Sideswipe MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Number	187
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spears

Key Takeaways

Grants card and resource advantages while providing flexibility with its instant speed.
Trade-offs include a specific mana cost and potential card loss from hand.
Possesses strong synergy with creature-based decks and scalable damage potential.

Text of card

You may change any targets of target Arcane spell.

Hisoka's wizards struggled for years to master the art of redirection that came so naturally to the shamans of Ganzan Pass.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sideswipe effortlessly turns one card into multiple benefits. When you play Sideswipe, you’re investing in your future turns by potentially disrupting your opponent’s plans and enhancing the power of your plays. The intrinsic value gained can tilt the game in your favor as you maintain or increase your card advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Sideswipe, in its essence, is designed to speed up your game. Whether you’re aiming to quickly deploy heavy-hitters onto the board or looking to activate a crucial ability, this card can provide the rapid resource boost necessary to outpace your opponents, contributing to a more dynamic and efficient game strategy.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Sideswipe lies in its flexibility. With its instant speed, you have the power to adapt to the ever-changing game state, choosing the most opportune moment to cast it. This not only keeps your adversaries guessing but also ensures that you’re always one step ahead, prepared to counter their moves or make decisive plays when it counts the most.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sideswipe necessitates parting with a card from your hand, which can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand is already running thin on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost is quite rigid, demanding both red and colorless mana, which may not be easily splashed into decks that don’t heavily feature red mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at a mana cost that could be considered steep for its effect, Sideswipe faces competition from other cards that might provide a similar impact on the game for a lower investment.

Reasons to Include Sideswipe in Your Collection

Versatility: Sideswipe is easily adaptable and can serve multiple roles within various decks. Its ability to target creatures or players makes it a flexible option for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: Sideswipe can act as an enabler for combos that benefit from direct damage or life loss. It pairs well with cards that trigger upon dealing damage, opening up opportunities for creative play synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s capability to disrupt opponent tactics and influence the pace of play, it holds significance in a meta where quick response and adaptation are crucial. Its presence in your collection ensures you’re prepared for shifting battlefield conditions.

How to beat Sideswipe

Understanding your opponent’s strategy is crucial when facing Sideswipe, a versatile card that can alter the flow of the game. With its red mana underpinning, it’s part of the instant card category, delivering direct damage that can catch players off guard. To counter this, consider deploying cards that provide hexproof or shroud abilities to your creatures, making them invulnerable to such targeted spells.

Another effective strategy is utilizing counter spells effectively. Blue players can maintain open mana to negate Sideswipe upon its casting, while white-focused decks may employ protective instants like Gods Willing to sidestep the damage by granting indestructibility or protection from red for that crucial turn. Green mages, known for their robust creatures, should focus on swiftly bolstering their board presence, creating pressure so intense that casting Sideswipe becomes less of a priority for the red player.

When facing a card like Sideswipe, the key is proactive defense and a sharp eye on mana management. By staying ahead on the board and keeping answers at the ready, players can effectively navigate the challenge posed by this fiery instant and maintain control of the game’s pace. With precise play and calculated counters, Sideswipe’s impact can be significantly diminished, allowing for a well-earned victory.

Deck Synergy with Sideswipe

Sideswipe is a card that brings versatility to player strategies on the battlefield. Its closest relatives in terms of direct damage and cost efficiency are shock spells like Lightning Strike and Searing Spear. Each of these cards deals a notable amount of damage to targets for a relatively low mana investment, making them staples in aggressive decks.

Cards like Sideswipe

Sideswipe holds its ground against cards such as Shock and Lightning Bolt, delivering a competitive edge in the quick removal game. Shock’s ability to deliver 2 damage to any target for only one mana makes it a fast and accessible option. However, Sideswipe offers a larger damage output, being able to potentially deal more based on the creature it targets. Unlike Shock, Sideswipe’s strength can increase as the creatures you control grow more powerful.

Comparatively, Lightning Bolt is revered for its efficiency, dishing out 3 damage for one red mana, but it doesn’t offer the scalability that Sideswipe does. When examining the bigger picture, cards like Lightning Bolt cater to immediate threats, whereas Sideswipe can be tailored to the evolving dynamics of a match, adjusting its impact based on the creatures involved in the attack.

While these similar spells provide valuable insights, Sideswipe’s uniqueness comes from its potential to tip the scales by leveraging the strength of your creatures, showcasing its value in creature-centric decks within the MTG arena.

Cards similar to Sideswipe by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sideswipe MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Sideswipe and other MTG cards: