Sophina, Spearsage Deserter MTG Card


Sophina, Spearsage Deserter - Secret Lair Drop
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities Friends forever,Investigate,Menace
Released2019-12-02
Set symbol
Set nameSecret Lair Drop
Set codeSLD
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number341
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Key Takeaways

  1. Sophina’s card draw and opponent disruption provide a dual offensive and defensive edge.
  2. Her ability to untap lands accelerates resources, crucial for control strategies and big spells.
  3. Instant speed activation offers adaptability and maintains game tempo without sacrificing impact.

Text of card

Menace Whenever Sophina, Spearsage Deserter attacks, investigate once for each nontoken attacking creature. (To investigate, create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") Friends forever (You can have two commanders if both have friends forever.)

"Track the rot. See how far it goes."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sophina Spearsage Deserter shines when it comes to granting additional draw options in the late game. Not only does this card contribute to the wealth of your hand by potentially drawing extra cards, but it also disrupts your opponent’s hand, blending both offense and defense.

Resource Acceleration: With the ability to untap multiple lands during each opponent’s untap step, Sophina Spearsage Deserter provides a substantial boost in resource acceleration. This effect can significantly ramp up your mana availability, giving you a vital edge especially when you are playing control strategies or looking to cast high-cost spells.

Instant Speed: Sophina’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, which adds a layer of flexibility to your gameplay. This feature allows you to adapt to the flow of the match, deciding whether to utilize her ability for immediate impact or hold back for a surprise during your opponent’s turn, all while keeping pace without sacrificing tempo.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sophina Spearsage Deserter demands a specific conditioning in the form of player-side card discard, potentially leading to a depletion of strategic hand options. This tactic might leave players at a strategic disadvantage, especially in the intensifying late game where every card in hand could turn the tide.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailored to fit within a particular mana framework, this card requires a precise alignment of resources, which might not always sync with a player’s mana flow. Decks not geared to support such rigid costs may find this card challenging to utilize effectively, restricting its versatility in various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Trading off at a high exchange rate, the mana investment for invoking Sophina Spearsage Deserter’s presence on the battlefield is considerable. In instances where the tempo is key, alternatives may offer more economical options to maintain momentum as opposed to the heavier, albeit sometimes more impactful, investment this card requires.


Reasons to Include Sophina Spearsage Deserter in Your Collection

Versatility: This card offers flexibility in deck construction, slotting comfortably into control or midrange decks. Its ability to interact with various game states allows it to be a dynamic choice regardless of your opponent’s strategy.

Combo Potential: Sophina Spearsage Deserter excels at enabling combos with her tap and untap abilities. She can be paired with cards that trigger on tapping or untapping, opening avenues for infinite combos or powerful synergies in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: Given her capability to disrupt opponents and provide utility, Sophina Spearsage Deserter can be a smart inclusion in a meta that values versatility and reactive strategies. Her capacity to fit into and adapt to various meta shifts makes her a valuable asset in competitive play.


How to beat

Sophina Spearsage Deserter is a formidable presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Boasting the ability to control the tempo of the game with her mana manipulation, she can unnerve even seasoned players. Yet, as with all cards, there are strategies to undermine her leverage.

One effective method is by utilizing instant speed removal spells right before your turn, leaving your opponent with fewer resources on their turn. Cards such as Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile can dispatch her without allowing the opponent to benefit from her abilities. Another tactic would be to take advantage of enchantments like Seal Away or Conclave Tribunal which can bypass her untap feature, keeping her constrained and ineffective.

Counterspells play a prominent role too; denying Sophina’s entry onto the field is ideal. By maintaining mana for spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, you hold the keys to preventing her from disrupting your strategy. Additionally, applying pressure early with swift creatures may force your opponent to play on the back foot, reducing the impact Sophina Spearsage Deserter could have once on the scene. Through these means, one can mitigate her effects and maintain the upper hand in the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

The depth and strategy of MTG are perfectly exemplified by Sophina Spearsage Deserter, a card that embodies the finesse of powerful late-game draw options and resource acceleration. While she does require careful play and specific mana costs, her instant-speed ability offers unparalleled gameplay flexibility. It’s important to consider both the pros and cons of adding such a multi-faceted card to your collection. If you’re intrigued by the potential combos and meta-relevance Sophina brings to the table, or seeking effective strategies to counter her in play, dive deeper into the mechanics and strategies surrounding this impressive card. Elevate your game and discover how Sophina Spearsage Deserter can shape your MTG experience. Visit us to learn more and master your deck’s capabilities.


Cards like Sophina, Spearsage Deserter

Sophina, Spearsage Deserter brings a fresh dynamic to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its resemblance to other creatures is notable in aspects of mana value and utilities. Cards like Dire Fleet Daredevil present parallel utility by exploiting spells from the opponent’s graveyard. However, Sophina, Spearsage Deserter takes a unique stance by offering a strategic escalation in power and toughness, stepping beyond what you might expect from straightforward graveyard interaction.

Moreover, when considering utility creatures, Toshiro Umezawa is a fitting comparison to Sophina, Spearsage Deserter due to the spell casting from the graveyard. While Toshiro’s focus is on instant cards and provides an immediate payoff, Sophina relies on carefully timed plays and an ongoing presence on the battlefield, which may lead to a greater payoff over time. Eternal Witness also comes to mind, allowing the retrieval of cards from the graveyard to hand, giving a different kind of resource advantage compared to Sophina’s in-play buff.

Ultimately, Sophina, Spearsage Deserter holds its ground as a card that encourages tactical play, leveraging graveyard contents to strengthen and build board presence in ways distinct from other similar MTG cards.

Dire Fleet Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Toshiro Umezawa - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions
Dire Fleet Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Toshiro Umezawa - MTG Card versions
Eternal Witness - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sophina, Spearsage Deserter MTG card by a specific set like Secret Lair Drop, 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 Sophina, Spearsage Deserter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sophina, Spearsage Deserter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal