a prominent role, Glissa Sunseeker becomes especially valuable. Her presence in a deck can ward off artifact-based combos or lock out utility artifacts that are central to an opponent’s game plan, making her a metagame-specific choice that adapts well to the evolving nature of competitive play.
How to beat
Glissa Sunseeker can be a challenging card to face on the battlefield. With her unique ability to destroy target artifacts for no mana cost, players often find their critical artifacts at risk. To overcome this, a savvy strategy is to limit the number of artifacts you play, focusing instead on enchantment and creature-based strategies. Alternatively, employing instant-speed removal spells can effectively counter Glissa before she has a chance to utilize her ability.
Another efficient method is using cards that can exile or force your opponent to sacrifice creatures, thus bypassing Glissa’s potential indestructibility or regeneration. Creatures with hexproof or shroud are also superb options, as Glissa cannot target them. Taking the fight to Glissa directly with overwhelming creature attacks may compel your opponent to use her defensively, reducing the chances of your artifacts being destroyed and shifting the game in your favor.
Ultimately, adapting your gameplay to either eliminate Glissa quickly or circumvent her abilities altogether can turn the tide of the match. Critical thinking and a clever deck build can neutralize Glissa Sunseeker’s impact on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Glissa Sunseeker MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin 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 Glissa Sunseeker 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 Glissa Sunseeker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 120 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brom | |
| 2 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 491 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Livia Prima |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Glissa Sunseeker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Glissa Sunseeker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-12-01 | The artifact’s converted mana cost must be exactly equal to the amount of mana in your mana pool when the ability resolves. If there’s less mana or more mana, the artifact won’t be destroyed. |
| 2004-12-01 | The mana has to be in your mana pool before the ability resolves. The ability doesn’t allow you to activate mana abilities while it’s resolving. |