Saprazzan Heir MTG Card


Saprazzan Heir - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Merfolk
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number99
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTerese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

  1. Saprazzan Heir excels in drawing cards, ensuring a continuous flow of resources to maintain an upper hand.
  2. It fits well in decks that exploit drawing and discarding, but its specific mana cost can be restrictive.
  3. Understanding similar cards and counter strategies is crucial for leveraging Saprazzan Heir’s full potential.

Text of card

Whenever Saprazzan Heir becomes blocked, you may draw three cards.

Within the walls of the floating city, Saprazzan wealth is like Saprazzan water: abundant, free-flowing, and accessible to all.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a player, drawing cards is paramount, and Saprazzan Heir adds a twist to this concept. It ensures that whenever it becomes the target of a spell or ability, you get to reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand if it’s a land. Otherwise, you draw a card at the next turn’s upkeep. This can lead to a steady stream of additional resources, providing a tactical edge.

Resource Acceleration: In the realm of resources, this heir doesn’t disappoint. It potentially allows you to drop more lands or keep up with the mana curve by ensuring land drops or amassing crucial cards in hand, which can be deployed in upcoming turns to overtake your opponents.

Instant Speed: Despite Saprazzan Heir not being an instant itself, its interaction at instant speed when targeted can give you unexpected benefits on your opponent’s turn. This strategic advantage bolsters your defenses and affects your adversary’s calculations, especially when they’re considering targeting your creatures. Tactical deployment keeps opponents guessing and ensures you’re always on the move, one step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Saprazzan Heir requires a card to be discarded when it becomes the target of a spell or ability. This can leave players at a disadvantage, especially when the hand is already sparse or when every card is critical for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: With a cost that demands two blue mana, this card ties closely with blue-focused or blue-heavy decks. Players running multicolor decks might find that the specific mana requirement doesn’t align easily with their mana bases, which can inhibit card play at crucial moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, which includes two blue, Saprazzan Heir stands on the higher end of the curve when considering its stats and abilities. When size and immediate board impact are of concern, there exist other creatures that may offer a more sizable presence or greater immediacy at the same or lower cost.


Reasons to Include Saprazzan Heir in Your Collection

Versatility: Saprazzan Heir’s ability to draw a card upon being blocked enables it to seamlessly integrate into decks that thrive on card advantage and tempo plays. Its presence alone can deter attackers, providing a subtle layer of defense.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that care about drawing or discarding, Saprazzan Heir can become an engine, churning through your deck to find essential pieces or generate advantageous interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Within environments that favor defensive playstyles or those rich in creature-based strategies, Saprazzan Heir’s unique ability to dissuade blocks or generate card advantage gives it a justifiable position in many blue-centric or control-oriented decks.


How to beat

Saprazzan Heir is a unique creature in the realm of MTG, known for its dexterity in manipulating card advantage. Its power lies in the ability to amass cards when it becomes the target of spells or abilities. To counter this formidable card, a strategic approach is vital. For instance, removing it without targeting, such as by using board wipes like Wrath of God or naming it with a card like Plague Engineer, can effectively eliminate the threat without the downside of your opponent drawing cards.

Another effective strategy is to minimize interaction with it. Players might opt to bypass the Heir altogether and focus on reducing the opponent’s life total through unblockable or flyer creatures. Additionally, employing strategies that limit the opponent’s ability to utilize their hand, like discard mechanisms or cards that impose maximum hand size, can mitigate the advantage that Saprazzan Heir provides. Always remember, adapting your tactics to the board state and being mindful of your resources are key in overcoming the challenge posed by this distinctive MTG card.


Cards like Saprazzan Heir

The Saprazzan Heir card has a unique spot in Magic: The Gathering’s roster of creature cards. It is reminiscent of the beloved Thada Adel, Acquisitor, in its ability to interact with an opponent’s deck. Both cards allow players to peek into an adversary’s library and make use of their tools. However, Thada Adel, Acquisitor does this by granting access to artifacts, whereas Saprazzan Heir focuses more on card drawing capabilities, providing a distinct form of deck utilization.

Looking deeper into cards with resemblance, Looter il-Kor shares the same draw and discard effect but does so through shadow, a mechanic ensuring it can often attack unblocked. It’s a solid parallel for evaluating the card selection benefit. Coastal Piracy is another parallel, offering a reward in drawing cards for simply doing what most decks aim to do: deal combat damage. A significant difference is that Coastal Piracy is an enchantment, affecting the entire board whenever you hit an opponent, while Saprazzan Heir is tied to the presence and survival of a single creature.

Evaluating the pros and cons of Saprazzan Heir among its peers reveals its potential to be a formidable source of card advantage. This makes it a card worth considering for players who appreciate strategies involving direct interaction and knowledge of the opponent’s plan.

Thada Adel, Acquisitor - MTG Card versions
Looter il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Coastal Piracy - MTG Card versions
Thada Adel, Acquisitor - Worldwake (WWK)
Looter il-Kor - Time Spiral (TSP)
Coastal Piracy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

Cards similar to Saprazzan Heir by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Lord of Atlantis - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Lord of Atlantis - Wizards Play Network 2024 (PW24)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Saprazzan Heir MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Saprazzan Heir and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Saprazzan Heir has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Saprazzan Heir 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 It triggers only once even if blocked by more than one creature.

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