Soul Servitude MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Conjure |
| Released | 2022-03-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Kamigawa |
| Set code | YNEO |
| Number | 16 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kim Sokol |
Text of card
Target player sacrifices a nontoken creature. When they do, you may discard a card. If you do, conjure a duplicate of the sacrificed creature into your hand. It perpetually gains "You may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast this spell."
Cards like Soul Servitude
Soul Servitude stands out in the realm of creature buff spells in MTG. In direct comparison with similar cards, its presence is quite unique. Take Unholy Strength, for example; it’s a classic card that permanently increases a creature’s power and toughness for a very low mana cost. Unlike Soul Servitude, however, Unholy Strength doesn’t offer the prospect of instant impact since it’s not an instant nor does it provide variable buffs.
Moving on to the impressive Giant Growth, we see a spell that offers an immediate power and toughness boost at instant speed for a single mana. Though it seems more efficient, it lacks the potential long-term advantage delivered by Soul Servitude, which can significantly turn the tide by boosting not one but potentially multiple creatures. Enthralling Victor is another card worth mentioning, offering temporary control over an opponent’s creature in addition to its strength enhancement, diverging from Soul Servitude’s straightforward power-up strategy.
When considering the strategic advantages of tempo and power in gameplay, Soul Servitude delivers a notable edge by equipping players with on-the-fly flexibility to overwhelm their opponents and can be a game-changer in the late stages of a match.
Cards similar to Soul Servitude by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Soul Servitude, when played right, you can bring back multiple creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. This action ensures a steady flow of units back into your play, maintaining or even increasing your tactical edge over the opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Demonstrating its utility beyond the simple retrieval of creatures, Soul Servitude can also function as a resource acceleration tool by recouping valuable creatures that may have mana abilities or other effects that contribute to your overall mana pool or accelerate your game plan.
Instant Speed: Soul Servitude’s instant speed is its stealthy ace. It allows players to wait until the end of an opponent’s turn before deciding to resurrect their creatures. This ensures maximum flexibility and surprise, keeping opponents guessing while you plan the perfect moment to strike or rebuild your forces.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Soul Servitude demands a player to discard a card as part of its casting cost. This could potentially be a setback, especially if your hand is dwindling and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: The spell’s requirement for black mana can be tricky for multi-colored decks that might struggle with mana consistency. Soul Servitude’s reliance on black means it’s less flexible in decks that aren’t heavily skewed towards black mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For what it offers, the mana cost of Soul Servitude could be seen as steep. When evaluating its performance in your deck, consider alternatives that might provide a more cost-effective solution or additional benefits for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Soul Servitude is an adaptable card capable of enhancing a variety of black-centric decks. Its ability to exploit graveyard resources aligns well with strategies that interact with the discard pile and reanimation tactics.
Combo Potential: This card shines in setups that capitalize on creature sacrifices, allowing for intricate combos that can quickly turn the tide of the game. Its synergies with death-triggered abilities can provide substantial advantages.
Meta-Relevance: Given the presence of graveyard-dependent decks in the current meta, Soul Servitude can serve as a critical piece in disrupting your opponent’s strategies while bolstering your own board state.
How to beat Soul Servitude
Soul Servitude enters the vast universe of graveyard synergy spells in Magic: The Gathering. It offers players the chance to delve into their graveyard and reanimate a creature that fits the right criteria. While powerful, this card does come with its own set of limitations that adept players can exploit to maintain the upper hand in battle.
The key to disrupting Soul Servitude’s potential lies in controlling the graveyard. Cards like Relic of Progenitus and Scrabbling Claws provide efficient graveyard hate, purging critical targets before Soul Servitude can take effect. Additionally, proactive counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prevent it from ever resolving.
Flexibility in strategy also plays a pivotal role. Adjusting your deck to include cards that exile creatures directly from the battlefield, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, ensures that opposing creatures don’t make a grand reappearance. It’s essential to stay ahead by managing both the board and the graveyard, minimizing the impact Soul Servitude could have. This approach not only hinders the card but places you in an advantageous position to dictate the pace and outcome of the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Soul Servitude MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Kamigawa, 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 Servitude 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Soul Servitude has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |