Soulherder MTG Card


Card advantage through repeated ETB triggers enhances player strategy with every end step blink. Resource acceleration is achievable by flickering mana-generating creatures, leading to quicker spellcasting. Instant speed interaction flexibility augments board control and strategic depth during gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Whenever a creature is exiled from the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on Soulherder. At the beginning of your end step, you may exile another target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control.

It watches over every absence.


Cards like Soulherder

Exploring the unique ecosystem of creature effects in Magic: The Gathering, Soulherder emerges as a quintessential element in flicker strategies. This card is often paralleled with the likes of Brago, King Eternal, which allows for mass exile and return of multiple creatures during combat. However, Soulherder’s advantage lies in its potential for growth with each flicker, gradually becoming a more substantial threat on the board.

Another card in the conversation is Conjurer’s Closet, enabling the end-of-turn exile and return of a creature. While Closet offers consistent flickering each turn, it lacks the power increment aspect that Soulherder boasts. Additionally, Venser, the Sojourner echoes a similar pattern with his -1 ability, giving a more flexible flicker option to synergize with various permanents. Nonetheless, Venser’s planeswalker status and higher casting cost set a different tone compared to the straightforward approach of playing Soulherder.

Considering these comparisons, Soulherder holds a distinguished position amongst its peers. Its ability to evolve and interact with the board turn after turn grants it a notable spot in decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects, combining utility and growing threat into one package.

Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Conjurer's Closet - MTG Card versions
Venser, the Sojourner - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Conjurer's Closet - MTG Card versions
Venser, the Sojourner - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Soulherder by color, type and mana cost

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Silkbind Faerie - MTG Card versions
Augury Adept - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Leering Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Guiding Spirit - MTG Card versions
Sky Spirit - MTG Card versions
Samite Archer - MTG Card versions
Riptide Crab - MTG Card versions
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Emissary - MTG Card versions
Silver Drake - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Kangee - MTG Card versions
Kotori, Pilot Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Soulsworn Jury - MTG Card versions
Minister of Impediments - MTG Card versions
Court Hussar - MTG Card versions
Azorius Herald - MTG Card versions
Jötun Owl Keeper - MTG Card versions
Thistledown Duo - MTG Card versions
Plumeveil - MTG Card versions
Silkbind Faerie - MTG Card versions
Augury Adept - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Soulherder. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUBWUB LegacyLegacy Challenge 32 2024-03-09
Esper ScamEsper Scam ModernEsper ScamModern League 2024-04-20
Four-color MidrangeFour-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024
Azorius MartyrAzorius Martyr ModernBlink$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:00 am (Gold)
Four-color ComboFour-color Combo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
Esper VialEsper Vial Legacy$5K - Legacy - SCG CON Philadelphia - Sunday - 9:30 am
Bant BlinkBant Blink ModernBlinkModern Challenge 64 2024-03-24
DecklistDecklist Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
Bant SoulherderBant Soulherder ModernBlinkANZ Super Series Cycle 5 Sunday 5K
Four-color Some Brand of CerealFour-color Some Brand of Cereal GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soulherder shines by its ability to blink one or more creatures you control at the end of your turn. Each blink can lead to enter-the-battlefield effects triggering again, effectively letting you reuse your creatures’ abilities and potentially drawing more cards, therefore providing significant card advantage over your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s unique flickering ability can also target creatures that bring additional lands into play or produce mana, thereby increasing your resource acceleration. This enables a stronger and faster deployment of spells, advancing your board state rapidly.

Instant Speed: While Soulherder’s blink ability triggers at the end step, it pairs beautifully with instant speed spells or abilities that you can play during your opponent’s turn. This synergy allows you to maximize the utility of your resources by waiting for the right moment to act, ensuring that you are always advancing your strategy or responding to threats effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With the Soulherder’s ability focusing on flickering creatures, it forces players to have a creature on the board to take advantage of its effect. This requirement can be taxing in situations where you face removal-heavy decks or lack creatures in hand, reducing the card’s effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: Soulherder demands both white and blue mana, making it less versatile for decks not aligned with these colors. Players running multicolor decks may struggle to meet the mana requirements consistently, especially in the early game where mana fixing is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a three mana 1/1 creature might seem reasonable, the real value from Soulherder comes from its ability to grow and generate value over time, which might come into play slower compared to other three-cost creatures that provide immediate impact on the board. This makes it less attractive in fast-paced games where early momentum is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Soulherder offers flexibility in deck building by excelling in strategies that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. It can serve as a key piece in various decks, from control to blink archetypes, ensuring value is gained with each passage of turn.

Combo Potential: With the ability to exponentially grow in power while flickering other creatures, Soulherder can engineer infinite combos with cards like Eternal Witness and Time Warp. This opens up a plethora of avenues for game-winning interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta rich with creature-based strategies, Soulherder can continuously provide advantage by retriggering ETB effects, proving itself a formidable foe against the ever-shifting competitive landscape. Its presence on the battlefield is a consistent threat that savvy players can exploit.


How to beat

Soulherder is a unique creature card that can be quite challenging to face in Magic: The Gathering. This card thrives in decks centered around enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects, as it can blink a creature at the end of every turn to reuse these powerful triggers. To counteract Soulherder’s escalating threat, players should consider removing it as quickly as possible. Efficient removal spells are key; Instant-speed spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can dispatch Soulherder before it grows out of control.

Another strategy involves limiting ETB effects by using cards like Torpor Orb or Hushbringer, which negate the abilities that Soulherder aims to exploit. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the board, clearing not only Soulherder but also the creatures it aims to blink. Counter spells can also play a crucial role. Countering Soulherder upon casting prevents the setup of its engine altogether. A mix of timely removal, strategic board control, and effective counterplay can ensure that your opponent’s Soulherder doesn’t dominate the game.

In essence, defeating Soulherder involves a proactive game plan. Direct removal, strategic suppression of ETB triggers, and board-wide resets are viable paths to victory against this growing threat in the world of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of blinking with Soulherder can be a game-changer in MTG, and taking the time to understand its nuances will undoubtedly enhance your gameplay. Whether you’re manipulating enter-the-battlefield effects for card advantage, accelerating your resources, or using instant speed spells for strategic advantage, Soulherder can be a linchpin in your deck. Don’t let its initial fragility dissuade you; this card can grow into a powerhouse. If you’re keen to optimize your deck with Soulherder or similar dynamic cards, we extend an invitation to explore further. Dive deeper with us and enrich your collection with cards that not only play well but could potentially outmaneuver the competition on today’s tables.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soulherder MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons Art Series, 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 Soulherder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Soulherder Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Seb McKinnon.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 913571997NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
22019-06-05Modern Horizons Art SeriesAMH1 282015Art seriesBorderlessSeb McKinnon
32019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 2142015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
42021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 932015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
52021-06-18Modern Horizons 1 TimeshiftsH1R 301997NormalBlackSeb McKinnon
62021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 7182015NormalBlackSeb McKinnon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soulherder has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-06-14 If a creature is exiled but ends up in another zone (most likely because it’s a player’s commander in the Commander variant), Soulherder’s first ability triggers.
2019-06-14 If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won’t return to the battlefield.
2019-06-14 If any other abilities you control trigger at the beginning of your end step, you choose the targets for all of them as they’re put onto the stack, and you choose the order they’re put onto the stack. For example, this means that you could exile a creature put onto the battlefield by an unearth ability (and then unearth’s delayed triggered ability won’t exile that creature), but you can’t target a creature that will be returned to the battlefield by another ability during your end step (such as Astral Drift’s delayed triggered ability).
2019-06-14 Once the exiled creature returns, it’s considered a new object with no relation to the object that it was. Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist.