Somnophore MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Illusion
Abilities	Flying
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	97
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Andrew Robinson

Key Takeaways

Somnophore establishes card advantage by commandeering opponents’ creatures after combat damage.
Its untapping ability allows for reactive defense or the exploitation of new creature abilities.
While powerful, Somnophore requires focused blue mana and consistent involvement to be effective.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Somnophore successfully deals damage to a player, tap target creature that player controls. That creature does not untap during its controller's untap phase as long as Somnophore remains in play.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Somnophore deals damage to a player, you gain control of a creature that player controls as long as you control Somnophore. This effectively reduces your opponent’s resources while enhancing yours, leading to a significant card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Though Somnophore itself doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, controlling additional creatures can pave the way for strategies involving sacrificing or tapping creatures for extra resources. In this way, it indirectly contributes to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Somnophore’s ability to untap each time it successfully deals combat damage means that it has the potential to be used both offensively and defensively. While not an instant itself, its untapping mechanism allows for instant-speed interaction by freeing up a blocker or enabling the utilization of tap abilities of the newly controlled creature during the opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Somnophore necessitates an active role each turn to maintain its control effect, demanding resource investment that may not align with your strategic setup or current board state.

Specific Mana Cost: The exclusive blue mana investment for casting this card can potentially restrict your deck-building options, necessitating a commitment to blue mana resources which might not be preferable for all strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that commands a considerable amount of your mana pool, Somnophore may come into play later than other control or creature options, possibly slowing down your tempo and leaving you vulnerable in the early stages of the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Somnophore offers unique control over opponents’ creatures, which can be adapted to a variety of blue-based decks. Whether it’s paired with decks that focus on tapping mechanics or used as a standalone control piece, this card provides enduring utility across multiple game scenarios.

Combo Potential: With its ability to keep a creature perpetually tapped as long as it deals combat damage, Somnophore can be the linchpin in lockdown combos. This ability synergizes well with decks aiming to disable opponents’ key creatures or strategies that aim to capitalize on the tapped state of enemy forces.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated with creature-heavy strategies or where key creatures dictate the pace of the game, Somnophore becomes a potent tool. It disrupts opponents by removing vital blockers or attackers from combat equations, thereby altering the battlefield dynamics in your favor.

How to beat

Somnophore presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield with its sleep-inducing ability to tap opposing creatures. This blue creature from the Urza’s Saga set brings a unique control element to the game, tapping an opponent’s creature every time it deals combat damage to a player. Overcoming this enchanting card requires strategic play and resource management.

Adept MTG players combat Somnophore’s effect by leveraging removal spells that can target enchanted creatures or using abilities that can untap their creatures. Cards such as Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile can swiftly remove Somnophore from play before its ability becomes a recurring nightmare. Alternatively, instant-speed cards that untap creatures, like Twiddle or Act of Heroism, can nullify the effect before the creature becomes locked down.

Effectively handling Somnophore also involves maintaining a diverse lineup of creatures, preventing the card’s ability from paralyzing your entire field. Strategic deck building and a keen sense of timing when to play creatures or removals are critical when facing this Mesmeric creature. By staying one step ahead and managing resources wisely, a player can ensure Somnophore’s dreamy grip doesn’t turn the tide of the game.

Cards like Somnophore

Somnophore is a unique creature card that has secured its niche within Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the abilities of cards like Narcolepsy, which allows a player to keep a target creature tapped without having to attack. Somnophore, however, adds depth to this control strategy by triggering the tap through combat damage, showing its dual nature both as an offensive force and a control mechanism.

Looking at Dream Tides, we find a different approach to manipulating creatures’ states. Although it doesn’t target individual creatures, it imposes an added cost on all creature activations, thus hindering opponents’ tempo passively. Somnophore provides a more direct—yet restricted—method of control by focusing on one tapped creature per successful attack.

Lastly, Blinding Beam presents itself as another method of dealing with opponents’ creatures. It taps and keeps two target creatures from untapping during their controllers’ next untap steps. Unlike Somnophore, which requires sustained combat involvement, Blinding Beam is an event-based effect with an immediate, albeit temporary impact.

Through comparison, Somnophore proves its worth as a sustainable control tool in a player’s arsenal, offering ongoing disruption that can gradually tip the game balance in favor of its user.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Somnophore MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Somnophore and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Somnophore has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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