Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 119
2022-12-02 - Number 593
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Sarkhan |
| Loyalty | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Sarkhan offers card quality retention, acting as a recurring threat without drawing extra creatures.
- As a mana-efficient dragon converter, he maximizes resource usage for impactful mid-game plays.
- The planeswalker’s transformative ability, while at sorcery speed, can surprise opponents with a swift aerial challenge.
Text of card
+1: Until end of turn, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker becomes a legendary 4/4 red Dragon creature with flying, indestructible, and haste. (He doesn't lose loyalty while he's not a planeswalker.) −3: Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker deals 4 damage to target creature. −6: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of your draw step, draw two additional cards" and "At the beginning of your end step, discard your hand."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker ensures players maintain card quality in their hand by effectively acting as a threat each turn. His ability to become a dragon planeswalker provides immediate board impact, eliminating the need to draw additional creatures to apply pressure.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly producing mana or tokens, Sarkhan’s transformative nature accelerates resources by providing a high-value attacker without the expense of casting a separate creature spell. This allows for a more efficient use of mana and resources in the mid to late game.
Instant Speed: Sarkhan’s transformative ability can be activated at sorcery speed. While not at instant speed, the flexibility to become a flying dragon can unexpectedly shift the tempo of the game, forcing opponents to deal with a sudden aerial threat and opening up strategic turn plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker does not have a discard requirement per se, but as a planeswalker, it is worth noting that protecting him on the battlefield can be tantamount to a resource sacrifice. Without adequate defense, you may lose him along with the mana and strategy you invested.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana assembly of three generic and two red mana. This requirement may pigeonhole him strictly into red or red-heavy decks, thus restricting its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sarkhan’s need for five mana to be cast is indeed on the higher side, especially for aggressive decks looking to capitalize on tempo. Alternative creatures or planeswalkers might provide comparable impact at a lower mana cost, arguably offering more immediate board presence or utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker can adapt to various playstyles, serving as both a formidable creature and a versatile planeswalker. His ability to become a dragon offers an aggressive approach, whereas his other abilities provide strategic value for controlling the board.
Combo Potential: This card can be the cornerstone of dragon-themed decks or interact beneficially with cards that care about planeswalkers or flying creatures. Sarkhan’s transformation into a dragon also opens up synergy with cards that buff flying creatures or benefit from non-creature spells.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where planeswalkers are targets, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker shines by providing immediate impact and potential evasion from sorcery speed removals. Given his ultimate can shift the tide of any match, he remains a relevant choice against various decks in the current competitive landscape.
How to beat Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker presents a formidable challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to become a dragon, creating both offensive and defensive dilemmas. A common strategy against Sarkhan involves applying early pressure to limit a player’s ability to safely cast it. Board control is key; thus, removal spells that can target planeswalkers, such as Dreadbore or Hero’s Downfall, are invaluable assets in your deck.
Counterspells also play a crucial role against Sarkhan by never letting it hit the battlefield in the first place. Negate and Dovin’s Veto can counteract it efficiently due to its noncreature nature when cast. When looking at creature-based strategies, consider utilizing creatures with haste or those that can deal damage directly to planeswalkers to remove Sarkhan quickly before its dragon transformation becomes a major threat.
Additionally, using instant speed interaction allows you to wait until the most opportune moment, perhaps when your opponent is tapped out or committed to an aggressive play. Balancing threats and answers, alongside timing your plays carefully, can turn the tide against a card as dynamic as Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, highlighting the intricate dance of tactics within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker is a dynamic force in the realm of planeswalker cards in MTG. It shares several traits with other dragon-themed planeswalkers, like Nicol Bolas, the Deceiver. Sarkhan allows for direct damage to any target, akin to Nicol Bolas’s ability to deal damage while forcing the opponent to discard a card. However, Sarkhan’s unique ability to become a dragon until end of turn with flying and haste gives it a distinct advantage in terms of immediate board impact.
Looking at Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, we see another mighty planeswalker capable of dealing damage. Ugin’s ability to exile colored permanents is more versatile against a wider array of threats compared to Sarkhan’s more focused approach. Nevertheless, Sarkhan’s lower casting cost and aggressive transformation give players an alternative means of applying pressure on the battlefield.
In essence, while other dragon-inspired planeswalkers bring their own strengths to MTG decks, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker carves out its niche through its ability to turn into an attacking dragon, providing a swift and potent offensive tool unmatched by its counterparts.
Cards similar to Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Daarken.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 119 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 593 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | Any loyalty counters on Sarkhan when his first ability resolves will remain on him while he’s a creature. Because he’s not a planeswalker at this time, damage dealt to him won’t cause those counters to be removed. |
| 2014-09-20 | If Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker becomes a creature due to his first ability, that doesn’t count as having a creature enter the battlefield. Sarkhan was already on the battlefield; he only changed his types. Abilities that trigger whenever a creature enters the battlefield won’t trigger. |
| 2014-09-20 | If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of Sarkhan after his first ability has resolved, the copy will be a Sarkhan planeswalker. It will enter the battlefield with four loyalty counters, no matter how many loyalty counters are on the original Sarkhan. You’ll then find yourself in the same situation described above. |
