Sickleslicer MTG Card

New Phyrexia (NPH)
2011-05-13 - Number 157

Sickleslicer - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
2015-05-22 - Number 228

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 287

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip,Living weapon

Key Takeaways

Granting creatures an immediate power increase, Sickleslicer can swing the balance of card advantage in your favor.
Its Living Weapon feature allows for quick board development without the need for additional creature cards.
Though it demands specific mana or life, it significantly enhances a creature, justifying its higher mana cost.

Text of card

Living weapon (When this Equipment enters the battlefield, put a 0/0 black Germ creature token onto the battlefield, then attach this to it.) Equipped creature gets +2/+2. Equip

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Equipping Sickleslicer bestows a considerable power boost to a creature, effectively consolidating power across your board and often forcing your opponent to answer with more than one card, thereby nudging ahead in card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: As a Living Weapon, Sickleslicer creates its own equipped creature upon entering the battlefield. This allows you to develop your board presence without spending extra resources on another creature, setting the stage for further plays.

Instant Speed: While Sickleslicer itself does not operate at instant speed, its inherent flexibility complements an instant-speed strategy. Deploy it during your main phase to shore up defenses or apply pressure, then keep your mana free during your opponent’s turn for reactive plays or tricks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Holding on to Sickleslicer might be problematic in fast-paced matches, especially when needing to maintain card advantage. The requirement to discard can be a setback in such scenarios.

Specific Mana Cost: Operating with a Phyrexian mana cost, Sickleslicer demands a specific mana type or life payment, which could be restrictive or costly in terms of life points for some decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When comparing Sickleslicer’s mana cost to other equipment cards, the investment may seem steep. Players must weigh its cost against its ability to boost a creature’s stats and consider more efficient alternatives.

Reasons to Include Sickleslicer in Your Collection

Versatility: Sickleslicer is easily integrated into various deck types because of its simple equip cost and the way it enhances creature abilities. As a colorless equipment, it doesn’t limit your deck-building options to a particular color, making it a valuable addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: With its Living Weapon ability, Sickleslicer enters the battlefield attached to a 0/0 Germ token, instantly creating a creature. This mechanism can be exploited in strategies that center on artifacts or creatures entering the battlefield, opening up opportunities for inventive synergies and interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to turn any creature into a considerable threat, Sickleslicer is a utility card that can be effective in various metagames. It’s particularly useful in environments where equipping creatures are vital for maintaining board presence, offering a boost to your offensive and defensive game plans.

How to beat

Sickleslicer, a noteworthy artifact in the world of Magic the Gathering, lends a solid edge to artifact-centric decks. As a living weapon, it automatically equips to a Germ token upon entering the battlefield, creating a formidable presence early on. It may appear daunting with its boost in power and toughness to the equipped creature, but there are definite strategies to outmaneuver this piece.

Enchantment removal or artifact hate cards are efficient ways to deal with Sickleslicer. Cards like Naturalize or Creeping Corrosion can dismantle the threat by targeting the Sickle directly or sweeping the board of all artifacts. Supposing your opponent has built a significant board presence, board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, removing the Germ token along with other creatures. Keep in mind, utilizing instant speed removal allows you to respond on your opponent’s turn, preserving the tempo of your game.

Ultimately, Sickleslicer can be a sharp tool in any MTG player’s arsenal, but with the right countermeasures and timing, its impact can be mitigated, keeping you in the fight for victory.

Cards like Sickleslicer

Sickleslicer is an Equipment artifact that brings an interesting dynamic to MTG gameplay. It bears resemblances to other Equipment cards like Trusty Machete in terms of providing a power and toughness boost to creatures. Where Sickleslicer stands out is in its synergy with the Living Weapon mechanic, which essentially creates a creature token that the Equipment is automatically attached to when it enters the battlefield. Trusty Machete lacks this functionality but costs less to equip.

Analogous in concept is Flayer Husk, another Equipment card that offers the Living Weapon advantage. While Flayer Husk provides a smaller boost compared to Sickleslicer, it comes with a lower initial casting cost, making it more accessible in the early game. Conversely, Sickleslicer provides a heftier enhancement to the equipped creature, which can be a game-changer in the right deck.

In essence, Sickleslicer holds up within its category, striking a balance between cost and utility which can be pivotal in matchups. It is an artifact that card gamers should consider when looking to add resilience and power to their creature lineup.

Cards similar to Sickleslicer by color, type and mana cost

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sickleslicer MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Sickleslicer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sickleslicer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Jason Felix.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-05-13	New Phyrexia	NPH	157	2003	Normal	Black	Jason Felix
2	2015-05-22	Modern Masters 2015	MM2	228	2015	Normal	Black	Jason Felix
3	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM	287	2015	Normal	Black	Jason Felix

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sickleslicer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-08-07	If the Germ token is destroyed, the Equipment remains on the battlefield as with any other Equipment.
2020-08-07	If the living weapon trigger causes two Germs to be created (due to an effect such as that of Doubling Season), the Equipment becomes attached to one of them. The other will be put into your graveyard and subsequently cease to exist, unless another effect raises its toughness above 0.
2020-08-07	Like other Equipment, each Equipment with living weapon has an equip cost. You can pay this cost to attach an Equipment to another creature you control. Once the Germ token is no longer equipped, it will be put into your graveyard and subsequently cease to exist, unless another effect raises its toughness above 0.
2020-08-07	The Germ token enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature and the Equipment becomes attached to it before state-based actions would cause the token to die. Abilities that trigger as the token enters the battlefield see that a 0/0 creature entered the battlefield.