Sabertooth Cobra MTG Card

Mirage (MIR)
1996-10-08 - Number 238

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number MIR-238

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Snake
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Generates card advantage by compelling opponent discards whenever it deals damage.
Indirectly accelerates your resources and pressurizes opponents to play cautiously.
Despite its benefits, Sabertooth Cobra’s influence can be situational and mana-intensive.

Text of card

If Sabertooth Cobra damages a player, he or she gets a poison counter. During that player's next upkeep, he or she gets another poison counter unless he or she pays before then to prevent this effect. If any player has ten or more poison counters, he or she loses the game.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sabertooth Cobra provides a recurring advantage by forcing your opponent to discard each time it damages them. This incremental value can wear down an opponent’s resources over the course of a game, thus improving your position.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly contributing to mana production, the forced discard can indirectly accelerate your resources by diminishing your opponent’s options, potentially giving you a lead in resource availability.

Instant Speed: While the Sabertooth Cobra itself is not an instant, its triggered ability can create a situation where an opponent must consider the risk of discard during both their turn and yours, placing pressure on them to play at an instant speed level to avoid losing valuable cards.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sabertooth Cobra necessitates a discard from the opponent only when it deals damage to them, making it an unreliable source for depleting an opponent’s hand resources.

Specific Mana Cost: With its casting cost requiring both green and generic mana, Sabertooth Cobra may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that prioritize mana flexibility over single-color dedication.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging four mana for a creature with a specific and situational ability like Sabertooth Cobra’s may be less efficient, as players could opt for creatures or spells with more immediate and versatile effects at a similar cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sabertooth Cobra’s ability to force discards makes it a flexible addition to any deck focusing on disruption. It also serves well in decks centered around incremental damage and effects triggered by combat.

Combo Potential: This creature’s poison counters can interact beneficially with cards that capitalize on opponent’s poison totals, leading to potential game-winning combinations.

Meta-Relevance: With the fluctuating meta, Sabertooth Cobra can act as a useful tool against graveyard-centric decks by depriving opponents of card options and threatening with alternative win conditions through poison counters.

How to beat

Sabertooth Cobra brings a unique challenge to the battlefield with its ability to introduce poison counters to your opponent. This card may not be the biggest threat on its own but can shift the tide of a match if not dealt with promptly. To effectively counteract this slithery foe, removal spells are your best allies. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder can swiftly take it out before its damage becomes insurmountable.

In a broader strategy, consider controlling the board with sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation to ensure creatures like Sabertooth Cobra can’t stick around to pose a threat. Additionally, prevent the poison counter accumulation early on by utilizing cards that offer hexproof or shroud to your player character, making it harder for the Cobra to land its venomous bites.

Ultimately, the key to beating Sabertooth Cobra lies in staying one step ahead. Sustainable life gain, counterspells, and creature protection can nullify the danger it represents. Pay attention to the board, manage your removal resources efficiently, and the Sabertooth Cobra’s sting will feel no more harmful than a scratch.

Cards like Sabertooth Cobra

Sabertooth Cobra brings a unique twist to the creature abilities in Magic: The Gathering. This card is often lined up against other creatures that can inflict damage to players, such as Pit Viper or Viridian Shaman. While the Cobra doesn’t have the same direct board impact as the Shaman or the combat trick potential of the Pit Viper, it commands a very specific—poison counters. Unlike the others which deal regular damage or target artifacts for destruction, the Cobra’s ability to give an opponent a poison counter during the end phase of the turn it deals damage can alter your opponent’s gameplay drastically.

Moreover, Sabertooth Cobra’s comparison with Marsh Viper is inevitable. Both can hand out poison counters to your opponents, affecting the alternate win condition of accumulating enough poison. Yet, the Cobra requires damage to be dealt to a player, while the Viper’s counters are applied with each successful strike, showcasing different strategic approaches in utilizing these creatures.

In the realm of poison-countering creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Sabertooth Cobra offers a strategic depth for players looking for a longer-term victory condition or to put psychological pressure on their opponent. Its ability to inject a different kind of threat makes it a card that, while not straightforward like some counterparts, has a lethal edge under the right conditions.

Cards similar to Sabertooth Cobra by color, type and mana cost

Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions

Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions

Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sabertooth Cobra MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and The List, 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 Sabertooth Cobra and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sabertooth Cobra Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1996-10-08. Illustrated by Andrew Robinson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1996-10-08	Mirage	MIR		238	1997	Normal	Black	Andrew Robinson
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		MIR-238	1997	Normal	Black	Andrew Robinson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sabertooth Cobra has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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