Saiba Cryptomancer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Moonfolk Ninja |
| Abilities | Backup,Hexproof, Flash |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 76 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Aaron J. Riley |
Key Takeaways
- Saiba Cryptomancer enhances deck strategy with its card revealing and hand reloading capabilities.
- Instant token generation and mana boost make it a formidable player during pivotal turns.
- Though powerful, its potential is steadied by a specific mana requirement and higher casting cost.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Saiba Cryptomancer. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Glitter Azorius | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | AWESOME PAUPER |
 | Bogles | Pauper | Lega Pauper Canavese - 5a Tappa Road to Paupergeddon Spring Edition 2024 - 34 Players | |
 | Mono-Blue Faeries | Pauper | Mono-Blue Faeries | Pauper League 2024-03-10 |
| Azorius Affinity | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Pauper League 2024-03-07 |
 | 5c Auras | Pioneer | 5c Auras | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-04-13 |
| Four-color Affinity | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Liga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 3 |
| Colorless Aggro | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Liga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 3 |
| Azorius Aggro | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 1^ tappa PISA 2024 |
| Azorius Combo | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 2^ tappa PISA 2024 |
| WU | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 25, 2024 |
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Saiba Cryptomancer MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Saiba Cryptomancer 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
Text of card
Flash Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.) Hexproof
"Good luck getting through a class-seven proxy ward, creep."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Saiba Cryptomancer not only offers a sturdy body on the board but also lets you peek into the future of your deck. When you have a Cryptomancer in play, your ability to anticipate and plan for upcoming turns gets a substantial boost.
Resource Acceleration: Doubling as a mana dork, this Mystic unit grants you an extra push in spell casting. It unwraps additional mana resources, enabling larger spells or multiple plays in a single turn.
Instant Speed: What sets Cryptomancer apart is its instant-speed ability to create a copy of itself. Wielding such power allows you to adapt to changing tides within a match, keeping opponents on their toes and unable to predict your next move.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Saiba Cryptomancer necessitates the player to relinquish a card, potentially depleting vital hand options and strategic flexibility during gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s need for a particular mix of mana could pose a challenge in multi-colored decks, as it specifically requires both blue and black mana to cast.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Saiba Cryptomancer offers distinct abilities, its casting cost is on the higher side when compared to other cards in its category, possibly slowing down your game momentum.
Reasons to Include Saiba Cryptomancer in Your Collection
Versatility: Saiba Cryptomancer stands out as a card that can seamlessly be integrated into various deck strategies, proving to be an asset whether you’re aiming for control or a more synergistic approach with creature-related abilities.
Combo Potential: This card’s unique ability to manipulate creature and token generation opens a world of combo possibilities that can quickly escalate the power of your board state, making it a key player in decks looking to exploit such interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where adaptability to the ever-changing meta is crucial, Saiba Cryptomancer’s strengths cater directly to current trends that emphasize efficient mana usage and dynamic playstyles.
How to beat
Saiba Cryptomancer tests players’ tactical acumen in the world of Magic: The Gathering. As a card that offers an advantage by allowing the summoning of a Cryptic Token each time a player casts a noncreature spell, it’s essential to counteract this effect efficiently. The Cryptic Token helps in excavating valuable cards, but herein lies an opportunity for savvy opponents.
One potent strategy is to focus on removing Saiba Cryptomancer as soon as it enters the battlefield. Direct removal spells like Murder or Doom Blade can effectively dispatch Saiba before the Cryptic Tokens become overwhelming. Moreover, cards that can permanently exile Saiba Cryptomancer prevent its recursion, ensuring the Cryptomancer’s abilities are halted for good.
Beyond removal, players can limit the Cryptomancer’s impact by disrupting the spell casting flow of the controller. Counterspells or discard spells force your opponent to play a more conservative game, thereby reducing the number of tokens generated. For an enduring victory, mastering the delicate balance between aggressive play and strategic control becomes the key to besting Saiba Cryptomancer in any Magic: The Gathering match.
Cards like Saiba Cryptomancer
Saiba Cryptomancer emerges as a unique contender in the realm of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering. Akin to cards like Amass the Components, which permits you to look at the top three cards of your library and put one into your hand, Saiba Cryptomancer goes a step further. This creature not only allows an element of deck manipulation but also generates a mana advantage by creating Treasure tokens. Amass the Components offers a straightforward card draw without additional board presence or mana ramp.
Delving into the universe of mana-generation creatures, we encounter Goblin Electromancer. While it reduces the cost of your spells, it lacks the direct advantage of producing a physical token. In contrast, Saiba Cryptomancer’s ability to provide an immediate artifact token can be critical for strategies that revolve around artifact synergy or ramping into larger threats prematurely.
When considering the strategic implications and comparing the role of various mana-ramping creatures and spells, Saiba Cryptomancer stands out as a versatile addition. The card not only supplements your mana pool but also supports artifact-centric strategies, making it an invaluable asset for players looking to optimize their deck’s performance.
Cards similar to Saiba Cryptomancer by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Saiba Cryptomancer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Saiba Cryptomancer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained. |
| 2023-04-14 | The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves. |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.