Sanity Gnawers MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Rat |
| Released | 2009-04-30 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alara Reborn |
| Set code | ARB |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 44 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
When Sanity Gnawers comes into play, target player discards a card at random.
The last thought to go through their victim's mind is the one they tear out through the scalp.
Understanding Sanity Gnawer’s Role in Your Deck
Within the varied arsenal of discard strategies in Magic: The Gathering, Sanity Gnawers emerges as an intriguing creature card. It can be paralleled to cards like Ravenous Rats, which also forces an opponent to discard upon entering the battlefield. However, Sanity Gnawers has the added benefit of being a repeatable source of discard, assuming you can return it to your hand and recast it.
Cards like Sanity Gnawers
Sanity Gnawers belongs to a unique category of creatures in MTG, focusing on disrupting the opponent’s hand. A classic card that shares this strategy is Liliana’s Specter, providing a similar discard effect, but affecting all opponents at once and with flying as an added evasion. Burglar Rat is another similar creature that requires each opponent to discard a card but trades off the potential for repeated use for a greater initial impact. Another card worth considering is Rotting Rats, which presents a symmetric discard challenge, forcing each player, not just your opponent, to discard a card upon entry and also offers the unearth ability for additional uses.
In summary, while Sanity Gnawers offers a potentially reusable source of discard, it competes with a range of creatures that provide immediate and sometimes wider-reaching effects. Its place in your strategy will largely depend on whether you value repeating the discard effect on a single target over the broader initial impact that other similar creatures might offer.
Cards similar to Sanity Gnawers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Sanity Gnawers, you have the ability to disrupt your opponent’s hand by making them discard cards, thus potentially gaining an upper hand in maintaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Sanity Gnawers doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, but by removing key pieces from your opponent’s hand, it can indirectly accelerate your position by slowing them down.
Instant Speed: Though Sanity Gnawers operates at sorcery speed, the instant nature of its kindred spells can offer synergistic plays, allowing you to maximize turn efficiency based on your overall strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sanity Gnawers comes with the stipulation that, upon casting, you must force your opponent to discard a card. Though disruptive to your opponent, this effect can be less impactful if they possess a means to utilize their graveyard or if their hand is already depleted, making the discard less significant.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires both black and red mana, Sanity Gnawers may not fit seamlessly into all decks. Players running multicolored decks might find it challenging to consistently meet the mana requirement, potentially causing the card to be a dead draw at crucial moments of the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a converted mana cost of three, including one red and one black, Sanity Gnawers’ impact on the game may not correlate with its mana investment. This can be particularly true in formats where mana efficiency is paramount, and other cards at the same cost can provide a stronger board presence or more versatile effects.
Reasons to Include Sanity Gnawers in Your Collection
Versatility: Sanity Gnawers’ unique ability to force a discard from an opponent’s hand gives it a flexible role in decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s strategies. It can slip into various archetypes that prioritize hand disruption or creature-based tactics.
Combo Potential: This creature can synergize with cards that benefit from opponents discarding or that trigger upon discards. The potential to combo with other discard mechanisms means Sanity Gnawers can be a key piece in a larger puzzle that aims to control the opponent’s options.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where players rely heavily on carefully curated hands, Sanity Gnawers can upset the balance, making it a pertinent choice for shaking up the current meta. It’s specifically impactful in formats where maintaining card advantage is crucial for victory.
How to beat
Sanity Gnawers pack a unique punch in any MTG match, placing your opponent in a bind by forcing them to discard cards. The impact can be severe, especially if played at just the right moment. At the core of its ability is the potential to disrupt your opponent’s hand, diminishing their options on subsequent turns. This makes timing and strategic planning crucial when facing Sanity Gnawers.
To effectively counter Sanity Gnawers, consider including instant-speed removal cards in your deck. This type of card can eliminate Sanity Gnawers before their ability triggers, thus preserving your hand. Cards with the ability to shuffle the graveyard back into the library can also be key, as they limit the long-term damage done by discarding. Additionally, including cards in your own deck that benefit from discarding or take advantage of a fuller graveyard can turn the tide of battle back into your favor. In essence, while Sanity Gnawers can exert pressure, a well-prepared deck and careful play can mitigate their effects.
Overall, while Sanity Gnawers can present a significant challenge, the route to victory involves neutralizing threats before they become unmanageable, and possibly even using your opponent’s tactics to your own advantage. Adapting your gameplay and deck-building strategies is crucial to overcome the obstacles presented by such formidable cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sanity Gnawers MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Sanity Gnawers 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sanity Gnawers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |