Essence Sliver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Essence Sliver offers a scalable life-gaining edge, essential for Sliver combat strategies.
  2. Specific mana requirements may limit deck flexibility but offer a significant boost.
  3. High mana cost is offset by its synergy and game-altering life gain potential.

Text of card

Whenever a Sliver deals damage, its controller gains that much life.

The slivers would survive, even at the expense of every other creature on Otaria.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Essence Sliver provides a potent edge by granting you incremental life gain with every successful hit from Sliver creatures, essentially offering a two-fold advantage where each of your creatures not only becomes a threat but also a source of sustained health.

Resource Acceleration: By aiding in life total stabilization, Essence Sliver helps fortify your presence on the board, potentially allowing you to commit more resources to developing your board state without the immediate pressure to guard your life total.

Instant Speed: Although Essence Sliver itself is not an instant, its ability is triggered during combat, a phase that can often simulate the surprise factor of instant speed cards by catching opponents off guard with unexpected life gains, thereby altering the pace and potential outcomes of skirmishes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Essence Sliver’s ability to bestow lifelink can be important, it doesn’t come without potential drawbacks. One issue is the need to discard a card to include it in some specific deck builds. These decks may demand valuable cards to be discarded, which could be detrimental to your hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Essence Sliver demands a specific mana cost that includes both white and green. This can make it challenging to cast in a multicolor deck, especially in fast-paced games where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost (CMC) of four, Essence Sliver may be considered expensive when compared to other creatures with lifelink or similar abilities. For players looking to optimize mana efficiency, this cost may necessitate careful deck construction or lead to preference for lower-cost alternatives.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Essence Sliver offers a unique form of lifelink for your slivers, which can be pivotal in a wide range of Sliver decks. Its ability to grant life-gain to all Slivers on the board can swing games in your favor, making it a multipurpose addition to your collection.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with an array of Slivers, enhancing their inherent synergies. Coupling with cards like Poisonous Slivers, for instance, allows for an aggressive strategy that also bolsters your life total, keeping you in a strong position to close out games.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where aggro and burn decks are prevalent, Essence Sliver gives Sliver decks the sustainability needed to endure and outpace the opposition. Its presence on the battlefield can deter opponents from attacking and provide you with the necessary staying power against swift, damaging strategies.


How to beat

Essence Sliver presents a unique challenge in the realm of Magic the Gathering, offering a potent life-gain ability whenever a Sliver deals damage. This can quickly turn the tide of the game in favor of Sliver deck users. To counteract the advantages provided by Essence Sliver, consider incorporating cards that prevent life gain. Tainted Remedy or Erebos, God of the Dead can negate the benefits Slivers seek to harness. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Doomskar effectively clear out Sliver swarms before their lifelink ability becomes overwhelming. Removal spells like Path to Exile can also disrupt synergy within Sliver decks by targeting key creatures. Finally, strategic use of counter spells when Essence Sliver is on the stack can prevent it from entering the battlefield entirely, preserving the balance of the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Tapping into the strategic depth of MTG takes a blend of skill, knowledge, and resourcefulness. Essence Sliver can be a game-changer in your Sliver deck, enhancing your creatures’ attack while bolstering your life total. It’s not merely about the cards you play; it’s how you play them that weaves the narrative of victory. Are you looking to refine your Sliver strategy or seeking new synergies to dominate the board? Extend your MTG journey with us. Discover advanced tactics, delve into our deck-building guides, and find out how Essence Sliver can become a cornerstone of your next triumphant setup. Harness the power to outlast and outplay your opponents—your next match could be a display of mastery.


Cards like Essence Sliver

Essence Sliver provides a unique twist on lifelink, a prevalent ability in Magic: The Gathering. When compared to the classic Lifelink Sliver, Essence Sliver offers an advantage in multiplayer and Sliver-focused decks. While both cards grant life-gaining abilities, Essence Sliver’s effect applies to any damage dealt by Slivers you control, elevating its synergy in Sliver decks. This differs from Lifelink Sliver, which straightforwardly gives creatures you control lifelink.

Syphon Sliver is another card worth mentioning. It shares the lifelink ability, but the Essence Sliver shines in its potential for broader impact during combats involving numerous Slivers. Additionally, Predatory Sliver amplifies the attack power of Sliver creatures, enhancing the lifegain from Essence Sliver’s triggered ability. However, neither offer the same direct life-gaining benefit.

Overall, Essence Sliver holds a strong position within the Sliver subtype, bringing substantial value to Sliver decks specifically tailored around combat and sustaining life totals through persistent damage output.

Syphon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions
Syphon Sliver - Magic 2014 (M14)
Predatory Sliver - Magic 2014 (M14)

Cards similar to Essence Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Teroh's Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Leonin Abunas - MTG Card versions
Kami of Old Stone - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Blinking Spirit - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Veteran of the Depths - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)
Moorish Cavalry - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Witch Hunter - Chronicles (CHR)
Carrier Pigeons - Alliances (ALL)
Tormented Angel - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Coalition Honor Guard - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Teroh's Vanguard - Torment (TOR)
Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Akroma's Devoted - Legions (LGN)
Leonin Abunas - Mirrodin (MRD)
Kami of Old Stone - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Aven Cloudchaser - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Blinking Spirit - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Seht's Tiger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Valor - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Veteran of the Depths - Lorwyn (LRW)
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010 (M10)
Lightkeeper of Emeria - Worldwake (WWK)
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Essence Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Essence Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Essence Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by Glen Angus.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-02-03LegionsLGN 131997normalblackGlen Angus
22006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 81997normalblackGlen Angus
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6122015normalblackGlen Angus

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Essence Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 You only gain the life when the triggered ability resolves. If you are reduced to zero life before the ability resolves, you will lose before gaining the life.
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.

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