Sorin's Thirst MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Sorin’s Thirst offers card advantage by removing threats and increasing life total simultaneously.
  2. The instant speed of the spell allows for surprise plays and enhanced strategy during opponent turns.
  3. Despite mana specificity, its utility in vampire-themed decks and removal capacity are invaluable.

Text of card

Sorin's Thirst deals 2 damage to target creature and you gain 2 life.

"All your steel won't protect you if your will is weak."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a player, topping off your hand with more options is crucial, and that’s where Sorin’s Thirst shows its value. This card removes a creature while giving you a two-life boost, effectively handling two different game aspects with a single card.

Resource Acceleration: While Sorin’s Thirst may not directly provide mana or tokens, it accelerates your resources by allowing you to maintain life—a resource not to be overlooked. Keeping your life total stable can be tantamount to having the extra turns needed to deploy your strategy.

Instant Speed: The power of playing at instant speed cannot be understated in MTG. Sorin’s Thirst can be cast on your opponent’s turn, catching them off guard and potentially disrupting their game plan. After all, the best plays are often the ones that your adversary never sees coming.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sorin’s Thirst does not have a discard requirement, making it a straightforward spell to cast without losing additional resources from your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: As it costs two black mana to cast, this card necessitates a strong commitment to black mana sources in your deck. That can be restrictive, particularly in multicolored decks that might struggle to meet its color-specific needs, reducing the card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost is not extremely high, the effect of dealing 2 damage to a creature and gaining 2 life could be considered somewhat underwhelming for the two-mana investment, especially in formats where the pace of the game is exceptionally fast, or where larger creatures dominate the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Sorin’s Thirst in Your Collection

Versatility: Sorin’s Thirst’s ability to deal 2 damage while you gain 2 life allows it to be a flexible pick for various black decks. This can be a vital spot removal in pauper formats or a handy tool against aggressive strategies in casual play.

Combo Potential: This card slots in nicely with lifegain synergies and strategies. Pairing it with cards that benefit from life gained or spells cast can enhance your on-board presence and overall game plan.

Meta-Relevance: Given the speed at which some decks operate, Sorin’s Thirst can disrupt early creature plays which are crucial in current aggro-centric metas. Keeping creature-based strategies at bay can give you the upper hand in pacing the game to your advantage.


How to beat

Sorin’s Thirst is a black instant spell that gives Magic: The Gathering players the power to deal with creatures early in the game. It removes creatures with two toughness or less and has the added benefit of gaining you 2 life. Assessing the card’s strengths and weaknesses is key to overcoming its effect. To counteract Sorin’s Thirst, use creatures with toughness greater than two which can withstand the damage. Alternatively, have spells ready that can protect or regenerate your creatures from such targeted removal.

Consider using cards with hexproof or indestructible abilities to sidestep Sorin’s Thirst’s impact. Cards like Sheltering Word can be used to not only protect your creature but also grant you a life boost, turning the tide in your favor. It’s important to manage your resources effectively and anticipate when your opponent might cast such removal spells. By doing so, you can maintain your board presence and diminish the advantage Sorin’s Thirst could provide to your opponent.

Ultimately, planning and deck building with Sorin’s Thirst in mind can help ensure that this spell doesn’t disrupt your strategy. Include cards that can neutralize or outpace its effects and you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a strong position in your games.


Cards like Sorin's Thirst

Sorin’s Thirst is a unique addition to the range of removal spells in the world of MTG. It finds its peers in cards like Moment of Craving, which not only deals 2 damage to a target creature but also gives the caster 2 life. Despite Sorin’s Thirst having a slightly higher mana cost due to its black color specificity, it matches the effect of Moment of Craving, with both being instant spells, allowing for reactive play during an opponent’s turn.

When considering other comparisons, Grasp of Darkness stands out with its ability to give a creature -4/-4 until end of turn. Although it requires two black mana, making it less flexible than Sorin’s Thirst’s black and generic mana requirement, its potential to deal with larger threats can’t be overlooked.Finally, an examination of Sorin’s Thirst in relation to other MTG spells highlights its role in vampire-themed decks. It showcases the card’s thematic strength and life-gain synergy, which can provide vital increments of health that might just tip scales in tight matches.

Moment of Craving - MTG Card versions
Grasp of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Moment of Craving - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Grasp of Darkness - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Sorin's Thirst by color, type and mana cost

Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
Toxic Stench - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Chill Haunting - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Terror - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
Soul Rend - Mirage (MIR)
Wicked Reward - Visions (VIS)
Urborg Justice - Weatherlight (WTH)
Imps' Taunt - Tempest (TMP)
Rapid Decay - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Diabolic Edict - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Tainted Pact - Odyssey (ODY)
Toxic Stench - Judgment (JUD)
Doom Blade - Magic 2012 (M12)
Go for the Throat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cast Down - Commander Legends (CMR)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Chill Haunting - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sorin's Thirst MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt, 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 Sorin's Thirst and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sorin's Thirst Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1102003normalblackKarl Kopinski
22013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 212003normalblackKarl Kopinski
32019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 1042015normalblackDaarken
42019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 3252015normalblackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sorin's Thirst has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-07-12 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Sorin’s Thirst tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain 2 life.

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