Soot Imp MTG Card
2008-07-25 - Number 43
2009-04-10 - Number 37
2014-12-05 - Number 37
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Imp |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever a player plays a nonblack spell, that player loses 1 life.
"If one gets in your chimney, you're going to need a long wick and a barrel of bangstuff to get it out." —Hob Heddil
Cards like Soot Imp
Soot Imp commands attention among the array of flying creature options in Magic: The Gathering. It aligns with cards like Screeching Bat in providing a flying threat, but Soot Imp’s unique ability to penalize opponents for playing nonblack spells makes it stand out. Screeching Bat lacks this strategic aspect and instead offers the ability to transform into a more powerful creature under certain conditions.
Delving into the realm of imp creatures, Skirsdag High Priest also influences the battlefield, albeit with a different approach. It enables players to create formidable Demon tokens, leveraging morbid conditions. Although Soot Imp doesn’t generate tokens, its continuous effect can apply pressure throughout the game, a quality the High Priest doesn’t possess. In addition, Soot Imp’s lower casting cost makes it a swift play compared with the higher investment of mana for the Priest.
When evaluating these comparisons, Soot Imp showcases its merit within the Magic: The Gathering roster for its dual role as an early flying threat and a persistent disruptor of opponents’ play strategies, marking its place in decks eager to exploit its unique deterrent ability.
Cards similar to Soot Imp by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Soot Imp presents an intriguing feature that can dissuade opponents from casting noncreature spells. This potential discard effect can whittle down an opponent’s hand, subtly shifting card advantage in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Soot Imp doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its low mana cost allows players to establish a board presence early in the game without sacrificing tempo, maintaining the pace for further strategic plays.
Instant Speed: The ability of Soot Imp to influence spell casting decisions at any time adds an element of psychological play. Opponents must constantly consider the cost of the discard effect when playing their spells, potentially altering their strategy to avoid the penalty, effectively giving you an advantage at instant speed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Soot Imp requires discarding cards as part of its gameplay, which could hinder your hand advantage especially when you’re tasked with maintaining a card equilibrium to respond to opponents’ threats effectively.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes black mana, Soot Imp demands a specific color commitment making it less flexible for decks that don’t primarily run black mana or those with a more diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing the cost-to-effect ratio, the mana expenditure for Soot Imp may not align with the impact it has on the game state, making it a less appealing choice in comparison to other creatures or spells at similar cost thresholds that might offer greater board presence or control.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Soot Imp can seamlessly adapt to various black-based decks, as it is a creature that can discourage opponents from playing white spells, a common color in many meta decks.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks built around punishment mechanics and resource denial, where each white spell cast by an opponent results in a tangible life point advantage for the Soot Imp’s controller.
Meta-Relevance: With white decks or white spells often featured prominently in many meta environments, including Soot Imp in your collection offers a strategic edge by providing a counterbalance to those prevalent tactics.
How to beat
Soot Imp is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that presents a specific challenge with its ability to penalize players for casting nonblack spells. Navigating against it takes some strategic finesse. To neutralize the threat of Soot Imp, consider using removal spells that are either black or colorless to avoid its taxing effect. Cards like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat can dispose of it without triggering its ability, keeping your game plan on track.
In addition, if Soot Imp’s ability is causing a continuous problem, try adjusting the composition of your deck to include more black spells, thereby circumventing the taxing effect altogether. Alternatively, capitalize on spells that can bypass creature abilities. Look towards enchantment removal that can handle multiple creatures at once, such as Bile Blight or Infest, which will clear Soot Imp along with other potential threats on the board.
Finally, understanding your deck’s strengths and altering your playstyle can be key. By curbing the impulse to play numerous spells in a single turn and instead focusing on strategic play, you can minimize the impact of Soot Imp and push towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Soot Imp MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic, 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 Soot Imp 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
Printings
The Soot Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-07-25 | Eventide | EVE | 43 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2009-04-10 | Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic | DDC | 37 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic | DVD | 37 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Soot Imp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Soot Imp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | A hybrid spell that’s black and another color is *not* a nonblack spell. Since it’s black, it can’t be nonblack! |
| 2008-08-01 | This ability affects all players, including you. |