Sorin Markov MTG Card

Sorin Markov offers control by setting an opponent’s life to 10, disrupting their game plan. Despite not producing mana, Sorin accelerates victory by commandeering an opponent’s turn. Instant-like disruptive power makes Sorin a persistent threat and a formidable asset.

Zendikar (ZEN)
2009-10-02 - Number 111

Magic 2012 (M12)
2011-07-15 - Number 109

Mythic Edition (MED)
2018-10-05 - Number RA3

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 778

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ZEN-111

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number M12-109

Card sets	Released in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Legendary Planeswalker — Sorin
Loyalty	4

Text of card

+2: Sorin Markov deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you gain 2 life. -3: Target opponent's life total becomes 10. -7: You control target player's next turn.

Cards like Sorin Markov

Sorin Markov stands as an iconic Planeswalker card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a mix of life manipulation and control elements. One can draw parallels to another powerful Planeswalker, Liliana Vess. Both command a considerable influence on the board with their ability to control opponent’s gameplay. However, Sorin Markov is particularly notorious for his third ability to set an opponent’s life total to 10, a potential game-changer.

Comparing Sorin to Ob Nixilis Reignited, another Planeswalker with a strong presence, Sorin’s higher cost is balanced by his immediate impact on life totals. Ob Nixilis offers card draw and targeted creature destruction but does not affect life totals as directly as Sorin does. Sorin’s eclectic mix of abilities provides a unique position in any black control deck, endeavoring to unsettle opponents with life total adjustments and creature control.

As we assess Sorin Markov in the landscape of MTG Planeswalker cards, his specialized and powerful abilities highlight his relevance and versatility. He may require strategic play, considering his mana cost, but once on the field, he can swiftly tilt the game in a player’s favor, distinguishing him within his class.

Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sorin Markov by color, type and mana cost

Liliana, Dreadhorde General - MTG Card versions

Vraska, Scheming Gorgon - MTG Card versions

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The power of Sorin Markov lies in his ability to control the course of the game by directly setting an opponent’s life total to 10 with just one of his abilities. This often equates to a massive swing in board presence and momentum, as well as indirectly providing card advantage by negating the effects of any life-gaining cards your opponent may have played previously.

Resource Acceleration: Sorin Markov isn’t typically known for resource acceleration in the traditional sense of providing extra mana. However, his ultimate can be seen as a form of acceleration, giving you control of an opponent’s turn, which can set them back significantly and accelerate your victory. It’s like gaining extra turns without expending resources.

Instant Speed: While Sorin himself isn’t an instant, his ability to drastically lower an opponent’s life total comes with significant disruptive potential that can be almost as advantageous as playing at instant speed. Plus, having Sorin on the board compels your opponents to play as though you could unleash his game-changing abilities at any moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Sorin Markov card itself does not demand a discard, this planeswalker can be indirectly impacted if your strategy relies on discarding for other synergies. This could leave you with fewer options to defend Sorin from being targeted and taken down by opponents, ultimately compromising your board position.

Specific Mana Cost: Sorin Markov requires a notably specific mana commitment with one black mana symbol and a total cost of six mana. This heavy black mana requirement can sometimes make it challenging to play him in multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Sorin sits at a higher spectrum of the mana curve. In fast-paced games or formats, deploying a costly card like Sorin might prove to be less efficient, especially when lower-cost alternatives might provide faster tempo or immediate board impact.

Reasons to Include Sorin Markov in Your Collection

Versatility: Sorin Markov is a dynamic card that can be integrated into various decks, particularly ones that focus on control and life manipulation. His ability to set an opponent’s life total to 10 is a game-changer in any format where he’s legal.

Combo Potential: With Sorin’s second ability, he pairs excellently with strategies aimed to quickly diminish an opponent’s life. Also, his ultimate is a deadly tool that can lock an opponent out of the game when combined with other mind control effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where long games predominate, a planeswalker like Sorin Markov can provide significant advantage. Whether it’s disrupting life-based combos or taking command of an opponent’s turn, Sorin is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

How to beat

Sorin Markov, a formidable Planeswalker card in Magic: The Gathering, presents players with unique challenges. His ability to set a player’s life total to 10 can be a game-changer. To counter this, one strategy is to employ instant-speed removal spells or abilities that can disrupt Sorin before his effect takes place. Direct damage spells or creatures with haste can apply pressure, forcing your opponent to use resources to protect Sorin rather than utilizing his devastating ability.

In addition, cards that limit the usefulness of loyalty abilities, like Pithing Needle, can prevent Sorin from using his powers entirely. Incorporating cards that specifically counter abilities from Planeswalkers, or using strategies that increase one’s own life total rapidly, can mitigate the impact of Sorin’s life-altering effect. Strategic deck-building and quick response time are essential in overcoming the high stakes that Sorin Markov brings to the table.

Ultimately, players must be prepared with a versatile arsenal and the forethought to anticipate such powerful opponents. Understanding Sorin’s strengths and how to efficiently navigate around them can enhance your gameplay and turn the tide in your favor, even when facing this iconic vampire Planeswalker.

BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up, Sorin Markov is a cornerstone card for players looking to harness the power of life manipulation in MTG. As a must-have for any collector, Sorin can dramatically alter the state of play with his singular abilities. The journey to MTG mastery involves not only knowing your cards but also understanding how to craft a strategy around their strengths and weaknesses. We encourage budding and seasoned players alike to level up their game, and Sorin Markov is just the kind of challenge that can test and refine your skills. To delve deeper into effective strategies with this formidable Planeswalker, explore further with us and ensure your deck is a force to be reckoned with.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sorin Markov MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Magic 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 Sorin Markov and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sorin Markov Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-10-02	Zendikar	ZEN	111	2003	Normal	Black	Michael Komarck
2	2011-07-15	Magic 2012	M12	109	2003	Normal	Black	Michael Komarck
3	2018-10-05	Mythic Edition	MED	RA3	2015	Normal	Borderless	Kieran Yanner
4	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	778	2003	Normal	Black	Michael Komarck
5	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	ZEN-111	2003	Normal	Black	Michael Komarck
6	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	M12-109	2003	Normal	Black	Michael Komarck

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sorin Markov has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sorin Markov card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	For a player’s life total to become 10, what actually happens is that the player gains or loses the appropriate amount of life. For example, if the targeted opponent’s life total is 4 when this ability resolves, it will cause that player to gain 6 life; alternately, if the targeted player’s life total is 17 when this ability resolves, it will cause that player to lose 7 life. Other cards that interact with life gain or life loss will interact with this effect accordingly.
2009-10-01	If the player affected by Sorin’s third ability skips their next turn, the ability will wait. You’ll control the next turn the affected player actually takes.
2009-10-01	If the targeted permanent or player is an illegal target by the time Sorin’s first ability resolves, the entire ability doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain life.
2009-10-01	Multiple player-controlling effects that affect the same player overwrite each other. The last one to be created is the one that works.
2009-10-01	Sorin’s third ability allows you to control another player. This effect applies to the next turn that the affected player actually takes.
2009-10-01	The player who is being controlled is still the active player.
2009-10-01	While controlling another player, you also continue to make your own choices and decisions.
2009-10-01	While controlling another player, you make all choices and decisions that player is allowed to make or is told to make during that turn. For example: -- You choose which lands the other player plays. -- You choose which spells the other player casts, and make all decisions as those spells are cast and as they resolve. For example, you choose the value of X for that player's Earthquake, the target for that player's Lightning Bolt, what mana that player spends to cast Day of Judgment, and what card that player gets with Diabolic Tutor. -- You choose which activated abilities the other player activates, and make all decisions as those abilities are activated and as they resolve. For example, you can have your opponent sacrifice their creatures to their Vampire Aristocrat or have your opponent's Caller of Gales give one of your creatures flying. -- You make all decisions for the other player's triggered abilities, including what they target and any decisions made when they resolve. -- You choose which creatures controlled by the other player attack, who or what they attack, and how they assign their combat damage. -- You make any choices and decisions that player would make for any other reason. For example, you could cast Fact or Fiction, choose that player to divide the revealed cards into piles, and thus divide those cards into piles yourself.
2009-10-01	You can use only the affected player’s resources (cards, mana, and so on) to pay costs for that player; you can’t use your own. Similarly, you can use the affected player’s resources only to pay that player’s costs; you can’t spend them on your costs.
2009-10-01	You can’t make any illegal decisions or illegal choices — you can’t do anything that player couldn’t do. You can’t make choices or decisions for that player that aren’t called for by the game rules or by any cards, permanents, spells, abilities, and so on. If an effect causes another player to make decisions that the affected player would normally make (such as Master Warcraft does), that effect takes precedence. (In other words, if the affected player wouldn’t make a decision, you wouldn’t make that decision on their behalf.) You also can’t make any choices or decisions for the player that would be called for by the tournament rules (such as whether to take an intentional draw or whether to call a judge).
2009-10-01	You can’t make the affected player concede. That player may choose to concede at any time, even while you’re controlling their turn.
2009-10-01	You could gain control of yourself using Sorin’s third ability, but unless you do so to overwrite someone else’s player-controlling effect, this doesn’t do anything.
2009-10-01	You only control the player. You don’t control any of the other player’s permanents, spells, or abilities.
2010-06-15	In a Two-Headed Giant game, Sorin’s second ability causes the targeted opponent’s team’s life total to become 10. Only the targeted player is actually considered to have actually gained or lost life.
2016-07-13	Controlling a player doesn’t allow you to look at that player’s sideboard. If an effect instructs that player to choose a card from outside the game, you can’t have that player choose any card.
2016-07-13	While controlling another player, you can see all cards in the game that player can see. This includes cards in that player’s hand, face-down cards that player controls, and any cards in that player’s library the player may look at.