Sadistic Obsession MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set name	Modern Horizons
Set code	MH1
Number	105
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Stewart

Key Takeaways

Generates card advantage by drawing cards through continuous enchantment of creatures during gameplay.
Flexibility at instant speed, enabling strategic responses and resourceful play in critical moments.
Demands careful hand management due to its discard requirement, which could hinder momentum.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature has ", : Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature."

Not everyone should take joy in their work.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sadistic Obsession offers the ability to continually draw cards as long as you have a creature on the battlefield to enchant. This persistent effect can help keep your hand full and provide ongoing strategic options.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing additional mana, Sadistic Obsession can help filter your deck by dispatching your opponent’s creatures and smoothing out your draws, indirectly speeding up your access to vital resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Sadistic Obsession’s draw effect at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves, using your resources efficiently and keeping up pressure without sacrificing momentum.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sadistic Obsession necessitates the player to discard a card to activate its ability. This can be particularly detrimental in scenarios where your hand is already depleted, potentially forcing you to discard a vital card that could be necessary for maintaining momentum or executing your strategy properly.

Specific Mana Cost: Sadistic Obsession requires not just one, but two blue mana to cast. This specific mana cost can be restrictive because it makes the card less flexible – if you’re running a multicolored deck or one with a less consistent mana base, you might find it challenging to have the right mana available when you need it most.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card comes with a four mana investment to get it onto the battlefield. In an environment where efficiency can be key, the cost to benefit ratio of Sadistic Obsession might not hold up when compared to other cards that can potentially offer similar or greater impact at a lower resource investment.

Reasons to Include Sadistic Obsession in Your Collection

Versatility: Sadistic Obsession offers a unique twist on deck manipulation, allowing you to subtly guide your game’s direction by targeting specific creatures. Its ability to be used at instant speed makes it a flexible addition to any blue-focused deck.

Combo Potential: Pairing Sadistic Obsession with cards that proliferate or untap permanents can quickly escalate the number of counters on an opponent’s creature, turning it into a liability for them and an advantage for you.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with creature-based strategies, Sadistic Obsession shines. It not only disrupts opponents’ creatures but can also serve as a continuous source of creature removal, maintaining board control in your favor.

How to beat

Sadistic Obsession is one of those cards that quietly shapes the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Skilled players recognize that dealing with this enchantment quickly is crucial in preventing your opponent’s creatures from growing out of control. To counteract Sadistic Obsession, removal spells that can directly target enchantments, such as Disenchant or Mortify, are key. They can unshackle your creatures from this nefarious enchantment and restore the balance.

Alternatively, consider prevention by making your creatures less susceptible to targeted abilities. Spells like Lazotep Plating act as a shield, not only protecting your creatures for a turn but also providing additional Amass benefits. It’s always wise to anticipate and prepare for such obstacles, whether that means having removal ready or making strategic plays that diminish the card’s impact on your game plan.

Remember that timing is everything. Observing the opponent’s mana availability and predicting their potential to cast Sadistic Obsession will grant you the upper hand, allowing you to proactively adapt your strategy rather than reactively, which often results in a more favorable outcome.

Cards like Sadistic Obsession

Sadistic Obsession weaves itself into the tapestry of aura enchantments that serve to control and dismantle opponents’ creatures. It echoes the sinister intent of cards like Dead Weight, granting a versatile ability to diminish an adversary’s board state. Although Dead Weight outright diminishes a creature’s power by two upon enchantment, Sadistic Obsession offers a more strategic edge allowing for the repeated targeting and weakening of creatures while fueling your own card advantage.

Parallels can be drawn with cards such as Stab Wound, known for its passive aggressive nature, consistently whittling down a creature’s power and chipping away at the opponent’s life total. Still, Sadistic Obsession gives players the rein to actively disrupt creatures across multiple turns or even during a single, pivotal turn. This added flexibility can be a decisive factor in the trenches of gameplay. Lastly, the similarities with cards like Pillory of the Sleepless cannot be discarded. While Pillory inflicts a slow death with persistent life loss, it lacks the dynamism of Sadistic Obsession, which acts as both a sword and a shield in the hands of a scheming player.

Weighing these characteristics, Sadistic Obsession stands out in its category for providing ongoing control and drawing capabilities, setting a new bar for auras with utility in Magic: The Gathering.

Pillory of the Sleepless - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sadistic Obsession by color, type and mana cost

Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sadistic Obsession MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Sadistic Obsession and other MTG cards: