Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 79
2022-01-28 - Number 346
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Transform |
Key Takeaways
- Ensure a full hand by utilizing Soulsiphon Board’s card selection and Cipherbound Spirit’s draw.
- Accelerate resources and ramp effectively with the early-game impact of Cipherbound Spirit.
- Instant speed abilities of these cards add unpredictability and strategic depth to gameplay.
Text of card
Soulcipher Board enters the battlefield with three omen counters on it. , : Look at the top two cards of your library. Put one of them into your graveyard. Whenever a creature card is put into your graveyard from anywhere, remove an omen counter from Soulcipher Board. Then if it has no omen counters on it, transform it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Soulsiphon Board provides a steady stream of card selection, ensuring you always have access to the spells you need. Similarly, Cipherbound Spirit can draw you cards whenever it attacks, keeping your hand replenished and your options open throughout the game.
Resource Acceleration: While Soulsiphon Board doesn’t directly ramp, it helps you dig through your deck to find your resource acceleration tools more consistently. Cipherbound Spirit, on the other hand, can be a crucial part of your early game plan, coming down early and potentially smoothing out your mana curve by ensuring land drops or enabling future plays.
Instant Speed: Having instant speed interactions with Cipherbound Spirit allows reactive plays that can disrupt opponents plans or protect your own strategies without committing to a line of play prematurely. Also, the ability to operate at instant speed with these cards means that players can keep their options open and play on their opponent’s turn, adding a layer of unpredictability and strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit demands that players discard a card to leverage its abilities. This stipulation can backfire during gameplay when your hand is running low, potentially forcing you to give up on crucial cards needed for subsequent turns or strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost requires precise colors, making it a less versatile option for decks that run on a broad mana base. This could restrict its playability to only specific deck types or strategies that can accommodate and consistently provide its color demands.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the efficiency of resources, the mana investment for Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit may not align with the tempo of many decks. There are alternative options in the game that can activate similar effects or provide better resource allocation at a lower mana cost, impacting this card’s value in optimized decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Soulcipher Board offers flexibility in various deck archetypes, while its transformed state, Cipherbound Spirit, seamlessly fits into strategies that leverage its flying and card draw abilities.
Combo Potential: As a modal double-faced card, your deck gains the tactical advantage of choosing the right form for the situation. The Soulcipher Board can set up your graveyard, whereas Cipherbound Spirit provides card advantage when conditions are met.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the evolving metagame, the ability to manage graveyards or benefit from consistent card draw can be crucial. The duality of the Soulcipher Board and Cipherbound Spirit makes it a potential asset for decks looking to stay ahead of the game’s trends.
How to beat
Soulcipher Board and Cipherbound Spirit represent an intricate part of MTG’s card collection that can confound even experienced players. Soulcipher Board anchors itself as a key piece in deck structures that aim to utilize artifact synergies, whereas Cipherbound Spirit emerges as a formidable creature when exploiting graveyard strategies. To overcome these cards, the focus should be on stifling their innate mechanics.
Addressing Soulcipher Board, it’s essential to disrupt its ability to control the gameflow through artifact interactions by employing artifact removal or direct damage spells to clear the board before it can accrue value. On the other hand, Cipherbound Spirit’s strength builds upon cards in the graveyard, so graveyard hate effects—such as those from cards like Tormod’s Crypt—can effectively negate the Spirit’s advantage and keep it in check.
Leverage cards that can either neutralize or circumvent their individual strengths, thereby mitigating their impact. By proactively controlling the board state and maintaining pressure, you can ensure these cards lose their effectiveness, keeping you one step ahead in the game.
Cards like Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit
The Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit is an intriguing MTG entry that enriches the landscape of modal double-faced cards. Its dual nature allows players to leverage differing strategies within one card slot. On one side, Soulcipher Board presents an unassuming enchantment, bearing a resemblance to cards such as Search for Azcanta. Both cards curate the library and set the stage for long-term advantages. However, Soulcipher Board distinctively carves a niche with its cipher counter mechanic, contrasting Search for Azcanta’s transformation into a powerful land.
Conversely, when we consider the Cipherbound Spirit, its comparison leans towards creature cards offering card draw upon death, such as Pilgrim’s Eye. The Cipherbound Spirit, however, advances beyond merely replacing itself, as it can potentially offer multiple draws over time, which highlights its uniqueness. We can also view the classic Elvish Visionary, offering immediate card draw, yet it lacks the recursive potential of Cipherbound Spirit. This nuanced facet of the card turns it into a valuable game piece that overtures repeatable interactions.
Overall, when evaluating Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit against its peers, we notice its utility and adaptability stand out, situating it effectively in numerous gameplay scenarios and deck archetypes.
Cards similar to Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Caio Monteiro.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 79 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Caio Monteiro | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 346 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Caio Monteiro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Soulcipher Board // Cipherbound Spirit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-19 | Soulcipher Board's last ability triggers when a creature card is put into a graveyard from anywhere. This is different than an ability that triggers when a creature dies. Notably, a noncreature card on the battlefield that becomes a creature and dies (such as an animated land) won't cause this ability to trigger. Similarly, a creature card on the battlefield that has been made a noncreature permanent (such as one enchanted with Minimus Containment) will cause this ability to trigger when that card is put into your graveyard. |
| 2021-11-19 | Token creatures dying never cause Soulcipher Board's last ability to trigger. |
