Sai of the Shinobi MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Instantly equips to entering creatures, enhancing combat stats without further card investment.
  2. Its low mana cost and generic requirement make it accessible and flexible across decks.
  3. Strengthens aggressive strategies and synergetic creature plays with its swift equip.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+1. Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach Sai of the Shinobi to it. Equip

The passing of the sai presages the end of the old clan and the ascent of the new.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sai of the Shinobi might not directly allow you to draw cards, but its ability to equip a creature as soon as it enters the battlefield can give you an edge by enhancing your creatures’ capabilities without investing more cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Sai of the Shinobi doesn’t produce mana or tokens, its low casting and equip costs act as a form of resource acceleration, allowing you to equip it multiple times across different creatures to maximize battlefield presence without a significant mana investment.

Instant Speed: The intrinsic ability of Sai of the Shinobi to automatically attach to a creature when it enters the battlefield can function similarly to an instant speed action, immediately bolstering your creature’s power and toughness and catching an opponent unprepared during the combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sai of the Shinobi’s abilities do not incur a discard requirement which is advantageous as it allows you to maintain card advantage while equipping your creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Sai of the Shinobi has a low and generic mana cost, making it easily playable in any deck without the need for specific mana sources. It costs one generic mana, which any deck can afford without stress.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given that Sai of the Shinobi only costs one generic mana, it can’t be considered to have a high mana cost. In fact, its-affordability is part of what makes it an appealing option in many decks. Its ability to immediately equip to a creature that enters the battlefield at no cost helps to elevate the tempo without imposing a high investment.


Reasons to Include Sai of the Shinobi in Your Collection

Versatility: Sai of the Shinobi excels in flexibility, seamlessly slotting into various deck archetypes. Its ability to give a quick boost to any creature makes it a fine addition for aggressive strategies aimed at fast starts or decks that rely on creature synergies.

Combo Potential: This equipment shines when paired with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or when used in conjunction with strategies that revolve around voltron-style command damage. Its low-cost equipping feature allows for immediate impact, creating opportunities for powerful interactions on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where tempo plays a critical role, Sai of the Shinobi can prove to be a highly impactful card. With the ever-shifting MTG meta, having a card that could potentially turn the tides with swift creature enhancements is key for staying competitive.


How to beat

Sai of the Shinobi is a unique equipment card that can catch opponents off guard in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). When you understand its strengths, you can learn to counterplay effectively. This card’s advantage lies in its ability to buff creatures swiftly as they enter the battlefield, giving an immediate impact on the game.

To outplay a deck that uses Sai of the Shinobi, prioritize the removal of creatures. Without a creature to equip, Sai of the Shinobi’s value drops significantly. You can also use instant-speed spells to disrupt the timing of equipping, thereby minimizing the card’s impact. It’s essential to handle creatures as soon as they appear or to negate the equipment’s effect with artifact removal like Disenchant or Abrade. Another approach is to maintain board control; cards with the “Hexproof” ability prevent the opponent from targeting your creatures. This makes it challenging for them to establish a foothold with their Sai of the Shinobi buffs.

By focusing on these strategies, you can diminish the advantage Sai of the Shinobi gives to your opponent and maintain a stronger position in your matches.


Cards like Sai of the Shinobi

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Sai of the Shinobi is notable for its ability to equip a creature the moment it enters the battlefield. This trait is akin to the mechanics found in equipment cards such as Swiftfoot Boots, which also bestow an immediate benefit, in this case granting both hexproof and haste. But Sai of the Shinobi focuses more on bolstering creature combat prowess, providing a quick power and toughness boost without further mana investment.

Cloak and Dagger resonate with Sai of the Shinobi’s instant impact theme, offering creatures not only a stat bump but also shroud and the rogue equipment synergy. While Sai of the Shinobi does not offer protective attributes, its lowered cost can be pivotal in early game tempo. Leonin Scimitar, another similar equipment, grants a permanent power boost but lacks the immediacy of Sai of the Shinobi’s on-entry effect.

Analyzing these comparisons, Sai of the Shinobi’s strength lies in its immediacy, turning any creature into a more formidable threat the moment they hit the board. This makes Sai of the Shinobi a competitive option for decks that aim to capitalize quickly on fast, aggressive starts.

Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Cloak and Dagger - MTG Card versions
Leonin Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - Magic 2012 (M12)
Cloak and Dagger - Morningtide (MOR)
Leonin Scimitar - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Sai of the Shinobi by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Viridian Longbow - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - Revised Edition (3ED)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Candelabra of Tawnos - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Phyrexian Dreadnought - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Signal Pest - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Viridian Longbow - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sai of the Shinobi MTG card by a specific set like Planechase 2012 and Planechase Anthology, 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 Sai of the Shinobi and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Sai of the Shinobi Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-06-01 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Brian Snõddy.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 1132003normalblackBrian Snõddy
22016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 1132015normalblackBrian Snõddy
32018-03-16Masters 25A25 2302015normalblackBrian Snõddy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sai of the Shinobi has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PennyLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-03-16 If you choose not to attach Sai of the Shinobi to a creature that enters the battlefield, or if you can’t (most likely because the creature has left the battlefield by the time the triggered ability resolves), Sai of the Shinobi doesn’t move.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks