Sinister Possession MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2013-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragon's Maze |
| Set code | DGM |
| Number | 29 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Anthony Palumbo |
Text of card
Enchant creature Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, its controller loses 2 life.
"You caught something on a cold night's stroll? No, I'd say something caught you." —Mezim Magrah, civic healer
Cards like Sinister Possession
The intriguing Sinister Possession from Magic: The Gathering is a black enchantment aura that deals with the control aspect of gameplay. Analogous to it is the card Crippling Blight, which both lowers a creature’s power and inhibits its blocking capabilities. Sinister Possession, while not altering stats, penalizes the opponent further by causing life loss whenever the enchanted creature attacks or blocks.
In the spectrum of auras, another noteworthy comparison is Contaminated Bond. Like Sinister Possession, it makes the mere act of attacking costly for your adversary in terms of life points. However, while Sinister Possession is versatile, affecting both attacking and blocking, Contaminated Bond only triggers on attacks. Another similar card is Stab Wound, which decreases the creature’s power and causes life loss at each upkeep, creating a two-pronged pressure on your opponent.
Evaluating these cards together, Sinister Possession stands out for its unique ability to make an opponent think twice about utilizing their creature, making it a tactical choice in decks that aim to wear down the opposition relentlessly.
Cards similar to Sinister Possession by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sinister Possession offers a passive form of card advantage by providing a repeated effect. Each time the enchanted creature attacks, its controller loses 2 life, incrementally impacting the game without requiring additional card investment.
Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly generate mana or ramp, Sinister Possession can apply pressure on opponent’s resources. By diminishing the opponent’s life total, it indirectly accelerates your path to victory, forcing them to deal with the enchantment or face a steady life drain.
Instant Speed: Although Sinister Possession is not an instant itself, its low mana cost of one black mana makes it easy to integrate into a strategy that includes holding mana open for instant-speed responses. It provides a cost-effective threat that can still allow you to make impactful plays in the same turn cycle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sinister Possession comes with the caveat of potentially setting you back each turn. To maintain its effect, players must contend with a steady depletion of their hand, which could leave you at a disadvantage in the long game, especially against opponents with a strategy focused on card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring black mana, this card fits primarily in mono-black or two-color decks that can easily accommodate its mana needs. For decks that run three or more colors, consistently drawing the right mana sources to play Sinister Possession on time could pose a challenge, thus potentially limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Devoting one mana might not seem like much, but in a game where efficiency is key, each mana point counts. There are more cost-effective enchantments that could impact the board in a more significant manner than the incremental life loss inflicted by Sinister Possession, making its cost-to-effect ratio less appealing in competitive play.
Reasons to Include Sinister Possession in Your Collection
Versatility: Sinister Possession is an enchantment that can be slotted into a variety of decks, especially those that aim to disrupt opponents’ strategies. It’s a low-cost way to incrementally chip away at an opponent’s life total and works well in decks focused on control or attrition.
Combo Potential: This card can complement strategies that revolve around life loss and benefit from opponents’ creatures becoming liabilities. It pairs well with cards that trigger on life loss or create additional penalties for tapped creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, Sinister Possession can serve as a deterrent against attacking or serve as a piece in a strategy designed to punish opponents for committing to the board. This can shift the pace of the match in your favor.
How to beat
Sinister Possession can become an unwelcome hurdle when it latches onto your creatures. This aura skews the risk-reward balance, chipping away at your life total every time the enchanted creature swings. Yet, this minor drain can be navigated with care. To outplay this persistent menace, consider creature removal or enchantment destruction cards. Spot removal spells like Doom Blade or Naturalize allow you to dismantle the Sinister Possession’s grip without sacrificing your own assets.
Directly addressing the creature in question also negates the life loss drawback. Deploying a Pacifism effect renders the enchanted creature useless, bypassing the detriment altogether. Alternatively, focus on your own life gain strategies to offset the drip of damage Sinister Possession causes. Incremental buffers such as life link or repeatable healing effects soften its impact, ensuring you stay ahead in the attrition war. Cards like Soul Warden or Essence Warden not only counteract the possessive card’s effect but can also strengthen your position over the course of a game.
Sidestepping the effects of Sinister Possession is all about strategic card choices, making it a manageable obstacle rather than a game-ending threat in the MTG arena.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sinister Possession MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Sinister Possession 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sinister Possession has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |