Viashino Sandswimmer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Viashino
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	225
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Viashino Sandswimmer excels at evasion, challenging opponents to waste resources on failed removal attempts.
Though resourceful, its ability hinges on maintaining a substantial hand and sufficient mana.
Its versatile nature harmonizes with red deck strategies, enhancing its value in targeted metas.

Text of card

oo R Flip a coin. If you win the flip, return Viashino Sandswimmer to owner's hand. Otherwise, sacrifice Viashino Sandswimmer.

Few swim in a place of such thirst.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Viashino Sandswimmer may not overtly draw cards, but it does offer a unique form of card advantage. This creature has a built-in mechanism to potentially dodge removal, saving you from losing a card while potentially forcing your opponent to waste theirs.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or resource acceleration, the flexibility of the Viashino Sandswimmer can contribute to a more efficient use of your mana. By threatening its untargetability every turn, it allows you to keep your mana untapped for other plays or bluff having other responses ready.

Instant Speed: The ability to make Viashino Sandswimmer untargetable can be activated at instant speed. This not only allows for surprise defensive tactics but also lets you take advantage of the optimal timing to evade targeted removals or tricks during the combat phase on either player’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Viashino Sandswimmer comes with the necessity to discard cards at times which could be a real hurdle when your hand is running low on cards. This may force you to make unfavorable trades or lose potential plays.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two red mana, this particular creature requires a commitment to red mana sources in your deck, reducing its flexibility and potentially straining your mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although offering a unique form of evasion, the mana cost to both cast and maintain the Viashino Sandswimmer’s ability is steep. Four mana—especially so heavily weighted in red—can be demanding, potentially occupying a full turn’s resources, which competes with other impactful four-mana spells or creatures you might wish to play.

Reasons to Include Viashino Sandswimmer in Your Collection

Versatility: Viashino Sandswimmer offers flexibility for red-based decks needing a reliable creature that can avoid removal. Its ability to “swim” out of harm’s way by being shuffled into the library can catch opponents off guard.

Combo Potential: This creature thrives in setups that capitalize on the surprise element and deck shuffling. It can synergize with strategies that involve manipulating the top cards of the library or benefit from the reshuffle mechanic.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where targeted removal is prevalent, Viashino Sandswimmer can be a persistent threat that dodges traditional spot removal, allowing you to maintain board presence against control decks.

How to beat

Viashino Sandswimmer is an intriguing creature card that brings a blend of unpredictability and resilience to your opponent’s board in Magic: The Gathering. To effectively counter this elusive creature, players need to adopt a strategy that offsets its ability to become untargetable. Cards with global effects that don’t require targeting individual creatures, such as board wipes or global damage spells, can navigate around the Sandswimmer’s ability. Consider leveraging cards like Day of Judgment or Anger of the Gods to clear the board without needing to target.

Another effective tactic is to apply pressure with aggressive plays, not giving your opponent the chance to stabilize or utilize the Sandswimmer’s abilities extensively. Reducing their life total swiftly with high-impact creatures or direct damage spells can outpace the protection mechanisms of cards like the Viashino Sandswimmer.

Moreover, forcing your adversaries to tap out or exploiting moments when they are unable to activate the Sandswimmer’s abilities due to mana restrictions can create opportunities to target and remove this shifty creature. When employing such strategies, it’s essential to consider the timing and execution to maximize your chances of success against the Viashino Sandswimmer.

Cards like Viashino Sandswimmer

Viashino Sandswimmer shines in the realm of creature cards capable of evading removal in Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to Thalakos Seer for its elusiveness, though Thalakos Seer offers card advantage upon leaving the battlefield. Viashino Sandswimmer’s strength lies in its repeatable ability to dodge targeted spells, which keeps opponents guessing and resources committed to removing it possibly wasted.

Compare this to Mischievous Quanar, which also thrives on uncertainty and can adapt its role by copying instant or sorcery spells. While Mischievous Quanar can’t consistently protect itself like Viashino Sandswimmer, it provides a different type of versatility. The inclusion of Mirror Entity is also pertinent, providing a different approach to adaptability by changing creature types but lacking the inherent protection of the Viashino.

Assessing the particulars and overall effectiveness, Viashino Sandswimmer offers a unique protective repeatable ability that can be a thorn in the side of your adversaries. This makes it a formidable option among mutable and hard-to-pin-down creatures in the game.

Cards similar to Viashino Sandswimmer by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Viashino Sandswimmer 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 Viashino Sandswimmer and other MTG cards: