Battle Sliver MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Sliver |
| Released | 2013-07-19 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic 2014 |
| Set code | M14 |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 128 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Slawomir Maniak |
Key Takeaways
- Battle Sliver upgrades Slivers, turning them into a formidable card advantage on the battlefield.
- It indirectly accelerates resources by synergizing with Slivers that lower costs or untap lands.
- Strategic instant-speed plays can exploit the power boosts provided to Sliver creatures.
Text of card
Sliver creatures you control get +2/+0.
"One emitted a strange series of buzzing clicks and guttural commands, then clawed arms emerged from all of them. Is there no limit to their adaptations?" —Hastric, Thunian scout
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When integrating Battle Sliver into your deck, the immediate benefit is its capacity to bolster Sliver creatures’ strength, making each Sliver a more threatening presence on the battlefield. This amplification transforms your Sliver swarm into a card advantage powerhouse by enabling them to outmuscle opposing cards more effectively.
Resource Acceleration: As a five-mana 3/3 creature itself, Battle Sliver may not directly contribute to resource acceleration. However, by synergizing with other Slivers that may reduce casting costs or untap lands, it indirectly fuels a stronger, quicker board state that accelerates your dominance in the game.
Instant Speed: While Battle Sliver operates at sorcery speed, in a deck designed with the requisite instant-speed Slivers or spells that allow flexibility, it can become part of a strategy that keeps opponents on their toes. Utilizing instant-speed interactions can significantly leverage the improved power that Battle Sliver offers to all Sliver creatures under your control.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Battle Sliver often means sacrificing other cards in your hand, which can lead to a disadvantage in card advantage. This requirement can obstruct your game plan, particularly during the later stages when each card’s strategic value is at its peak.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost includes a certain combination of mana, making it a potentially challenging play for decks that don’t focus on the specific colors required. This can restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably generate the needed mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its high mana demand for its body and effects, Battle Sliver may come into play later than other slivers that provide synergistic advantages. There are numerous creatures and slivers with lower mana costs that can be equally impactful early in the game, thereby rendering Battle Sliver less efficient in fast-paced or mana-critical situations.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Battle Sliver serves as a powerful enhancer in Sliver decks, providing an impressive boost in strength to all Slivers on the battlefield. Its ability to fit seamlessly into Sliver strategies makes it a must-have for collectors and players keen on this creature type.
Combo Potential: The strength bonus from Battle Sliver stacks cumulatively with other Slivers, enabling explosive combat scenarios. It’s an essential piece in a Sliver tribal deck that thrives on synergy and can turn the tide of the game by powering up your Sliver legion.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that sees a variety of creature-based combat decks, Battle Sliver shines by tipping scales in your favor during battles. As board presence is crucial, incorporating this card into your collection can give you a competitive edge in matchups where sizeable creatures dictate the pace of the game.
How to beat
Battle Sliver presents a significant boost to sliver decks within Magic: The Gathering, offering a substantial power increase to fellow slivers with its +2 power bonus. Navigating a match against this potent creature requires a thoughtful approach. Control strategies shine here, with removal spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade disrupting the synergy Battle Sliver tries to create. These instant-speed interactions allow you to manage the battlefield before the power boost can overwhelm you.
Board wipe spells such as Wrath of God or Damnation are also effective, as they can clear multiple slivers at once, regardless of the power enhancements Battle Sliver may have provided. It’s also a good tactic to hold back on casting creatures until you can deal with Battle Sliver, minimizing the impact of any other slivers entering the battlefield. In essence, timely removal and strategic restraint are key in maintaining control over a game against this formidable card.
For those not running black or white control elements, countering is a viable alternative. A well-timed Counterspell or Negate can prevent Battle Sliver from ever entering play, allowing you to maintain tempo and build your board without the threat of an opponent’s slivers becoming too powerful to handle.
Cards like Battle Sliver
Battle Sliver is a powerful addition to the Sliver creature type in Magic: The Gathering, bringing noticeable muscle to the field. This card can be likened to Predatory Sliver, another member of the Sliver family that grants a smaller yet significant power boost to fellow Slivers. While Predatory Sliver’s impact is more modest, both are integral to building a strong, synergistic Sliver deck.
Megantic Sliver is another comparable card, bestowing an even larger power bonus to your Slivers. Although its cost is higher, the substantial increase in strength can turn the tide in a game. Still, Battle Sliver stands out with its balance between cost efficiency and power increase, making it an ideal component for an aggressive Sliver strategy.
When considering the roles these Sliver cards play, it becomes clear that Battle Sliver has carved out its niche effectively. Providing a cost-effective way to enhance the offensive capabilities of your Sliver creatures, it holds its own among the ranks of Sliver buffs in Magic: The Gathering, striking a solid balance between power and playability.
Cards similar to Battle Sliver by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Battle Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014, 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 Battle Sliver 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Battle Sliver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Battle Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 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 you change the creature type of a Sliver you control 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 you control. |
