Relic Sloth MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Menace, Vigilance |
| Released | 2021-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Strixhaven: School of Mages |
| Set code | STX |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 223 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ilse Gort |
Text of card
Vigilance Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
When it comes to transporting priceless, delicate artifacts, safety is more important than speed.
Cards like Relic Sloth
Relic Sloth joins the ranks of vigilant creatures within the Magic: The Gathering universe, attracting attention for its moderate stats and abilities. Vigilance as a keyword is not unique and can be found on a variety of creatures like the renowned Aerial Responder, which is noteworthy for its flying and lifelink properties that come along with vigilance, offering significant battlefield advantages.
Examining the card Venerable Knight sheds light on another facet of the vigilance trait paired with a beneficial death-triggered ability, which is absent in Relic Sloth. While the sloth holds its ground as a steadfast defender due to its vigilance, it lacks the ability to leave a lasting impact after it leaves the battlefield. A card like Sentinel’s Eyes also comes into play here, broadening vigilance’s potential by offering an escape mechanism, ensuring its resilience even from the graveyard.
Despite the crowded field of vigilant creatures, Relic Sloth proves to be unique with its combination of being an enchantment creature, which can become a strategic asset in decks that synergize with enchantments. This trait sets Relic Sloth apart from the pack, not only as a guardian in combat but also as an enhancer for enchantment-based strategies in the game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Relic Sloth presents a dual benefit of both being a creature and potentially affording you extra cards upon fulfilling its associated conditions. This aspect provides a layer of resilience to your strategy, maintaining a solid presence on the battlefield while also refueling your hand.
Resource Acceleration: If Relic Sloth’s presence relates to a mechanic or synergy that enables additional land drops or other forms of pulling ahead in resources, it can be a game-changer. This form of acceleration is critical in outpacing your opponents and effectively deploying your game plan sooner.
Instant Speed: Although Relic Sloth itself may not operate at instant speed, any related mechanics or abilities that trigger at this speed can provide a significant tactical advantage. Being capable of reacting to your opponent’s moves during their turn or at the end of it can shift the tide of the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in gameplay with the Relic Sloth demands a strategic approach given its discard requirement. This element could put players at a disadvantage, particularly in a situation where the hand is already depleted of cards, and maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Crafting a winning deck with the Relic Sloth involves navigating its specific mana cost. This card’s cost composition can hinder its seamless inclusion across a diverse range of deck architectures, potentially limiting its adaptability and the variety of strategies with which it can synergize.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for summoning the Relic Sloth is noteworthy when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. While the cost itself reflects its inherent capabilities, players must evaluate whether its contributions to the battlefield justify the expense, especially when alternative options may offer increased utility or power at a similar or lesser cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Relic Sloth is a flexible card that can be incorporated into various deck types, given its balance of combat presence and sacrificial capabilities. It’s effective in decks that focus on both offensive strategies and those that can capitalize on death triggers or graveyard synergy.
Combo Potential: Its ability to be sacrificed for an effect gives it inherent combo potential. This can be utilized in decks geared towards utilizing the graveyard, or in concert with effects that trigger when creatures die or artifacts are sacrificed.
Meta-Relevance: Relic Sloth finds its niche in a meta where delayed triggers and versatile responses are crucial. It can be a reliable tool against decks that struggle to handle unexpected creature effects, especially when timed correctly.
How to Beat Relic Sloth
Relic Sloth is a recent addition to many deck types, offering a specific advantage through its ability to utilize the graveyard. Facing this card on the battlefield can be challenging due to its mechanics that allow it to gain value from death and rebirth. To effectively counter Relic Sloth, players should consider using graveyard hate cards that can exile or disrupt graveyard synergies.
Strategies like employing Tormod’s Crypt or Rest in Peace can hinder the Sloth’s recursion capabilities by removing the creature cards it plans to benefit from. Alternatively, one could incorporate exile effects with cards like Path to Exile to ensure that Relic Sloth and the creatures it counts on do not end up in the graveyard at all. Additionally, since Relic Sloth may bite back when it leaves the battlefield, instant-speed removal can be pivotal to mitigate its last gasp effects.
In the current meta, understanding the ebb and flow of graveyard-based strategies is crucial. When incorporating answers in your deck, ensure that you have a means to disrupt your opponent’s strategy while advancing your own. By keeping these considerations in mind, you’ll be better positioned to outmaneuver the challenges posed by Relic Sloth, using effective counterplay to maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Relic Sloth MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Relic Sloth 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Relic Sloth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.