Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem MTG Card


Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem - Khans of Tarkir
TypeEmblem — Sarkhan
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Number12
Frame2015
LayoutEmblem
BorderBlack
Illustred byDaarken

Key Takeaways

  1. Gain card advantage and dominate by transforming planeswalkers into powerful dragon threats.
  2. Leverage haste from emblem-created dragons for an instant impact, much like instant-speed threats.
  3. Balance strategic sacrifices with a potential card disadvantage when activating the emblem.

Text of card

At the beginning of your draw step, draw two additional cards. At the beginning of your end step, discard your hand.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Emblem from Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker turns all your planeswalkers into dragons with a formidable attack power, providing a consistent threat without the need to commit additional cards from your hand. It keeps your grip full while applying pressure on the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Once the emblem is in play, it alleviates the need to spend mana on creature spells, effectively accelerating your resources. This allows you to focus on playing other spells that protect Sarkhan or disrupt the opponent.

Instant Speed: Although the emblem itself does not function at instant speed, its creation is tied to Sarkhan’s loyalty ability, which can be activated at sorcery speed. However, the dragons this emblem creates have haste, enabling immediate impact on the game, much like an instant-speed threat would.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker’s emblem, a particular set of actions must be completed beforehand, which might require tactical sacrifices, possibly leaving you at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Crafting this emblem requires a precise mana combination. This may not align smoothly with multi-colored decks that might struggle to provide the necessary resources consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The creation of the emblem comes from a planeswalker whose casting cost is resource-intensive. This factor might render the card less practical in faster-paced game scenarios where resource efficiency is paramount.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem’s unique nature allows players to enhance their strategies across various deck types, particularly those revolving around planeswalkers or dragon synergies. It can quickly turn the tide of the game by empowering your creatures or fueling powerful abilities.

Combo Potential: The emblem’s effect to have all Dragons you control deal damage based on their power to a target creature or planeswalker is an elevating factor in combos, multiplying the impact of your damage-dealing dragons and enabling game-winning plays.

Meta-Relevance: With the right deck configuration, this emblem can be a game-changer in a meta that prizes decisive creature interactions and board control. Its presence can shift the balance in your favor, making your dragon assaults nearly unstoppable.


How to Beat Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem

The emblem from Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker is a formidable ability in MTG, turning all Dragons into indestructible titans of the skies. Overcoming such overwhelming power requires well-timed removal spells that can bypass indestructibility or playing cards that can negate an emblem’s effects. One potent strategy is to use exile effects, as they remove creatures from the game entirely, circumventing their indestructibility. A spell like “Merciless Eviction” can exile all creatures, regardless of their protective emblems.

Alternatively, controlling the game state with card abilities that reduce the significance of creatures, such as “Humility” which strips all creatures of their abilities, can diminish the emblem’s impact. Countering the initial planeswalker spell of Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker is also a proactive measure to prevent opponents from ever obtaining the emblem. “Disallow” can counter any spell, activation, or ability, including the creation of an emblem. By deploying these strategies and maintaining a presence of control spells, players can neutralize the threat of Sarkhan’s Dragons and secure their position in the game.


Cards like Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem

In the roster of MTG’s transformative cards, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem holds a unique spot. It shares a thematic kinship with cards such as Ob Nixilis Reignited, whose emblem also creates a constant effect that can tip the scales in your favor. However, while Ob Nixilis’s emblem focuses on drawing cards and causing life loss, Sarkhan’s emblem is all about summoning dragon allies which can be a game winner in itself.

Diving deeper into the dragonic domain, Dragonmaster Outcast is another relevant card that mirrors the dragon-summoning aspect of Sarkhan’s emblem. Nevertheless, the Outcast requires no emblem, rather it activates its ability once you have reached the land threshold. This subtle deviation makes Dragonmaster Outcast a different kind of threat, as it doesn’t pivot on planeswalker loyalty for its effectiveness.

Other emblems like Elspeth, Knight-Errant’s offer permanence protection, a stark contrast to the aggressive strategy of Sarkhan’s emblem. It showcases the dynamic nature of emblems in MTG. Players who employ Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker’s emblem gain an aggressive edge, harnessing the raw power of dragons to dominate the battlefield, which is emblematic of the card’s own fiery spirit.

Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Dragonmaster Outcast - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Knight-Errant - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Dragonmaster Outcast - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Knight-Errant - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Emblem MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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, the Dragonspeaker Emblem and other MTG cards:

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