Summons of Saruman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Amass,Flashback,Mill

Key Takeaways

  1. Summons of Saruman boosts card advantage by summoning creatures without depleting hand resources.
  2. Offers instant speed plays, adding surprise and flexibility to your strategic repertoire.
  3. Despite its power, it requires careful hand management and specific mana types.

Text of card

Amass Orcs X. Mill X cards. You may cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value X or less from among them without paying its mana cost. (To amass Orcs X, put X +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.) Flashback—, Exile X cards from your graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Summons of Saruman outperforms many cards in its class by offering the player an avenue to acquire multiple creature cards directly onto the battlefield, thus tipping the scales toward card advantage without sacrificing hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card efficiently circumvents the conventional mana curve by permitting the calling of creatures earlier than usual game progression typically allows, providing a considerable boost in resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The real strength of Summons of Saruman lies in its instant speed, allowing players to strategize their moves with an element of surprise and adaptability, smoothly orchestrating powerful plays even outside their own turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Summons of Saruman demands that players discard a card to unleash its full potential. This can lead to a dilemma when your hand is already dwindling, and giving up any more resources can put you at a disadvantage in the game’s critical moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Summons of Saruman requires a peculiar combination of mana. This specificity can make it a cumbersome fit in decks that aren’t built around a similar color scheme, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to play Summons of Saruman is on the steep side when you consider other cards within the same cost range. While powerful, its cost-demanding nature might not always offer the best value in fast-paced or highly-competitive scenarios where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Summons of Saruman is a remarkable card that can seamlessly integrate into diverse deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on spell casting or leveraging the power of wizards and other magic wielders.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to potentially reduce the cost of future spells opens the door to combination plays that can turn the tide of the game, supporting synergies with cards that benefit from casting multiple spells in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: With the ebb and flow of the competitive scene, the adaptability provided by Summons of Saruman ensures it remains a pertinent choice. Cards that offer cost reduction are habitually pivotal in decks designed to outmaneuver opponents through efficiency and crafted spell sequences.


How to beat

Summons of Saruman is an intriguing card that can present quite the challenge on the battlefield. Known for its ability to sway the course of a match, it calls for a strategic approach to overcome its potent effects. To counter this powerful card, players should consider tactics like targeted discard spells or counterspells to disrupt the casting process before its effects take hold. Furthermore, incorporating instant-speed removal could prove invaluable, as it allows you to deal with the creatures that Summons of Saruman brings to the table.

In the realm of creature control, employing board wipes is often a sound strategy to clear multiple threats at once. Transformative sideboard plans are also useful, as they can switch your deck’s focus, giving you a better match-up post-sideboard. Adaptation and flexibility in your playstyle and deck-building go a long way in countering such formidable cards. By anticipating and preparing for high-impact cards like Summons of Saruman, you can set yourself up for success even when facing powerful and game-altering spells.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating the synergies that Summons of Saruman feeds on is key. Readying your deck with the right mix of disruption and control will keep you one step ahead, turning the tide in your favor during crucial moments in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

The landscape of MTG constantly evolves, and experts and novices alike aim to stay ahead of the curve. Summons of Saruman is a card that requires keen insight and strategic deployment to turn the tides in your favor. With pros like card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed plays against the cons of specific discard requirements, it’s a card that invites daring plays and calculated risks. Craft your deck with precision and explore the potential combos and meta-relevance of this robust card. Interested in mastering the art of the surprise summon? Dive deeper into our insights and enhance your game with Summons of Saruman.


Cards like Summons of Saruman

The enchanting realms of Magic: The Gathering have seen many powerful cards, and Summons of Saruman is a new entrant mesmerizing players with its strategic depth. This card echoes the commanding presence of other creature summoning spells like Gather the Pack. Both cards allow a peek into the library for creature cards, yet Summons of Saruman adds a compelling twist by potentially putting a creature directly onto the battlefield.

Another analogous spell is See the Unwritten which also digs into the library for creature spells. The difference, however, is profound as See the Unwritten can potentially cheat two creatures onto the battlefield if you have ferocious creatures in play, while Summons of Saruman focuses on a singular, formidable summon. Commune with the Gods is a smaller cousin in this family, allowing the player to find a creature or enchantment, but it places the card into the hand rather than the battlefield, offering a more subtle and less immediate impact.

Evaluating these options, the Summons of Saruman MTG card finds its niche among creature tutors, striking a balance between control and surprise, and providing a potent tool for those aiming to summon impactful creatures directly into the fray.

Gather the Pack - MTG Card versions
See the Unwritten - MTG Card versions
Commune with the Gods - MTG Card versions
Gather the Pack - MTG Card versions
See the Unwritten - MTG Card versions
Commune with the Gods - MTG Card versions

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Fell Beast's Shriek - MTG Card versions
Scalding Viper // Steam Clean - MTG Card versions
Corporeal Projection - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Summons of Saruman MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Summons of Saruman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Summons of Saruman Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 702015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
22023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 4802015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
32023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 1502015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Summons of Saruman has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. If the Army creature you chose isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army.
2023-06-16 Amass abilities are now written as "amass
-ubtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
2023-06-16 If the spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X.
2023-06-16 If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost", you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.
2023-06-16 If you don't control an Army, the Orc Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.
2023-06-16 If you want to cast one of the milled cards, you cast it as part of the resolution of Summons of Saruman. You can't wait to cast the spell later in the turn. Timing permissions based on the card's type are ignored.
2023-06-16 In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you played a creature with changeling) while you amass Orcs, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.
2023-06-16 Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that amass Orcs may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Orcs.
2023-06-16 To amass Orcs N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.