Sangrite Backlash MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set name	Alara Reborn
Set code	ARB
Number	139
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Cyril Van Der Haegen

Key Takeaways

Sangrite Backlash can double as a creature removal while disrupting your opponent’s board presence.
It supports decks designed for aggressive playstyles, boosting combat damage-triggered abilities.
Though strong, its playability is restricted by specific mana requirements and potential for hand depletion.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +3/-3.

"Sangrite is the dragon's beating heart. Little wonder, then, that so many fools' chests burst trying to contain it." —Sarkhan Vol

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sangrite Backlash offers players a nuanced form of card advantage by potentially removing two creatures from the board. This targeted approach in a single card can significantly disrupt an opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While Sangrite Backlash itself doesn’t create resources, enabling a successful attack can lead to additional benefits, such as triggering “whenever a creature deals combat damage” effects that many decks employ for resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant-speed spells is a cornerstone of strategy in MTG, and Sangrite Backlash fits right in. It allows you to wait until the most opportune moment during the combat phase, maybe even after opponents have committed to their attacks or blocks, to cast it. This can lead to more efficient plays and better resource management over the course of a game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sangrite Backlash asks you to pitch another card from your hand to cast it. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you with fewer options as the game progresses, especially if you’re not running a deck built to utilize discard synergies effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Sangrite Backlash is quite specific, needing both black and red mana. This can complicate your deck-building options, as it requires a commitment to a Rakdos-colors mana base, potentially limiting its inclusion in multi-color decks that don’t heavily feature these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While potentially powerful, the cost to get Sangrite Backlash onto the battlefield is not negligible. With a casting cost that includes two color-specific mana, it may come into play later than other disruption options. Players might find alternative removal or control spells that provide a similar impact at a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sangrite Backlash offers an interesting twist to decks that seek to gain advantage from dealing damage. This card can seamlessly integrate with strategies focusing on creature buffs or with decks that aim to win through direct life point reduction.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with abilities that trigger on dealing damage or on cast. Its ability to augment damage output can be critical in executing game-winning combos, especially in aggressive or “burn” oriented decks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggro decks are prevalent, Sangrite Backlash can serve as a key enhancement to outpace your opponents. Matching well against other fast-paced decks, it helps maintain parity or push for a lead in damage races.

How to beat

Sangrite Backlash presents a unique challenge as a spell capable of providing an aggressive advantage to your opponent’s creatures in MTG. Overcoming this card requires strategic play and deck construction. To neutralize its effect, consider including instant-speed removal spells that can disrupt its usage before the buff takes effect. Cards like Fatal Push, Path to Exile, or Lightning Bolt offer efficient ways to eliminate a creature targeted by Sangrite Backlash, mitigating the threat before it can swing with increased power.

Adjusting your defensive stance also helps. Incorporate creatures with higher toughness to withstand the temporary power boost or creatures with abilities like lifelink to offset the additional damage taken. Enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize can also deal with Sangrite Backlash directly, removing the pressure and evening out the playing field.

Ultimately, understanding the timing and reacting swiftly to the threat of Sangrite Backlash can turn the tides of the match. Effective counters and removal or even a well-timed counter spell will stifle your opponent’s momentum and protect your life total, leading to a strategic victory against this powerful enchantment.

Cards like Sangrite Backlash

Sangrite Backlash stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering for its burst of aggression in combat scenarios. As we delve into similar cards, we encounter Giant Growth, which also grants a significant power increment to creatures. However, Giant Growth bestows a larger defense boost devoid of the drawback that Sangrite Backlash imposes on the creature’s toughness.

Temur Battle Rage presents another point of comparison. It not only increases a creature’s power like Sangrite Backlash but also bestows the coveted double strike ability when its conditions are met. This potentially doubles the damage dealt if the creature goes unblocked. Unlike Sangrite Backlash, which only targets one’s own creatures, Temur Battle Rage doesn’t negatively impact the creature’s toughness and thus maintains survivability in combat.

Finally, viewing Sangrite Backlash through the lens of its unique combination of power gain and toughness decrease, players often weigh its cost against its merits. It adds an interesting dynamic to the game, pressing for calculated risk-taking in exchanges for potential high rewards during combat phases.

Cards similar to Sangrite Backlash by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sangrite Backlash MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Sangrite Backlash and other MTG cards: