Sinew Dancer MTG Card


Enhances multi-color decks with card advantage and counter accumulation. Offers tactical flexibility with instant speed interaction and counter manipulation. Requires careful managing due to specific mana and discard costs.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Soldier
Abilities Corrupted
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

, : Tap target creature. Corrupted — , : Tap target creature. Activate only if an opponent has three or more poison counters.

To resist the embrace of the Flesh Singularity is to reject unconditional acceptance.


Cards like Sinew Dancer

In the realm of combat tricks within Magic: The Gathering, Sinew Dancer offers a unique twist. This card can be closely compared to others like Rush of Adrenaline, which also provides a temporary boost in power and toughness. Sinew Dancer, however, differentiates itself by potentially becoming a more permanent fixture on the battlefield through its mutate ability.

Another card that echoes the functionality of Sinew Dancer is Giant Growth. Both cards grant a creature a significant bump in power, but Sinew Dancer offers the added versatility of the mutate feature, allowing players to stack effects on top of a non-human creature. In contrast, Blossoming Defense gives a smaller increase in power but compensates with the added benefit of hexproof. This protection can be crucial in shielding a key creature from targeted removal, an option not directly available with Sinew Dancer.

Considering these comparisons, Sinew Dancer has an interesting position among creature boosters in MTG. It may not always be the right choice for a quick combat win but the mutate mechanic provides a strategic layer that, when used wisely, can turn the tide in a player’s favor through accumulated creature abilities and stats.

Rush of Adrenaline - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Defense - MTG Card versions
Rush of Adrenaline - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Blossoming Defense - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sinew Dancer by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
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Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Cho-Arrim Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sinew Dancer offers a novel way to gain an edge over opponents, providing a continuous source of card advantage whenever you cast a multicolor spell. This makes it indispensible in decks with a heavy multicolor theme, keeping your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: This particular card shines in its ability to escalate your board state faster than usual. By rewarding you with an extra +1/+1 counter each time you cast a multicolor spell, it effectively transforms your spells into dual-purpose resources, accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Sinew Dancer lies in its interaction at instant speed. The ability to activate and potentially grow during any player’s turn adds an element of surprise and strategic depth, allowing you to adapt and respond promptly to the evolving battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sinew Dancer requires discarding another card as part of its activation, which could undermine your hand advantage and be particularly restrictive when you’re trying to maintain a strategic reserve of cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both black and green mana for casting, Sinew Dancer’s specific mana requirement might be a challenge in multicolored decks that are not focused on these colors, thus potentially hindering its integration into versatile deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two generic and one each of black and green mana, Sinew Dancer has a relatively steep cost when compared to other creatures with similar abilities or power levels, which can slow down your ability to establish board presence in the early game stages.


Reasons to Include Sinew Dancer in Your Collection

Versatility: Sinew Dancer’s ability to manipulate +1/+1 counters makes it a flexible card that can be incorporated into various deck archetypes. It’s particularly adept in decks that focus on bolstering creatures, enhancing its role in both aggressive and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Sinew Dancer can become a key component in combo-oriented decks. Its interaction with other cards that distribute or double counters can quickly lead to an overwhelming board state for your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given the evolving nature of the MTG landscape, Sinew Dancer’s utility may rise based on the prevalence of certain deck types. In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, having Sinew Dancer could provide a significant tactical advantage and keep your deck competitive.


How to beat

Sinew Dancer is a unique MTG card that bolsters its power through the strength of multi-colored decks. Besting this creature means interrupting its synergy. A key strategy is to control the mana base, as Sinew Dancer relies on a diversity of colors to unlock its full potential. Keeping multi-colored lands and creatures in check can stymie its effectiveness.

Removal spells are particularly effective against Sinew Dancer. Employing instant removal when the opponent attempts to trigger the card’s abilities can disrupt their game plan. Similarly, spells that limit the number of colors an opponent can play will naturally weaken Sinew Dancer’s presence on the board. Board wipes also offer a reset button if the creature has amassed too much power.

Ultimately, understanding the environment Sinew Dancer thrives in is crucial to countering it. Targeted disruption, efficient use of removal, and strategic control of the game’s pace can ensure that Sinew Dancer doesn’t dance around your defenses. Each game against a deck featuring Sinew Dancer is a lesson in adaptive tactics and pinpoint precision.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sinew Dancer MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One and Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Sinew Dancer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sinew Dancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 2862015NormalBlackKekai Kotaki
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 322015NormalBlackCampbell White
32023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 4262015NormalBlackKekai Kotaki
42023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One Art SeriesAONE 662015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sinew Dancer has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal