Su-Chi MTG Card
1994-03-04 - Number 66
2007-09-10 - Number 168
2014-06-16 - Number 285
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Construct |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
If Su-Chi goes to the graveyard, its controller gains 4 colorless mana.
Flawed copies of relics from the Thran Empire, the Su-Chi were inherently unstable but provided useful knowledge for Tocasia's students.
Cards like Su-Chi
Su-Chi holds a unique place in the pantheon of artifact creatures within MTG. Akin to other four-cost artifact creatures, such as Juggernaut, Su-Chi comes with substantial power and toughness at 4/4. However, Su-Chi carves out its distinction upon its destruction, offering an impressive four colorless mana to be used in a pinch. This contrasts with Juggernaut’s relentless attack force, where it must attack each turn if able but offers no mana advantage upon leaving the field.
Alongside Su-Chi is the Solemn Simulacrum, a card valued for its ability to ramp and fix mana upon entering the battlefield and replace itself by drawing a card when it dies. While the Simulacrum provides a more controlled and predictable benefit, Su-Chi’s mana burst can be a game-changer in powering out big threats earlier than expected. The Triskelion is another comparable creature, which offers direct damage distribution across any number of targets, presenting a different form of utility and range of strategy despite having the same cost.
Choosing Su-Chi in a deck means embracing the potential for explosive turns, a strategy that might appeal to players looking to cast high-cost spells earlier or make sweeping plays that alter the course of the game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Su-Chi offers a unique twist on card advantage. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its death triggers an effect that grants four colorless mana. This can lead to casting additional spells or using abilities – essentially converting itself into potential card advantage when it leaves the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Su-Chi can be considered a form of resource acceleration. Upon destruction, its ability to provide four colorless mana can rapidly advance your board state, enabling the casting of high-cost spells earlier than your opponent may anticipate. This surge of mana can be pivotal in establishing dominance on the game’s trajectory.
Instant Speed: While Su-Chi itself does not operate at instant speed, the mana boost it provides upon dying can be exploited at instant speed. This feature allows players to react to opponents’ moves during their turns, potentially casting disruptive spells or summoning creatures unexpectedly with the mana provided by Su-Chi’s effect.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When Su-Chi leaves play, there’s a mandatory discard that might not always align with your strategy, potentially disrupting your game plan by losing a valuable card from your hand. This requirement could be particularly detrimental during late-game scenarios where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Su-Chi demands a specific mana investment of four colorless mana. This can be a challenge in decks that rely on a more diverse mana base or those that could benefit from using those resources for a broader range of spells across different colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Su-Chi’s presence in your deck could be a hindrance in the early game where speed is crucial. There are alternative artifact creatures with lower mana costs that could be played earlier or offer equivalent stats and abilities for a more economical investment, leaving more mana available for other plays.
Reasons to Include Su-Chi in Your Collection
Versatility: Su-Chi offers a robust presence on the battlefield with its 4/4 body for only four mana, making it a solid addition in artifact-centric and aggressive decks alike.
Combo Potential: Upon its demise, Su-Chi generates an impressive four mana burst, capable of instantly fueling powerful spells or setting off explosive combos, particularly in decks designed to utilize artifact sacrifices or mana-ramp strategies.
Meta-Relevance: Given its artifact nature and substantial power, Su-Chi can shine in metas where artifacts have a prominent role or where its destruction can be tactically leveraged for a decisive mana advantage.
How to beat
Su-Chi is an artifact creature card that can be quite a challenge to deal with in Magic: The Gathering due to its decent power and toughness, along with providing a significant mana boost upon its destruction. To overcome this particular card, players should consider using targeted removal spells that exile it rather than destroy. This approach circumvents the mana advantage that your opponent would gain from Su-Chi’s death trigger.
An excellent strategy involves spells such as Path to Exile or Unmake, which can remove Su-Chi from the game without triggering its ability. In addition, running counterspells can be effective to prevent Su-Chi from hitting the battlefield in the first place. For decks that can’t handle the card straightforwardly, board control spells or those that reduce the attack and defense of creatures can minimize Su-Chi’s impact while you prepare a more permanent solution.
Lastly, incorporating methods to disable activated abilities can be an effective way to stall an opponent using Su-Chi, buying you time to find an answer to this potent threat. By being proactive and adaptive, you can turn the tide against a Su-Chi and maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Su-Chi MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Masters Edition, 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 Su-Chi 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 Su-Chi Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-03-04 | Antiquities | ATQ | 66 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 2 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 168 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 3 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 285 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robbie Trevino |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Su-Chi has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Su-Chi 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 | You get the mana whether you want it or not. If you don’t spend it, it will disappear at the end of the current step (or phase). |