Synchronous Sliver MTG Card


Synchronous Sliver - Planar Chaos
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Released2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set namePlanar Chaos
Set codePLC
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number48
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byE. M. Gist

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage and strategic flexibility with its instant-speed cycling ability.
  2. Ramps up resources when combined with mana-generating slivers, enabling faster plays.
  3. Requires careful mana balancing, as its specific costs can affect deck building.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

All Slivers have vigilance.

"With a twitch of its muscles, its timeline forks. Then, just as quickly, its two selves reintegrate. Causality, strangely, seems not to mind." —Rukarumel, field journal


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Synchronous Sliver provides an edge by allowing you to access additional cards. Every time a sliver enters the battlefield under your control, you can cycle Synchronous Sliver to draw a new card, constantly refreshing your hand and keeping your options open.

Resource Acceleration: As part of the highly synergistic sliver tribe, Synchronous Sliver can lead to explosive turns. When combined with mana-generating slivers, it can help you ramp up your resources quickly, enabling you to cast multiple spells or high-cost slivers sooner than usual.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Synchronous Sliver can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility lets you wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to decide whether to cycle for a new card or keep the sliver on the board, which can be a crucial tactical decision.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Synchronous Sliver is the need to discard a card to activate its ability. This can put players at a resource disadvantage, especially in tight situations where every card in hand is critical for maintaining board control and momentum.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card comes with a strict mana requirement which can be restrictive for deck building. For players not running a deck heavily focused on its color alignment, incorporating Synchronous Sliver into a strategy can be challenging and may result in inconsistently being able to cast it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While offering a unique effect, the mana cost is on the higher side for its type. Players might find themselves weighing the benefits of including Synchronous Sliver against other options that provide similar advantages without such an impactful mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Synchronous Sliver’s ability to grant all Slivers vigilance makes it a flexible card capable of enhancing both offensive and defensive strategies. It integrates seamlessly into Sliver decks, safeguarding your board presence while continuing to press the attack.

Combo Potential: By allowing creatures to remain untapped after attack, it can work wonders in tandem with cards that take advantage of untapped creatures, like intratap abilities or cards like Opposition. This can significantly increase its utility in various combo-based strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Vigilance is a highly valuable mechanic in environments where combat is pivotal. Synchronous Sliver can shift the balance in matches that involve trying to maintain a board presence while still pushing for damage, making it a relevant choice in numerous meta scenarios.


How to beat

Synchronous Sliver is an intriguing creature card that can make an appearance in any Magic: The Gathering Sliver deck. Its ability to grant all slivers the ability to tap for mana not only ramps up your board presence but also allows you to cast high-cost spells much earlier than your opponent might anticipate. To tackle this card, disruption is key. Direct removal spells that can swiftly take Synchronous Sliver off the board will stop this synergy in its tracks, negating the potential for a sliver-dominated battlefield. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are highly efficient for this job.

Moreover, countering Synchronous Sliver before it lands on the field can dismantle your opponent’s strategy, making counter spells such as Mana Leak or Dissolve valuable tools. Controlling the board with sweepers like Wrath of God can also reset the board if things get out of hand. Remember, keeping an eye on your opponent’s mana base and identifying the right moment to disrupt their plays can be crucial when facing this pivotal piece of the sliver puzzle. Synchronous Sliver might be a formidable foe, but with the right strategy and timely disruption, it can be overcome.


Cards like Synchronous Sliver

Synchronous Sliver offers a unique ability set that contributes to the sliver tribe within Magic: The Gathering. It can be compared to other sliver creatures, like Sentinel Sliver, that grants vigilance to all sliver creatures you control. Synchronous Sliver is one step ahead as it not only provides vigilance but all your slivers also tap to help cast your next spell.

Another sliver that shares some synergy is Manaweft Sliver, which allows your sliver creatures to tap for one mana of any color, enhancing the flexibility of your mana pool. Though Manaweft Sliver offers a wider range of mana generation, it doesn’t specifically bolster the casting of spells like Synchronous Sliver, which synchronizes well with casting larger sliver spells swiftly. Gemhide Sliver also falls in this comparison, providing a similar function to Manaweft Sliver, but again lacks the focused utility that Synchronous Sliver affords a sliver-based strategy.

Assessing the collective strengths, Synchronous Sliver shines with its specialized ability to support high-cost slivers and plays an integral role within sliver decks. Its novel mechanic makes it stand out from its kin, further cementing its position in the sliver hierarchy.

Sentinel Sliver - MTG Card versions
Manaweft Sliver - MTG Card versions
Gemhide Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sentinel Sliver - Magic 2014 (M14)
Manaweft Sliver - Magic 2014 (M14)
Gemhide Sliver - Time Spiral (TSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Synchronous Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Synchronous Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Synchronous Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.

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