Soul Salvage MTG Card

Provides significant card advantage by returning creature cards from the graveyard to hand. Strategic play can enable comebacks, though requires graveyard setup for maximum effect. Despite mana cost, it’s a solid choice for decks leveraging creature revival for value.

Dominaria (DOM)
2018-04-27 - Number 104

Core Set 2020 (M20)
2019-07-12 - Number 116

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 280

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Return up to two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.

The first mistake the Grimnant knights made was bullying the owner of an Urborg corpse shop. Their second mistake was dying.

Cards like Soul Salvage

Soul Salvage is an intriguing spell that fits neatly into black’s theme of graveyard manipulation in Magic: The Gathering. Mechanics wise, it shares common ground with cards like Disentomb, which also allows players to return a creature from the graveyard to their hand. Soul Salvage, however, doubles the value by retrieving not one but two creatures. On the flip side, it comes at a higher mana cost compared to the more cost-efficient Disentomb.

Another relative in this category is Forever Young, which can potentially bring back a multitude of creatures to your deck rather than your hand. While it offers a different kind of deck manipulation by placing creatures on top of the library, it lacks the immediate hand advantage that Soul Salvage provides. Lastly, Macabre Waltz presents a similar effect, letting a player return two creatures to their hand but requiring them to discard a card in exchange, which can be seen as an upside or downside depending on the situation and deck strategy.

Each of these cards provides a unique angle to the strategy of resurrecting creatures from the graveyard. Soul Salvage stands out by offering a balance of quantity and immediate accessibility, making it a solid choice for decks that thrive on recurring creatures for continued value.

Cards similar to Soul Salvage by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soul Salvage lets you return up to two creature cards from your graveyard to your hand, offering a considerable card advantage especially in decks focused on recurring valuable creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, the ability to bring creatures back from the graveyard can accelerate your board presence without expending additional resources from your hand.

Instant Speed: Though Soul Salvage operates at sorcery speed, its strategic use during your main phase can set up protective plays or surprise comebacks during your next turn cycle, effectively positioning you ahead in terms of resource planning.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Soul Salvage allows you to return two creature cards from your graveyard to your hand, it does not come into play without the prerequisite of having such cards available to retrieve. In situations where your graveyard is lacking in creatures, this card becomes a dead draw.

Specific Mana Cost: Soul Salvage necessitates both black mana and generic mana, which could be prohibitive for multi-colored decks that struggle with consistent mana sources. Players must have access to black mana to utilize this spell, potentially restricting its use.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of two black mana and one generic mana, Soul Salvage can be somewhat costly for its effect, especially since it does not affect the board state immediately upon casting. For the same amount of mana, players might opt for spells that offer more immediate impact or versatility in gameplay.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Soul Salvage shines due to its flexibility in returning creatures from your graveyard to your hand. This utility makes it a useful addition to various deck archetypes, particularly those that hinge on graveyard strategies.

Combo Potential: Its ability to retrieve key combo pieces from the graveyard provides players with another layer of strategy, potentially turning the tides of a game by reusing powerful creatures or enabling intricate combinations.

Meta-Relevance: With recurring themes of graveyard manipulation and reanimation prevalent in many competitive formats, Soul Salvage holds its ground as a relevant card that can contend with current decks and recover valuable creatures after board wipes or removals.

How to beat

Soul Salvage is a noteworthy utility spell in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to return two creature cards from their graveyard to their hand. This card presents an interesting challenge for opponents as it can provide a significant card advantage and potential board presence revival for the player using it. To effectively counteract the benefits Soul Salvage offers, one must employ disruption tactics.

Graveyard hate cards such as Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus can ensure that the key creature targets are removed from the game altogether, rendering Soul Salvage ineffective. Additionally, casting spells like Thoughtseize can strategically discard Soul Salvage from an opponent’s hand before it can be used. Moreover, keeping the graveyard under control with cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can prevent not only Soul Salvage but also any other graveyard-based strategies an opponent might have up their sleeve.

Ultimately, understanding when to deploy these countermeasures is as crucial as the cards themselves. Proper timing can stifle an opponent’s recovery plays, and maintaining pressure can prevent them from finding an opportune moment to utilize their Soul Salvage effectively.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soul Salvage MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Core Set 2020, 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 Salvage 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 Soul Salvage Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Daarken.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2018-04-27	Dominaria	DOM	104	2015	Normal	Black	Daarken
2	2019-07-12	Core Set 2020	M20	116	2015	Normal	Black	Daarken
3	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP	280	2015	Normal	Black	Daarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soul Salvage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal