Sarkhan, Soul Aflame MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Mythic |
Type | Legendary Creature — Human Shaman |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Dragon spells you cast cost less to cast. Whenever a Dragon enters the battlefield under your control, you may have Sarkhan, Soul Aflame become a copy of it until end of turn, except its name is Sarkhan, Soul Aflame and it's legendary in addition to its other types.
Cards like Sarkhan, Soul Aflame
When delving into the rich tapestry of Magic: The Gathering’s planeswalker cards, Sarkhan Soul Aflame boasts a unique place, much like Chandra, Torch of Defiance. Both planeswalkers radiate fiery energy, with Chandra providing flexibility in mana acceleration, direct damage, and card advantage. Sarkhan Soul Aflame similarly offers a versatile toolset including summoning powerful Dragon creature tokens to control the board.
Another card worth mentioning in relation to Sarkhan is Nahiri, the Harbinger. Although Nahiri operates in a different color identity, both excels at manipulating the board state, with Sarkhan’s aptitude for creating dragon minions contrasted by Nahiri’s ability to exile troublesome artifacts or enchantments as well as summoning an ultimate that can be game-ending.
Assessing these comparisons, it’s apparent that Sarkhan Soul Aflame fits well within the context of powerful planeswalker cards in Magic: The Gathering. It embodies a strong identity centered around Dragons, offering strategic depth and solidifying its place among similar impactful cards.
Cards similar to Sarkhan, Soul Aflame by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Sarkhan, Soul Aflame. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
WUBRG | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 5, 2024 | ||
Izzet Aggro | Standard | Izzet Aggro | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sarkhan Soul Aflame provides a substantial boost in card advantage by allowing you to exile the top card of your library and play that card this turn. When piloting a deck that thrives on maintaining card flow, this ability is invaluable as it keeps your hand filled with options and your plays impactful.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable planeswalker also contributes to resource acceleration. By creating a 3/1 red Dragon creature token with haste until end of turn each time an ability is activated, Sarkhan Soul Aflame offers not just an immediate board presence but an aggressive strategy that can quickly overwhelm opponents.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the card synergizes well in decks that include instant speed interactions. With the ability to potentially use mana for instant spells or feed it into Sarkhan’s loyalty abilities, sparking surprise attacks or significant plays even during an adversary’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sarkhan Soul Aflame demands a sacrifice, requiring players to discard another card. This trade-off can pinch your hand when you’re striving to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: This fiery planeswalker’s ability is fueled by a precise blend of mana—demanding not just any mana but one that must include red. This can create a challenge in multicolored decks that might not always have the right mana at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When casting Sarkhan Soul Aflame, the cost is steep, necessitating a significant amount of mana. Other cards at a similar or lower mana cost could potentially provide more immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Sarkhan Soul Aflame in Your Collection
Versatility: Sarkhan Soul Aflame offers a dynamic range of abilities, making it a formidable addition to any deck that seeks to harness the power of dragons and exploit direct damage.
Combo Potential: This card has the ability to create potent interactions within dragon-themed decks or with cards that react favorably to noncreature spell casts, thereby amplifying the damage dealt to opponents or creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where dragon synergies are prevalent or planeswalkers play a pivotal role, including Sarkhan Soul Aflame can provide the edge needed to outmaneuver the competition and adapt to various gameplay situations.
How to beat Sarkhan, Soul Aflame
Sarkhan, Soul Aflame stands out in MTG as a formidable planeswalker capable of summoning dragons and wreaking havoc on the battlefield. The key to countering this powerful card lies in timing and resource management. Just as you would mitigate the impact of a spell like Flame Sweep by playing creatures with toughness greater than 2, beating Sarkhan requires a strategic approach.
One effective method is to pressure your opponent early in the game, before they have the chance to amass the necessary mana to cast Sarkhan. Aggressive decks can achieve this by maintaining a swift pace and presenting threats that must be answered promptly. Should Sarkhan hit the board, having instant-speed removal or counterspells on hand to disrupt its loyalty abilities is crucial. Consider employing spells that can deal with multiple threats at once or specifically target planeswalkers.
Lastly, evasion abilities, such as flying or unblockable, can bypass the dragons summoned by Sarkhan, allowing for direct attacks on the planeswalker. By carefully planning your plays, maintaining control of the board, and using your removal at the right moment, you can effectively neutralize the threat posed by Sarkhan, Soul Aflame and secure your position in the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Digging deeper into the strategic undercurrent of MTG is vital for triumphing over your foes and Sarkhan Soul Aflame has proven to be a pivotal piece in achieving that success. Whether you’re crafting a deck centered around dragon might or looking for powerful late-game swings, this card’s ability to churn out red Dragon creature tokens with haste should not be overlooked. It takes a discerning MTG player to master the balance of card advantage and mana synchronization, ensuring their deck ticks like a well-oiled machine. Unearth more insights and elevate your game by joining our community where strategy meets passion, and every card counts towards your next victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sarkhan, Soul Aflame MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine: The Aftermath and March of the Machine: The Aftermath, 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 Sarkhan, Soul Aflame 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
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Printings
The Sarkhan, Soul Aflame Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-05-12 and 2023-05-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 225 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Domenico Cava | |
2 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 181 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Wilkerson | |
3 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 96 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Domenico Cava | |
4 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Wilkerson | |
5 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eric Wilkerson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sarkhan, Soul Aflame has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sarkhan, Soul Aflame card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2023-05-12 | If the Dragon that enters the battlefield is legendary and you have Sarkhan copy it, the two Dragons will have different names (unless the entering Dragon is somehow named Sarkhan, Soul Aflame). The "legend rule" won't apply. |
2023-05-12 | If the copied Dragon has in its mana cost, X is 0. |
2023-05-12 | If the copied Dragon is a token, Sarkhan copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created that token, with the noted exceptions. |
2023-05-12 | In some unusual cases, the Dragon that entered the battlefield will be copying something else by the time Sarkhan's ability resolves. In such a case, Sarkhan will copy whatever the Dragon is copying, with the noted exceptions. |
2023-05-12 | Sarkhan copies exactly what was printed on the original Dragon and nothing else, with the noted exceptions (unless that creature is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on in response to Sarkhan's ability. |
2023-05-12 | Sarkhan's first ability doesn't change the mana cost or mana value of any Dragon spell. It changes only the total cost you pay. |
2023-05-12 | That ability can't reduce the amount of colored mana you pay for a Dragon spell. It reduces only the generic component of that cost. |