Sigil of Sleep MTG Card


Enabling repeated creature removal, Sigil of Sleep fortifies strategies emphasizing board control. Sigil’s impact hinges on combat damage, which might be impeded by creature-heavy or control-oriented decks. Its strategic inclusion in blue decks capitalizes on unblockable creatures for uninterrupted advantages.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Whenever enchanted creature deals damage to a player, return target creature that player controls to its owner's hand.

Arrows are only one way to remove an enemy.


Cards like Sigil of Sleep

Sigil of Sleep is an enchanting aura with a unique effect, offering great potential in specific MTG blue decks that focus on creatures and combat. One can draw parallels to Curiosity which, like Sigil of Sleep, attaches to a creature and provides a trigger upon dealing damage to an opponent. Curiosity rewards you with card draw instead of bouncing an opponent’s creature, presenting a different strategic benefit.

Analogous in function to Sigil of Sleep is the enchantment Narcolepsy. Although Narcolepsy does not return the creature to its owner’s hand, it effectively neutralizes a threat by tapping the creature each turn. While Narcolepsy operates on your upkeep, Sigil of Sleep provides a more proactive solution to creatures by using combat as a trigger for its bouncing effect.

Another related card is Unsummon, which boasts the same ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand. However, Unsummon is a one-time instant whereas Sigil of Sleep can potentially trigger multiple times throughout the game, offering a recurring advantage. In this aspect, the continuous control provided by Sigil of Sleep makes it a compelling option for players seeking repetitive creature disruption.

Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Narcolepsy - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Narcolepsy - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sigil of Sleep by color, type and mana cost

Flight - MTG Card versions
Unstable Mutation - MTG Card versions
Field of Dreams - MTG Card versions
Dream Coat - MTG Card versions
Tangle Kelp - MTG Card versions
Tidal Flats - MTG Card versions
Flood - MTG Card versions
Backfire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Essence Flare - MTG Card versions
Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions
Mana Chains - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Veiled Sentry - MTG Card versions
Air Bladder - MTG Card versions
Seal of Removal - MTG Card versions
Shimmering Wings - MTG Card versions
Aboshan's Desire - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Falls - MTG Card versions
Flight - MTG Card versions
Unstable Mutation - MTG Card versions
Field of Dreams - MTG Card versions
Dream Coat - MTG Card versions
Tangle Kelp - MTG Card versions
Tidal Flats - MTG Card versions
Flood - MTG Card versions
Backfire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Essence Flare - MTG Card versions
Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions
Mana Chains - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Veiled Sentry - MTG Card versions
Air Bladder - MTG Card versions
Seal of Removal - MTG Card versions
Shimmering Wings - MTG Card versions
Aboshan's Desire - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Falls - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Sigil of Sleep is attached to a creature, each time that creature deals damage to an opponent, you can return target creature that player controls to their hand. This reusable bounce effect can effectively reduce your opponent’s board presence while maintaining your number of cards.

Resource Acceleration: Although Sigil of Sleep itself may not directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly do so by eliminating potential blockers or threats. This allows for your creatures to connect more easily, potentially accelerating your damage output and bringing you closer to a win condition.

Instant Speed: Sigil of Sleep’s triggered ability operates at instant speed. Each time the enchanted creature deals damage to an opponent, you can leverage the window to disrupt their strategy at a moment that’s most inconvenient for them, possibly during their combat phase or before they can utilize a key creature’s abilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Sigil of Sleep grants a powerful bounce effect, it necessitates having a creature deal combat damage to an opponent. This could be challenging against decks with ample creature control, leading to a missed opportunity to use the enchantment’s ability.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring one blue mana, Sigil of Sleep may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that don’t prioritize blue mana or have mana fixing capabilities. This could limit its inclusion only to those decks where blue mana is readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In comparison to other enchantments that could potentially offer greater immediate impact or different types of control, the single blue mana investment, while seemingly low, is dedicated to a card that doesn’t impact the board immediately and relies on further conditions to be met, making it less appealing in fast-paced games where tempo is critical.


Reasons to Include Sigil of Sleep in Your Collection

Versatility: Sigil of Sleep’s ability to attach to any creature grants it the flexibility to be included in a variety of decks. Agile and lightweight, this enchantment transforms your creatures into bouncing agents, sending opponents’ threats back to their hand when damage is dealt.

Combo Potential: This card pairs excellently with creatures that can deal damage multiple times in a turn, or with those that have unblockable or evasion abilities. It paves the way for high synergy plays, significantly disrupting your opponent’s board presence and strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In games that are heavily reliant on creature-based strategies, Sigil of Sleep increases in value. It allows you to maintain control of the board by continually clearing your opponent’s side, which can be a game-changer against decks that rely on establishing and maintaining a strong battlefield presence.


How to Beat Sigil of Sleep

Sigil of Sleep is an enchantment that has the potential to be a game-changer in Magic: The Gathering. It equips a creature with the ability to return an opponent’s creature to their hand whenever the enchanted creature deals damage to them. Understanding its dynamics can help you diffuse its advantage effectively.

To counter this subtle yet potent threat, prioritize targeting the Sigil directly with enchantment removal spells. Disenchant or Naturalize are efficient tools to dispatch it. Should these not be available, focus on removing the enchanted creature using removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile, preventing the bounce effect entirely.

Moreover, employing hexproof or shroud on your creatures can render the Sigil’s ability useless, as it cannot target protected creatures. Consider cards like Swiftfoot Boots to safeguard your own board. Lastly, keeping counterspell backup whenever your opponent attempts to play or attach Sigil of Sleep can prevent its placement outright, preserving your field position against this persistent disturbance.

While Sigil of Sleep can repeatedly disrupt your strategy, remember these tips to maintain board control. In essence, strategic removal and protection are key to beating the enchanting challenge that Sigil of Sleep presents.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the gameplay strategies of MTG with Sigil of Sleep, a blue enchantment that transforms your creatures into powerful tempo disruptors. Managing board control is a skill mastered over time, and cards like this one offer a nuanced tool set to tip the scales in your favor. It’s all about understanding the card’s strengths, utility, and how it interacts with your broader strategy. Are you ready to outmaneuver your opponents and control the battlefield? Delve into our comprehensive guides where we unwrap the potential of strategic card choices such as Sigil of Sleep and help you refine your deck to achieve victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sigil of Sleep MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Sigil of Sleep and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sigil of Sleep Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-06-07Urza's DestinyUDS 461997NormalBlackGreg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt
22012-03-30Duel Decks: Venser vs. KothDDI 252003NormalBlackGreg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sigil of Sleep has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal