Soul of Innistrad MTG Card
2014-07-18 - Number 115
2018-08-09 - Number 118
2019-08-23 - Number 130
2020-04-17 - Number 137
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Avatar |
| Abilities | Deathtouch |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Deathtouch : Return up to three target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. , Exile Soul of Innistrad from your graveyard: Return up to three target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Soul of Innistrad
Soul of Innistrad provides a strategic edge in the realm of graveyard recursion within Magic: The Gathering. This creepy specter introduces a key difference when compared to cards like Gravedigger. While both return creatures from the graveyard to your hand, Soul of Innistrad’s ability can target up to three creatures for a single activation, albeit for a higher mana cost. Gravedigger specifies only one creature and is a one-time use due to being a creature spell itself.
Eternal Witness offers a different angle, able to retrieve any card from the graveyard directly to your hand, yet unlike Soul of Innistrad, its use is limited to only once upon entering the battlefield. The sheer volume of retrievable creatures with Soul of Innistrad potentially swings games. Finally, Deadbridge Chant represents another parallel, a permanent that periodically dredges up cards from the graveyard. Though it randomly brings back a card each turn, the inability to select specific creatures contrasts sharply with the direct control Soul of Innistrad affords.
Considering these comparisons, Soul of Innistrad holds its own as a powerhouse for reclaiming fallen creatures, setting up the board for a dominating presence in MTG play, and providing targeted graveyard utility that can be used repeatedly.
Cards similar to Soul of Innistrad by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Soul of Innistrad. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jund Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 2 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Soul of Innistrad offers a powerful ability to return up to three creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. This ability can be paramount in outpacing your opponent with a constant stream of threats, especially in the mid to late game when resources are stretched thin.
Resource Acceleration: Though the card itself doesn’t directly ramp your mana, it does indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by providing you access to critical creatures in your graveyard. This repeatable effect allows for more efficient use of the creatures that facilitate mana production or other synergistic effects on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: Flexibility is a huge advantage in MTG, and Soul of Innistrad can be activated at instant speed. This allows for strategic plays during the end of an opponent’s turn, optimizing your own turn’s mana usage, and ensuring that the timing of your creatures’ return can be as disruptive as possible to your opponent’s strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Soul of Innistrad offers the potential for overwhelming graveyard recursion, it mandates discarding a creature card upon activation. This can be problematic, as it directly reduces your hand count and pressurizes you to manage your resources carefully.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of the Soul of Innistrad requires a very specific mana expenditure that includes two black mana. This can create a hurdle in multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency, thus potentially delaying the execution of its powerful ability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six mana necessary to cast this card is quite steep, especially in formats where the pace of play is quick. Even with its ability to return creatures from your graveyard to your hand, its efficiency is questionable when faster, lower-cost options might yield similar or better value.
Reasons to Include Soul of Innistrad in Your Collection
Versatility: Soul of Innistrad is a dynamic addition to any deck focusing on graveyard mechanics. As a creature that can operate both from the battlefield and graveyard, it offers strategic depth and resilience, fitting seamlessly into various deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: Its ability to mass retrieve creatures from the graveyard presents numerous combo possibilities, serving as an engine in reanimator or sacrifice-based decks, which capitalize on creature death and revival.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks and removal are prevalent, Soul of Innistrad provides an excellent countermeasure, allowing you to regain board presence and maintain a threat even after a board wipe or targeted removal. Its relevance grows in formats that encourage intricate graveyard play.
How to beat
The Soul of Innistrad is a powerhouse within its domain, offering players the ability to retrieve creatures from their graveyard. This ability not only disrupts the normal attrition strategies but also allows for recurring value, making the Soul a resilient threat. To counteract its effectiveness, prioritizing exile effects can prevent creatures from making a return. Cards such as Path to Exile or Scavenging Ooze disrupt graveyard strategies by removing creatures from the game completely, undermining the Soul’s capability.
In addition to targeted exile, employing graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void transforms the battlefield into hostile territory for Soul of Innistrad. Without access to a resource-rich graveyard, its strength is significantly diminished. Moreover, countering this creature on the stack is a viable strategy — countermagic like Negate or Dissolve can ensure it never touches the field, thereby denying opponents the chance to exploit its abilities.
Utilizing these strategies will help you gain the upper hand against Soul of Innistrad, ensuring that your games are not overrun by an uncontested return of creatures from the graveyard. Thus, handling this powerful card requires a blend of foresight and disruption to maintain control of the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Soul of Innistrad MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Commander 2018, 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 Soul of Innistrad 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
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Printings
The Soul of Innistrad Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by Adam Paquette.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 115 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 2 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 3 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 4 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Soul of Innistrad has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Soul of Innistrad card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | Exiling the Soul from your graveyard is part of the last ability’s activation cost. A player can’t remove the Soul in response to prevent you from activating the ability. |
| 2014-07-18 | You can activate the last ability only if the Soul is in your graveyard. |