Sun Quan, Lord of Wu MTG Card
1999-05-01 - Number 56
2009-09-07 - Number 53
2011-08-26 - Number 12
2023-08-04 - Number 498
2023-08-04 - Number 123
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
All your creatures gain horsemanship as long as Sun Quan is in play. (This includes Sun Quan.)
"One score and four he reigned, the Southland king: / A dragon coiled, a tiger poised below the mighty Yangtze."
Cards like Sun Quan, Lord of Wu
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu holds a distinctive place among legendary creatures in MTG. Its ability to grant horsemanship to all creatures you control makes it akin to cards like Levitation, which give all creatures flying, bypassing ground blockers. Yet, Sun Quan is unique in that horsemanship is considerably less common than flying, giving your creatures a substantial advantage. In contrast, Levitation does not offer such a niche benefit due to the prevalence of flying creatures in the game.
Comparably, Akroma’s Memorial is another powerful artifact that confers a multitude of abilities to creatures you control, including flying. While Akroma’s Memorial bestows a broader set of abilities, Sun Quan’s specific grant of horsemanship is unmatched for evasion. Another comparable card, Coastal Piracy, allows for additional card draw when creatures you control deal combat damage, but it doesn’t directly address their ability to evade like Sun Quan does.
Assessing these comparisons, Sun Quan, Lord of Wu stands out for its unique evasion mechanic, making it a strategic asset, particularly in a meta where interference in combat is less about flying and more about ground-based blocking and board control.
Cards similar to Sun Quan, Lord of Wu by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Equips your creatures with Horsemanship, significantly enhancing your ability to bypass blockers and connect with your opponent, potentially leading to increased card draw through combat triggers and other synergies.
Resource Acceleration: While Sun Quan, Lord of Wu itself does not directly accelerate resources, its ability to help maintain a presence on the board can indirectly accelerate your game plan by preserving your creatures and letting them attack each turn without the fear of being blocked.
Instant Speed: Although Sun Quan operates at sorcery speed, his influence on the battlefield can be instantaneously overwhelming. Once on the board, Sun Quan transforms your combat phase, demanding an immediate response from opponents and tilting the tempo in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This powerful commander demands strategic hand management. As Sun Quan doesn’t provide any card draw or discard mitigation, players may find themselves at a disadvantage if forced to discard valuable cards to make room for him or to fulfill other deck strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Sun Quan requires a specific commitment to blue mana, with a casting cost that includes two blue mana symbols. This can be restrictive and requires a heavy blue mana base, potentially limiting the variety of other spells you can play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Sun Quan is on the higher end of the mana curve. This can be cumbersome in faster-paced games where other commanders or creatures may offer more immediate board impact or versatility at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include Sun Quan, Lord of Wu in Your Collection
Versatility: Sun Quan, Lord of Wu offers a powerful ability that grants all your creatures horsemanship, an ability that’s hard for opponents to block. This makes it a strong addition to any blue deck looking to secure combat advantages.
Combo Potential: The horsemanship granted by Sun Quan is ripe for combos, effectively making your creature attacks unblockable by creatures without the same ability. Pair Sun Quan with creatures that have on-hit effects to maximize this potential.
Meta-Relevance: With the ability to turn the tide in creature-heavy matches, Sun Quan can have a significant impact on the board state. In a meta where combat is key, Sun Quan gives you the upper hand, pushing through damage where other creatures can’t.
How to beat
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu is a powerful card that has the ability to turn all your creatures into treacherous threats by granting them horsemanship, making them virtually unblockable except by creatures with the same ability. To counteract this legendary creature, removal spells are your best bet. Cards like Swords to Plowshares offer an efficient and immediate answer to Sun Quan by exiling him from the battlefield. Similarly, Path to Exile is another prime removal tool that can eliminate Sun Quan before his ability becomes problematic for your strategy.
Apart from targeted removal, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the board, removing Sun Quan along with all other creatures. However, timing is crucial, as you’ll want to cast these spells before Sun Quan can attack and maximize his potential. Additionally, counter spells like Counterspell and Negate can prevent Sun Quan from hitting the battlefield in the first place, nullifying the threat early in the game.
Addressing Sun Quan, Lord of Wu requires a balanced approach. Utilizing removal, board wipes, and counter spells will enhance your chances of maintaining the upper hand against decks harnessing the might of this fearsome commander. Planning and preparedness make all the difference in overcoming the challenges posed by cards with such high impact abilities.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sun Quan, Lord of Wu MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Masters Edition III, 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 Sun Quan, Lord of Wu 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
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Printings
The Sun Quan, Lord of Wu Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Xu Xiaoming.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 56 | 1997 | Normal | White | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 53 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 3 | 2011-08-26 | From the Vault: Legends | V11 | 12 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 4 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 498 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming | |
| 5 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 123 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Xu Xiaoming |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sun Quan, Lord of Wu has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Predh | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sun Quan, Lord of Wu 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 | Despite the similarities between horsemanship and flying, horsemanship doesn’t interact with flying or reach. |
| 2009-10-01 | Sun Quan’s ability affects Sun Quan itself. |