Sandstorm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers strategic board clearing at instant speed to disrupt swarming strategies during an opponent’s turn.
  2. Demands a discard and specific mana cost, posing deck-building challenges and timing considerations.
  3. Vital for control decks facing aggressive swarms; excellently paired with damage amplifiers.

Text of card

All attacking creatures suffer 1 damage.

Even the landscape turned against Sarsour, first rising up and pelting him, then rearranging itself so he could no longer find his way.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Sandstorm doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it does offer the strategic advantage of clearing out multiple smaller creatures your opponent controls, potentially disrupting their plans and evening the playing field.

Resource Acceleration: Sandstorm might not produce mana or tokens, but it can be a resource accelerator in a different sense. By dealing damage to each creature, it can save resources you’d otherwise spend on multiple spells to handle swarming strategies.

Instant Speed: Sandstorm’s instant speed is one of its most compelling features. This allows you to reactively cleanse the board of X/1 creatures during your opponent’s turn, preserving the surprise element and making your turns more efficient.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing the Sandstorm card, you’re faced with a discard requirement. This can put you at a strategic disadvantage, particularly in tight situations where every card in hand counts towards your gameplay strategy and potential comebacks.

Specific Mana Cost: Sandstorm’s effectiveness can be limited by its specific mana cost. The card requires a precise combination of mana, which might not always be readily available, depending on the deck you are running. This can lead to missed opportunities to play the card at critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana cost, Sandstorm may sometimes be outshone by alternative cards with similar or better effects for a lower investment. Players must weigh the cost against the potential impact and consider if there might be more versatile or cost-effective choices for their particular deck build.


Reasons to Include Sandstorm in Your Collection

Versatility: Sandstorm is a flexible card that can be a key sideboard option in various decks, aiding those that require efficient ways to deal with swarms of small creatures.

Combo Potential: This card works well in decks that capitalize on dealing damage to all creatures, potentially clearing the board when combined with damage amplifiers or other synergistic cards.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggro decks are prevalent, Sandstorm can provide a cost-effective solution to halt early game pressure, preserving your life total while setting up for the mid to late game.


How to beat

Sandstorm is well-acknowledged for its ability to deter early aggressive creature strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This spell is adept at sweeping away a horde of low-toughness creatures, posing a substantial threat to decks that rely on a fast creature buildup. While on its face it seems daunting to overcome, there are strategies one can employ to outmaneuver its effects.

To effectively counteract Sandstorm, consider focusing on creatures with a toughness greater than 1. By featuring creatures that can endure Sandstorm’s damage, you preserve your board presence and minimize the impact of the spell. Additionally, instant-speed spells that boost the toughness of your creatures, such as Giant Growth or cards like Shelter that can provide protection from colors, prove invaluable in preserving your assets on the battlefield. Alternatively, employing non-creature strategies, such as planeswalker or spell-based decks, can sidestep Sandstorm’s influence altogether, rendering it a non-factor in your game plan.

Understanding and adapting to the presence of Sandstorm in your meta can significantly improve your win condition. By selecting the right mix of cards and appreciating the need for resilience against such spells, you can effectively diminish Sandstorm’s potential threat to your deck’s strategy.


Cards like Sandstorm

In the realm of MTG, Sandstorm stands out for its unique defensive capabilities, offering players a way to deal with swarms of small creatures. A card reminiscent of Sandstorm’s effect is Pyroclasm, which clears out creatures with a sweep of two damage to each creature. While Pyroclasm affects all creatures on the board indiscriminately, Sandstorm is more selective, targeting only attacking creatures and thus providing a tactical advantage during the opponent’s turn.

Another comparable card is Electrickery which, like Sandstorm, can be pivotal in matches against token strategies or decks that deploy a multitude of low-toughness creatures. Electrickery can be overcharged to hit multiple targets, making it versatile against both singular significant threats and numerous smaller ones. However, the instant speed of Sandstorm means that you can surprise an opponent during combat, potentially turning the tide of a battle.

Considering these comparisons, Sandstorm occupies a niche spot for players looking for cost-effective ways to prevent damage from multiple creatures. Its specialization in defensive tactics during combat phases makes it an intriguing choice for deck builders focused on controlling the pace of the game.

Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Electrickery - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - Ice Age (ICE)
Electrickery - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Sandstorm by color, type and mana cost

Fog - MTG Card versions
Natural Selection - MTG Card versions
Lifelace - MTG Card versions
Berserk - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Crumble - MTG Card versions
Crop Rotation - MTG Card versions
Seedling Charm - MTG Card versions
Shrink - MTG Card versions
Choking Vines - MTG Card versions
Crossbow Ambush - MTG Card versions
Reclaim - MTG Card versions
Worldly Tutor - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Might - MTG Card versions
Serene Sunset - MTG Card versions
Sprout - MTG Card versions
Gather Courage - MTG Card versions
Nature's Claim - MTG Card versions
Prey's Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Autumn's Veil - MTG Card versions
Fog - Magic 2012 (M12)
Natural Selection - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Lifelace - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Berserk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Giant Growth - The List (PLST)
Crumble - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Crop Rotation - The List (PLST)
Seedling Charm - Mirage (MIR)
Shrink - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Choking Vines - Weatherlight (WTH)
Crossbow Ambush - Stronghold (STH)
Reclaim - Magic Origins (ORI)
Worldly Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Gaea's Might - Dominaria United (DMU)
Serene Sunset - Judgment (JUD)
Sprout - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Gather Courage - The List (PLST)
Nature's Claim - The List (PLST)
Prey's Vengeance - The List (PLST)
Autumn's Veil - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sandstorm MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Fourth Edition, 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 Sandstorm and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Sandstorm Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-12-17Arabian NightsARN 531993normalblackBrian Snõddy
21995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2691993normalwhiteBrian Snõddy
31995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2691993normalblackBrian Snõddy
41995-08-01RinascimentoRIN 1371993normalblackBrian Snõddy
51995-08-01RenaissanceREN 1561993normalblackBrian Snõddy
61996-10-08MirageMIR 2391997normalblackMike Kimble
71999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 641997normalwhiteBrian Snõddy
82011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1641997normalblackBrian Snõddy
92023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1742015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sandstorm has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks