Sunstreak Phoenix MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 162p
2021-09-24 - Number 359
2021-09-24 - Number 162
2021-09-24 - Number 162s
2022-01-28 - Number 162
2002-06-24 - Number 93996
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Phoenix |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying If it's neither day nor night, it becomes day as Sunstreak Phoenix enters the battlefield. Whenever day becomes night or night becomes day, you may pay . If you do, return Sunstreak Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
Cards like Sunstreak Phoenix
Sunstreak Phoenix brings a unique resilience to the battlefield in the world of Magic: The Gathering. When evaluating its traits against other creatures in the phoenix family, this card’s rebirth ability certainly makes it stand out. One might compare it to the likes of Rekindling Phoenix, which also showcases a rebirth mechanic however Rekindling Phoenix relies on a token to return to the field, whereas Sunstreak Phoenix can return directly to play under high-heat conditions such as casting a red spell with a mana value of 5 or greater.
A card such as Flamewake Phoenix can also be summoned from the graveyard, but it requires a condition that involves power 4 or greater creatures to be present on the field. Compared to Sunstreak Phoenix, Flamewake is more restrictive in its return conditions. Phoenix of Ash can escape from the graveyard armed with added power, an ability Sunstreak does not share, but it demands an additional cost in exiling cards from your graveyard. This could be a downside for decks that synergize with graveyard mechanics.
Analyzing these parallels, Sunstreak Phoenix offers a distinctive advantage with its less stringent revival conditions that do not depend heavily on the board state or other cards in the graveyard, positioning it as a robust choice for decks aiming to maintain aerial threats.
Cards similar to Sunstreak Phoenix by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Sunstreak Phoenix provides a recurring presence on the battlefield, as it offers players the chance to bring it back from the graveyard directly into play. This consistent threat generation is key for maintaining pressure and card advantage in a match.
Resource Acceleration: With this card’s ability to return to the field, the Sunstreak Phoenix operates as a sort of indirect resource acceleration. It demands multiple answers from your opponents, effectively draining their resources while conserving your own. Plus, its potential to re-enter play without the need to spend mana from hand can free up your resources for other strategic plays.
Instant Speed: The capability to return the Sunstreak Phoenix to the battlefield at instant speed during your upkeep is a tactical advantage. This allows players to maximize mana usage efficiently by holding off other spells until the last possible moment, thus keeping opponents guessing and forcing them to play around your potential moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sunstreak Phoenix necessitates a card discard to trigger its return ability from the graveyard. This can potentially deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage as you sacrifice resources for the Phoenix’s revival.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a card with a precise mana cost necessitating both red and other colors, the Sunstreak Phoenix could be difficult to play in multi-colored decks that may not always have the right mana combination available when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the need to invest four mana to cast Sunstreak Phoenix, players might find it costly compared to other creatures in the same mana range. The mana investment can be steep for the effect and stats it offers, raising concerns about its efficiency in competitive play.
Reasons to Include Sunstreak Phoenix in Your Collection
Versatility: Sunstreak Phoenix serves as a resilient threat in a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to return from the graveyard gives aggressive decks lasting power, while its flying trait allows it to be a consistent source of damage in the air.
Combo Potential: With its capacity for recurring play, Sunstreak Phoenix is an excellent piece in combo decks that can repeatedly trigger its resurgence, ensuring a persistent board presence and pressure on your opponent.
Meta-Relevance: Given the evolving nature of the MTG meta, Sunstreak Phoenix adapts well to environments dense with removal spells. Its phoenix-like rebirth makes it a formidable component against decks that rely on one-for-one removal to maintain control.
How to beat
Sunstreak Phoenix is a powerful and resilient creature card to face in MTG, known for its ability to rise from the ashes and return to the battlefield. One effective strategy to overcome this card is to manage graveyard interactions meticulously. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze can interrupt the recurrence of Sunstreak Phoenix, as they prevent cards from entering or remove cards from graveyards, rendering the Phoenix’s comeback mechanic null.
Additionally, exile effects are paramount when dealing with this fiery bird. Spells like Path to Exile or cards with exile clauses that target creatures are invaluable assets in your deck, allowing you to remove Sunstreak Phoenix from play without triggering its return ability. Board control through repeated removal also ensures that the conditions for the Phoenix’s return are harder to meet, keeping the skies clear of this relentless flier.
Ultimately, consistent pressure, strategic graveyard management, and timely use of exile effects are the keys to overcoming the challenge posed by Sunstreak Phoenix. Maintaining this approach will help keep this creature at bay and increase your chances of victory against decks that wield its persistent power.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sunstreak Phoenix MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos, 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 Sunstreak Phoenix 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 Sunstreak Phoenix Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Brian Valeza.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 93996 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | ||
| 2 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos | PMID | 162p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
| 3 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 359 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
| 4 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 162 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
| 5 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos | PMID | 162s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza | |
| 6 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 162 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Valeza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sunstreak Phoenix has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sunstreak Phoenix card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | Before a player untaps their permanents during the untap step, the game checks to see if the day/night designation should change. |
| 2021-09-24 | Day and night are designations that the game itself can have. The game starts as neither. Once the game becomes day (or less commonly, night), the game will be exactly one of them—day or night—going back and forth for the rest of the game. |
| 2021-09-24 | For more information about Day and Night and the Daybound and Nightbound abilities, please see the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Mechanics atricle (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/innistrad-midnight-hunt-mechanics-2021-09-02). |
| 2021-09-24 | If a triggered ability triggers whenever day becomes night or night becomes day, it only triggers if it was already either day/night and becomes the other. It does not trigger when the game becomes day or night for the first time. |
| 2021-09-24 | If it is day, and the active player of the previous turn cast no spells during their turn, it becomes night. |
| 2021-09-24 | If it is night, and the active player of the previous turn cast two or more spells during their turn, it becomes day. |