Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII MTG Card


Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Number263
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDoug Chaffee

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage through a consistent creation of creature tokens for strategic board presence.
  2. Offers timing benefits by allowing token creation at instant speed, optimizing mana and tactical opportunities.
  3. Requires careful resource management due to its discard requirement and specific mana cost constraints.

Text of card

As Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII comes into play, choose white Citizen, blue Camarid, black Thrull, red Goblin, or green Saproling. , : Put a 1/1 creature token of the chosen color and type into play.

The past still lives within its pages, waiting for its time to come again.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII is a standout card when it comes to building a card advantage on the battlefield. It provides a steady stream of creature tokens which can be essential for overwhelming your opponent or for defensive purposes.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly producing mana or tokens, this artifact offers a unique form of resource acceleration. By allowing you to create creature tokens every turn, it indirectly boosts your resources, potentially freeing up your mana for other strategic plays or spells.

Instant Speed: While Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII itself is not an instant, the creature tokens it produces can be generated at the end of your opponent’s turn, provided you have the card untapped. This timing can offer strategic advantages, as it allows you to maximize your mana usage during your opponent’s end phase and have fresh blockers or potential attackers ready during your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card necessitates that you first discard another card in order to activate its ability. In the midst of a game where your hand is running low, this can often backfire, leaving you at a clear disadvantage by depleting your resources more rapidly than you might have intended.

Specific Mana Cost: Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII requires a specific combination of mana to cast—two colorless and two white—which could potentially restrict its inclusion to decks that are equipped to generate this precise mana composition, thereby limiting the card’s versatility across a broader range of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In today’s fast-paced games, the four mana investment to cast this card can feel relatively steep, especially when considering alternative cards at or below this mana cost that could provide more immediate or impactful influence on the board state.


Reasons to Include Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII in Your Collection

Versatility: Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII offers a dynamic role in decks that thrive on generating creature tokens. Its ability to produce multicolored tokens gives it a place in various deck builds and allows for flexible strategy adjustments during gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with mechanics that capitalize on token generation. It can fuel sacrifice strategies, bolster swarm tactics, and enhance synergies with cards that profit from the presence of multiple creatures on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies prevail, Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII can become a valuable asset. It provides consistent board presence, which can be crucial for maintaining momentum against control decks or overwhelming aggro opponents.


How to beat

Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII is a unique artifact card in Magic: The Gathering that can be confusing to play against due to its capacity to create token creatures. This card stands out by allowing you to manufacture a base for your strategy, generating creature tokens that can be essential for both defense and offense.

To effectively counter Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII, players should consider strategies that limit token generation or remove the tokens from play. Cards with abilities that suppress artifact activation or board-clearing spells that wipe out multiple tokens at once, such as Wrath of God or Engineered Explosives, can be particularly effective. Targeted removals like Disenchant are also useful for directly addressing the artifact.

It’s important to deploy these answers at the right moment, ideally just as your opponent commits to relying on their tokens, leaving them vulnerable. Hence, familiarizing yourself with your opponent’s playstyle and preparing the correct countermeasures is key to outmaneuver Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII. By doing so, you can dismantle their plans and maintain an upper hand.


Cards like Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII

Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII stands out in MTG as a unique artifact card enabling players to dive into a tribal strategy without committing to a specific creature type. Its closest relatives include cards like Trading Post and Myr Turbine, both harnessing the power of token generation. Unlike Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII that can create a variety of creature tokens, Trading Post offers flexibility in different forms of utility, such as life gain or card draw, with a focus solely on Goat tokens production.

Another card that embodies the concept of versatility through tokens is Myr Turbine, which is more specific in its token production, exclusively generating Myr creatures, yet it has an additional utility in tutoring for Myr cards. While Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII may not offer card tutoring like Myr Turbine, it does not limit the player to a single creature type, allowing for more dynamic gameplay strategies.

In essence, Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII carves its niche within MTG by combining the theme of token creation with tribal flexibility, distinguishing it from other similar cards that may offer more targeted utilities but less diversity in token production.

Trading Post - MTG Card versions
Myr Turbine - MTG Card versions
Trading Post - Magic 2013 (M13)
Myr Turbine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
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Celestial Prism - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Sunglasses of Urza - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Ebony Horse - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Arena of the Ancients - Chronicles (CHR)
Bösium Strip - Weatherlight (WTH)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Static Orb - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Wall of Spears - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Vedalken Shackles - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Loxodon Warhammer - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Sword of Feast and Famine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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