Sangrophage MTG Card
2006-10-06 - Number 127
2021-03-19 - Number 135
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, tap Sangrophage unless you pay 2 life.
The living is all it eats.
Cards like Sangrophage
The Sangrophage compares intriguingly with other creatures in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This creature’s self-damaging ability to boost its power sets it in a unique tableau next to staples like Rune-Scarred Demon. While the latter lacks the self-damaging feature, it compensates with a powerful tutor effect, offering players a different kind of value.
Vampiric creatures, such as Vampire Nighthawk, share the theme of vampirism but offer utility as flying blockers and sources of incremental life gain, differing from Sangrophage’s more self-punishing approach. Additionally, there’s Blood Artist, which doesn’t beef up like Sangrophage, but can alter the course of a game by siphoning life with each creature’s death, turning the tide in your favor over several turns.
Evaluating these creatures, Sangrophage holds its ground by providing a cheap, aggressive option for life-risking strategies and fast-paced matches. It’s a card that asks players to gamble a bit of their life total for overwhelming power on the board, which makes it quite a catch for decks that revolve around high-risk, high rewards tactics.
Cards similar to Sangrophage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sangrophage offers players a tactical edge by providing consistent life-draining abilities. This mechanic can be a crucial source of card advantage as it disrupts your opponent’s strategy while fortifying your position on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Integrating the Sangrophage in your deck effectively accelerates your resource pool. Its synergy with life-gain and life-loss mechanics could potentially trigger various effects across the board, making it a versatile component of many strategic archetypes within the game.
Instant Speed: Although not all versions of Sangrophage operate at instant speed, having the ability to trigger its effects during your opponent’s turn can be a game-changer. This strategic timing can enhance your defensive capabilities or disrupt your opponent’s momentum, ultimately advancing your game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of Sangrophage is that to maintain its effect, you must continuously feed it by discarding a card. This can quickly drain your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage, especially if you don’t have a reliable way to replenish your resources.
Specific Mana Cost: The mono-black mana requirement for Sangrophage limits its integration into multicolored decks. It contributes to a smoother mana base in mono-black but may not synergize well with decks that incorporate additional colors. This can restrict the card’s versatility and reduce its applicability across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its mana cost, Sangrophage comes at a price, which can often be steep compared to other creatures in the same range. It competes for a spot with other efficient creatures and spells, and in many cases, players might opt for alternatives that provide similar benefits without the ongoing resource sacrifice.
Reasons to Include Sangrophage in Your Collection
Versatility: Sangrophage is a card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck strategies. It offers a balance of aggressive stats for its mana cost, making it a fitting choice for players looking to bolster their early game presence on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: As a creature that requires a life payment for its upkeep, Sangrophage pairs well with decks that capitalize on life-loss mechanics. This opens up synergy with cards that leverage your life total for powerful effects or with those that reward you for losing life.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive decks are thriving, Sangrophage can serve as a potent inclusion. Its ability to apply early pressure means that it can be a valuable asset against a variety of deck archetypes commonly found in the current competitive scene.
How to beat
Sangrophage presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its life-leeching abilities. Players facing off against this card must adopt strategies that mitigate the self-inflicted damage without letting this vampiric creature dominate the game. One effective tactic is prioritizing the removal of Sangrophage early on, using instant-speed spells to ensure it doesn’t provide sustained value to your opponent.
Additionally, stabilizing your life total becomes critical. Incorporate cards that grant you life-gain to offset the health loss from Sangrophage. This can be achieved through creatures with lifelink or spells that offer health restoration. Counteracting its effect can turn the tables and reduce Sangrophage’s impact, especially when combined with robust board control cards to clear the way and keep creatures like Sangrophage in check.
While Sangrophage can be a thorn in your side, understanding its weaknesses and preparing a deck with the right answers will make it much more manageable, allowing you to maintain control of the game and emerge victorious.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sangrophage MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Sangrophage 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 Sangrophage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral | TSP | 127 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 135 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sangrophage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sangrophage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | You choose whether or not to pay 2 life as the triggered ability resolves. You can pay 2 life even if Sangrophage is already tapped. (Doing so won’t cause Sangrophage to become untapped, however.) |