Martyr of Sands MTG Card
2006-07-21 - Number 15
2018-12-07 - Number 25
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
, Reveal X white cards from your hand, Sacrifice Martyr of Sands: You gain three times X life.
"Only in our vulnerability is there true power, and that power is life itself."
Cards like Martyr of Sands
Martyr of Sands is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that has carved a niche for itself among life-gain strategies. It shares some similarities with cards such as Soul Warden and Suture Priest, which also center around life gain mechanics. Martyr of Sands stands out due to its ability to convert revealed white cards into substantial life points, often resulting in a significant boost in a single turn. Soul Warden and Suture Priest, while having lower casting costs, provide a more gradual increase to your life total, triggering upon creatures entering the battlefield.
Looking at cards with similar abilities, we find Squawkhawk also known as Squadron Hawk. While not a direct source of life gain, it synergistically pairs up with Martyr of Sands by fetching additional copies of itself. This increases the number of white cards in hand, ready to be revealed for a potential life surge. Then there’s Ajani’s Pridemate, which does not offer life gain itself but grows stronger with each instance of life gained, a fine partner for Martyr of Sands’ large life increments.
Considering the life-gain potential, Martyr of Sands holds a distinctive position in MTG, offering players a powerful one-shot increase in life, which could be pivotal in games where life totals are a race against time.
Cards similar to Martyr of Sands by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Martyr of Sands. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bant Midrange | Modern | Bant Midrange | Modern League 2024-04-19 |
 | Boros Midrange | Modern | Boros Midrange | Modern Showcase Challenge 2024-04-13 |
| Mono-White Midrange | Modern | Mono-White Midrange | Modern Challenge 64 2024-04-14 (1) |
| WUR | Modern | Modern Challenge 32 2024-04-25 | |
| Mono-White Martyr | Modern | Mono-White Midrange | $10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:00 am (Gold) |
| Azorius Martyr | Modern | Azorius Midrange | $10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:00 am (Gold) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Martyr of Sands provides a unique way to leverage the white cards in your hand for substantial life gain, potentially flipping the scales in your favor during a match.
Resource Acceleration: By converting unused white cards into a strategic resource, this card offers an indirect form of acceleration. The life gained can buy crucial turns needed to deploy more impactful cards without falling behind in the race.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Martyr of Sands at instant speed provides flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to respond to threats or end-of-turn decisions that could affect the outcome of a duel.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Martyr of Sands requires you to reveal X white cards from your hand, which can be similar to a voluntary discard. If your hand is low on cards or lacks white cards, its ability may be rendered ineffective, disadvantaging your strategic position in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Although Martyr of Sands costs one white mana, which seems low, the need for white cards to activate its ability restricts its integration. Decks not heavily invested in white may find this card challenging to maximize.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While one white mana for an initial cast is economical, the real cost comes from the white cards revealed for life gain. In some situations, using multiple white cards for this purpose could be costly compared to other life-gaining options, especially if those cards could be better utilized for controlling the board or advancing your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Martyr of Sands is a flexible addition to any collection, seamlessly integrating into life-gain and control decks. Its ability to rapidly boost your life total provides a crucial buffer in various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card offers significant combo potential with cards that capitalize on life total to control the game or deal damage. When synchronized with cards like Serra Ascendant or Archangel of Thune, Martyr of Sands can turn the tide in your favor swiftly.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its impact on your life total, Martyr of Sands holds its ground in metas with aggressive red decks or burn strategies. The added longevity it provides can be the difference between an early defeat and a stabilizing comeback.
How to beat
Martyr of Sands presents a unique challenge in MTG, primarily in white-focused life-gain decks. Its ability to trade cards in hand for substantial life points can put opponents at a significant disadvantage. To effectively counter Martyr of Sands, it’s essential to limit its impact. This can be achieved by utilizing instant-speed removal spells that disrupt the card before the life-gain ability is activated. In formats where graveyard interaction is common, cards such as Tormod’s Crypt or Rest in Peace can be valuable in minimizing the potency of Martyr of Sands’ ability by denying its access to the graveyard as a resource.
Moreover, focusing on an aggressive gameplay strategy that outpaces life-gain or leveraging alternate win conditions unconnected to the opponent’s life total, such as mill strategies or cards like Thassa’s Oracle, can altogether bypass the strategy Martyr of Sands supports. Monitoring hand size is also crucial; the less white cards in the opponent’s hand, the less impactful Martyr of Sands becomes. Thus, hand disruption techniques can be particularly effective.
A well-rounded approach that combines these strategies can tilt the game in your favor, helping you navigate around the challenges posed by Martyr of Sands and steer towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Martyr of Sands MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Ultimate Masters, 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 Martyr of Sands 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 Martyr of Sands Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by Randy Gallegos.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-07-21 | Coldsnap | CSP | 15 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos | |
| 2 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 25 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Martyr of Sands has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Martyr of Sands card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-07-15 | A card that’s already revealed for another cost or because of an effect can be revealed to pay this cost. |
| 2006-07-15 | Each card that’s revealed to pay the cost remains revealed until the ability leaves the stack. |
| 2006-07-15 | If one of the cards that’s revealed to pay the cost leaves its owner’s hand before the ability resolves, it stops being revealed, but the value of X is not affected. |