Qarsi Sadist MTG Card

Qarsi Sadist can turn imminent loss of creatures into life points and a better board position. The card entails sacrificing another creature, potentially restricting its use in certain situations. Versatile in decks that capitalize on creature deaths, it may not suit all strategic playstyles.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Abilities	Exploit
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Power	1
Toughness	3
Number	113
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Volkan Baǵa

Text of card

Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Qarsi Sadist exploits a creature, target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

Dying for the greater good still hurts.

Cards like Qarsi Sadist

Qarsi Sadist stands out within the realm of exploit creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some similarities with cards such as Cadaver Imp, which also offers a benefit upon entering the battlefield. With Qarsi Sadist, you exploit another creature to have an opponent lose 2 life and you gain 2 life, highlighting its synergy in sacrifice-based decks. Conversely, Cadaver Imp lets you retrieve a creature from your graveyard but lacks the life exchange mechanics.

Looking into another related card, Ruthless Deathfang provides a broader exploit mechanic, demanding a higher mana cost but also affecting the opponent’s board by forcing them to sacrifice creatures. Though not providing the direct life swing Qarsi Sadist offers, Ruthless Deathfang’s ability can dramatically alter the board state. Moreover, Grim Haruspex, when compared to Qarsi Sadist, permits you to draw cards instead of directly affecting life totals, offering card advantage over the immediate life impact of Qarsi Sadist.

In essence, while each exploit card has its unique advantages whether in terms of card advantage, board control, or life manipulation, Qarsi Sadist offers a simple and effective way to impact the life race, which can be pivotal in many matches of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Qarsi Sadist by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Qarsi Sadist provides a two-fold benefit, allowing you to extract extra value from your creatures, whether they’re on the brink of death or not needed on the battlefield. Its exploit mechanic can turn a disadvantaged board state into a potential for card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Life gain as a resource can be quite critical in MTG, especially for decks that synergize with such mechanics. Though not directly accelerating mana, the life gained can be a resource that buys you time to draw into more potent threats or answers. It’s a subtle form of acceleration, but when paired with the right deck, it can be a significant advantage.

Instant Speed: While Qarsi Sadist itself is not an instant, its ability to exploit another creature when it enters the battlefield offers a form of instant speed interaction. This can be utilized in response to removal, effectively turning an opponent’s spell to your advantage by sacrificing the targeted creature for life gain and potentially disrupting their plans.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to the Qarsi Sadist is that it requires the sacrifice of a creature to exploit, meaning you must have another creature on the battlefield to fully utilize its ability. This can be a significant drawback when you’re struggling to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Qarsi Sadist’s casting cost demands one black mana, which can be restrictive for multi-colored decks not heavily invested in black mana sources. This requirement can hamper the inclusion of Qarsi Sadist in diverse deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its ability to drain life from the opponent, at a total casting cost of three mana, including one black, Qarsi Sadist competes with other three mana spells that may offer greater impact or flexibility. Its cost-to-benefit ratio can be less appealing when compared to other cards in the same mana range.

Reasons to Include Qarsi Sadist in Your Collection

Versatility: Qarsi Sadist offers a range of uses across various deck builds. Its exploit ability allows you to strategically sacrifice creatures, which can mesh well with decks that revolve around creature recursion or benefit from having creatures enter the graveyard.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that create token creatures or with abilities that trigger upon a creature’s death, Qarsi Sadist can become a key component in powerful and potentially game-changing combos. This opens up a realm of possibilities for synergy within your deck configuration.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where life totals can sway the game, Qarsi Sadist serves a dual purpose. Not only can it disrupt your opponent’s strategy by providing an essential life swing, but it also can impact the board by making use of expendable creatures. This relevance keeps it as a potent inclusion in decks that aim to maintain board control while whittling down an opponent’s health.

How to beat

The card Qarsi Sadist introduces an intriguing dynamic to Magic: The Gathering deck strategies, as it involves the exploitation mechanic combined with life drain. This creature’s ability allows you to sacrifice another creature and make an opponent lose life equivalent to the toughness of the sacrificed creature, while you gain that amount of life. To effectively counteract Qarsi Sadist, it’s essential to minimize creature-based strategies or deploy creatures with low toughness to render the life-draining less impactful.

Another tactic is to use instant removal spells to eliminate Qarsi Sadist before its ability can be used. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can disrupt the tactic of exploiting your own creatures for benefit. Additionally, counterspells such as Mana Leak can prevent Qarsi Sadist from ever entering the battlefield. It’s also beneficial to manage your board presence and keep the number of creatures you control low, thus diminishing the value of Qarsi Sadist’s ability for your opponent.

Understanding the balance of creature play while implementing effective removal and disruption can make Qarsi Sadist less of a threat in any MTG game. By anticipating your opponent’s actions and managing your responses, you’ll enhance your odds of countering the strategies built around this card.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Qarsi Sadist MTG card by a specific set like Dragons 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 Qarsi Sadist and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Qarsi Sadist has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-02-25	A creature with exploit “exploits a creature” when the controller of the exploit ability sacrifices a creature as that ability resolves.
2015-02-25	If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger.
2015-02-25	You can sacrifice the creature with exploit if it’s still on the battlefield. This will cause its other ability to trigger.
2015-02-25	You can’t sacrifice more than one creature to any one exploit ability.
2015-02-25	You choose whether to sacrifice a creature and which creature to sacrifice as the exploit ability resolves.