Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Sarkhan |
| Abilities | Conjure |
| Released | 2021-08-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons |
| Set code | J21 |
| Loyalty | 4 |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Grzegorz Rutkowski |
Key Takeaways
- Generates dragons for card advantage and dynamic deck sifting, significantly bolstering your hand resources.
- Mana acceleration through Dragon tokens can hasten high-impact plays, offering game-changing possibilities.
- Instant speed synergies complement Sarkhan’s abilities, maximizing its in-game effectiveness and flexibility.
Text of card
+1: Dragon cards in your hand perpetually gain "This spell costs less to cast," and "You may pay rather than pay this spell's mana cost, where X is its mana value."
+1: Conjure a card named Shivan Dragon into your hand.
-2: Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv deals 3 damage to target creature.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv provides a dynamic way to sift through your deck via its ability to create Dragon tokens that upon death, allow you to draw cards. This card brings significant value, enabling you to continuously replenish your hand, effectively translating into sustained card advantage throughout the course of the game.
Resource Acceleration: This planeswalker’s ability to produce mana in the form of Dragon tokens can lead to substantial resource acceleration. As these tokens not only serve as formidable threats but can also be converted into mana, they facilitate playing high-impact spells earlier than usual, potentially overwhelming your adversaries.
Instant Speed: While Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with cards that operate at instant speed. The flexibility provided by instant speed interaction in MTG shapes the battlefield to your favor, allowing Sarkhan to capitalize on the optimal state of play, whether it’s casting spells at the last possible moment or responding swiftly to your opponent’s strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv compels players to part with another card upon activation. Such a requirement can prove detrimental when you’re already fighting an uphill battle to maintain a healthy card advantage or when every card in your hand is a valuable piece of your strategic puzzle.
Specific Mana Cost: Costing not just a mix of generic and colored mana but mandating a precise combination, Sarkhan must be played with flexibility in mind. Decks that aren’t fine-tuned to accommodate this spiked mana demand might find themselves stumbling to get him onto the battlefield when needed most.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Demand for a considerable investment of four mana places him in competition with other impactful cards in your arsenal. This steep fee demands contemplation—do the scales tip in favor of Sarkhan when alternative dragons or spells offer a potentially lower cost or more immediate board presence?
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv brings flexibility to the table, able to seamlessly adapt to different play styles and deck archetypes. Its ability to both accelerate your mana and generate card advantage by transforming into a dragon makes it a multifaceted card for any collection.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a linchpin in numerous combos, especially in decks that exploit dragon synergies or those built around planeswalker abilities. Its potential to be a game-changer by either ramping up resources or by becoming a formidable creature itself can’t be overstated.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors dynamic strategies, Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv can be particularly influential. Its relevance is maintained across various meta shifts, ensuring that your deck remains competitive, whether facing down control-heavy opponents or racing against aggressive decks.
How to beat
Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv represents a dynamic force in MTG, echoing the might of iconic planeswalkers with its ability to call forth dragons and manipulate game flow. Confronting such a card requires strategic finesse. Card removal spells are an effective countermeasure, specifically those that can bypass potential indestructible status or hexproof, think along the lines of “Terminus” or “Settle the Wreckage”. Board control is also paramount; ensuring you maintain creature superiority can mitigate the impact of Sarkhan’s dragon-empowering abilities.
Managing your own threats properly is crucial. Deploying creatures with flying can block incoming dragons, and spells that can handle multiple threats at once, like “Wrath of God”, can clear the path for victory. Furthermore, playing around Sarkhan’s loyalty abilities by calculating the right moment to strike—without overcommitting resources—will provide an upper hand. Hand disruption is advantageous too, using spells that force opponents to discard can preemptively deal with Sarkhan before it hits the battlefield.
Ultimately, when facing the challenge of Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv, precision in timing, resource management, and understanding when to exert pressure can sway the game in your favor, seamlessly blending defense and offense in MTG’s ever-evolving tactical landscape.
Cards like Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv
Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv carves out a unique position in Magic: The Gathering’s landscape of dragon-focused cards. It echoes the utility found in cards like Dragonmaster Outcast, renowned for its potential to create a formidable dragon creature at every upkeep once you control six or more lands. Sarkhan’s ability to generate dragon tokens sets it apart, adding strategic depth with the added flair of incorporating Shiv’s fiery ambiance to the gameplay.
Dragon Tempest is another card that shares thematic similarities with Sarkhan, boasting an enabler role for dragons and amplifying their impact upon entering the battlefield. While Dragon Tempest does not create dragon creatures, it has the advantage of immediately affecting the board with its static ability to grant haste to your dragons. Sarkhan’s versatility is its strength, offering a personalized dynamic of token generation and enhancing gameplay narrative with its loyalty abilities.
Assessing the various dragon-themed cards in the game, Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv undoubtedly stands out for its ability to harness the power of dragons while captivating players with its vivid depiction of Shiv’s landscape. It remains a distinctive choice for enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in the draconic lore and strategy of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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, Wanderer to Shiv 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |