Sigil of the Empty Throne MTG Card
2009-02-06 - Number 18
2012-06-01 - Number 11
2015-07-17 - Number 31
2015-11-13 - Number 80
2016-11-25 - Number 11
2018-08-09 - Number 74
2020-03-12 - Number 3
2021-03-19 - Number 301
2022-12-02 - Number 244
2023-08-04 - Number 836
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Whenever you play an enchantment spell, put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying into play.
When Asha left Bant, she ensured that the world would have protection and order in her absence.
Cards like Sigil of the Empty Throne
Sigil of the Empty Throne is a unique enchantment in MTG that rewards players heavily for casting other enchantments. When comparing it to other cards, one can look at Luminarch Ascension as a relative. Both cards create angel tokens, but Luminarch Ascension does so at a potentially faster rate, considering you don’t need to cast enchantments to trigger it. However, Sigil of the Empty Throne directly ties into enchantment-based strategies, making it particularly potent in decks oriented around such cards.
Another card worth mentioning is Starfield of Nyx. While it doesn’t create tokens, it does turn your enchantments into creatures, which can quickly overwhelm opponents. This card especially synergizes well with Sigil of the Empty Throne, as it can turn the created angel tokens into a formidable army. Lastly, there’s Heliod, Sun-Crowned, which adopts a different approach by giving you the ability to create tokens with lifelink through its ability, although requiring life gain for activation.
Assessing their specifics, Sigil of the Empty Throne remains a core piece in enchantment-themed decks in MTG, providing continuous and substantial advantages as enchantments are played.
Cards similar to Sigil of the Empty Throne by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Sigil of the Empty Throne. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Selesnya Enchantments | Modern | Enchantress | Spring Modern Championship |
 | Naya Enchantress | Modern | Enchantress | $10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Saturday - 9:00 am |
| Enchantress | Modern | Enchantress | Modern League 2023-12-04 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sigil of the Empty Throne is a powerhouse when it comes to generating card advantage in enchantment-focused decks. With each enchantment you cast, it creates a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying. This capacity helps you build up a formidable presence on the board without depleting your hand of other resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although Sigil of the Empty Throne doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, the constant pressure it applies on the battlefield can indirectly accelerate your victory. Each Angel token can be a significant threat that opponents must deal with, allowing your other strategies to progress unimpeded.
Instant Speed: While Sigil of the Empty Throne is not an instant itself, the ability to create Angels can be triggered during your opponent’s turn if you play instant-speed enchantments. This can provide unexpected blockers and apply pressure even when it’s not your turn, making it a flexible threat in a variety of situations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike some other enchantments that offer value upon entry, Sigil of the Empty Throne requires a continuous stream of enchantments to be played for it to provide any benefit. This can lead to a depletion of your hand, as you must discard enchantments to the graveyard to keep the machine running, often leaving you at a disadvantage should your opponent clear the board or your draw not align with your needs.
Specific Mana Cost: Sigil of the Empty Throne necessitates a precise mana arrangement, costing three generic and two white mana to cast. This specific requirement can be limiting, especially in multicolor decks that may struggle to consistently produce enough white mana, reducing the card’s versatility and potentially leading to it being a dead card in your hand at critical moments.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Sigil of the Empty Throne is a significant investment, especially when compared to other game-changing five-mana spells or creatures. In fast-paced games, investing five mana into a card that does not affect the board immediately can put you behind, making it a potentially risky play against decks that aim to win in the early to mid-game.
Reasons to Include Sigil of the Empty Throne in Your Collection
Versatility: Sigil of the Empty Throne is a dynamic enchantment that thrives in decks focused on casting other enchantments. Its ability to create 4/4 Angel creature tokens whenever you cast an enchantment spell allows it to be a powerful play in both aggressive and control-oriented builds.
Combo Potential: This card pairs excellently with enchantments that have a low mana cost or can be returned from the graveyard to your hand. Its synergy with proliferate and blink effects also opens up creative and potent combo avenues to explore, consistently rewarding your strategy of playing enchantments with substantial board presence.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, Sigil of the Empty Throne maintains prominence in formats where enchantment decks are evergreen. Its role is pivotal in enduring Legacy or Commander decks where enchantments are a staple. Given its powerful effect, it can easily shift the tide in slower-paced games, making it a valuable asset in the right meta.
How to beat
Sigil of the Empty Throne is a powerful enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering that can dominate the battlefield with an array of Angel tokens. The key to overpowering this deck centerpiece lies in preventing it from leveraging its strengths. Control decks that focus on counter-spells have a clear edge by denying Sigil of the Empty Throne from entering the field, effectively stopping its ability to create tokens.
Moreover, efficient removal spells that target enchantments, like Disenchant or Naturalize, can swiftly remove Sigil of the Empty Throne from the game. Playing these cards at the right moment, perhaps when your opponent is tapped out and unable to counter, will tilt the balance in your favor. Additionally, implementing graveyard disruption through cards such as Leyline of the Void hampers the recurring potential of Sigil of the Empty Throne from mechanics like reanimation or other retrieval strategies.
Remember, denying resources and board presence to enchantment-heavy decks before they build momentum is often as critical as dealing with the threats already on the board. Stay proactive and patient, dismantling their game plan piece by piece, and you’ll be able to neutralize the otherwise overwhelming power of Sigil of the Empty Throne.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sigil of the Empty Throne MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Planechase 2012, 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 the Empty Throne 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 Sigil of the Empty Throne Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Cyril Van Der Haegen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-02-06 | Conflux | CON | 18 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 2 | 2012-06-01 | Planechase 2012 | PC2 | 11 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 3 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 4 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 5 | 2016-11-25 | Planechase Anthology | PCA | 11 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 6 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 7 | 2020-03-12 | Historic Anthology 2 | HA2 | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 8 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 301 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 9 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 10 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 836 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sigil of the Empty Throne has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sigil of the Empty Throne 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 | An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger, but after targets have been chosen for that spell. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |
| 2021-03-19 | Because it’s not on the battlefield yet, casting Sigil of the Empty Throne won’t cause its own ability to trigger. |