Sivvi's Valor MTG Card


Sivvi's Valor - Nemesis
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Released2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set nameNemesis
Set codeNEM
Number22
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

  1. Sivvi’s Valor offers card advantage by protecting creatures, countering your opponent’s removal efforts.
  2. Instant speed playability allows surprise tactics and flexible responses to threats and opponent’s actions.
  3. The card’s drawback is its discard requirement and specific mana, limiting its use in some situations.

Text of card

If you control a plains, you may tap an untapped creature you control instead of paying the mana cost of Sivvi's Valor. All damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn is dealt to you instead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sivvi’s Valor offers a defensive edge by potentially negating a removal spell or combat damage from an opponent. This can equate to card advantage as it saves your creature from being destroyed, effectively negating one of your opponent’s cards.

Resource Acceleration: Although Sivvi’s Valor itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, by saving key creatures it enables you to maintain board presence. This in turn helps you to accelerate your game plan without having to reinvest mana and resources into casting another creature.

Instant Speed: Sivvi’s Valor’s ability to be played at instant speed adds a layer of surprise and strategy, allowing you to wait until the crucial moment during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions. This flexibility ensures that your tactics can be adapted on the fly, effectively using your mana and resources at the most opportune times.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Sivvi’s Valor means you’ll have to discard another card, which can be a painful cost if you’re already behind in card advantage. It could be a setback when you need to maintain options in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Sivvi’s Valor demands both generic and white mana, and its requirement for a single white can be restrictive for multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of three mana, Sivvi’s Valor may not always be the most mana-efficient choice for protecting a creature, especially when compared to other spells in MTG that offer similar protection for less.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sivvi’s Valor isn’t just a reactive spell; it opens up strategic options for players using white-based decks. This card is capable of protecting your key creatures from removal or enabling surprise blocks that can turn the tide of a game.

Combo Potential: Sivvi’s Valor works well in decks that utilize creatures with enter the battlefield or leave the battlefield triggers. By saving key creatures from destruction, you can re-use their valuable abilities, stringing together combos that can outpace your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the creature composition of decks currently favored in the meta, Sivvi’s Valor allows players to maintain board presence and conserve resources against control strategies that rely on pinpoint removal to gain advantage.


How to beat

Sivvi’s Valor is a unique white instant card that can bolster your battlefield presence by swapping a single creature for potentially many more from your hand. It tempts opponents into thinking they can remove your key creatures with ease, only to find the table turned against them. To outmaneuver this deceptive spell, it is essential to mitigate the card’s effect.

One strategy to counter Sivvi’s Valor is to apply pressure when your opponent has limited mana available. Trying to orchestrate a situation where they are unable to pay the cost of revealing their hand and deploying multiple creatures can hinder their plans significantly. Additionally, incorporating cards in your deck that restrict or deny casting spells as instants, such as Teferi, Time Raveler, can nullify the assumed security Sivvi’s Valor provides.

Moreover, focus on using removal spells that require the opponent to sacrifice creatures. This bypasses Sivvi’s Valor’s protection, as it does not target individual creatures, making the card less effective. Controlling the board state and keeping your opponent’s creature count low can also prevent them from fully capitalizing on this card’s benefits. Understand the dynamics of when to time your threats and removal, and Sivvi’s Valor loses much of its valor on the battlefield.


Similar Cards to Sivvi’s Valor

Sivvi’s Valor stands out in the realm of protection spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other cards, such as Benevolent Bodyguard, that offer a creature you control the ability to gain protection from the color of your choice until the end of the turn. While Benevolent Bodyguard sacrifices itself for the protection, Sivvi’s Valor distinguishes itself by allowing players to redirect damage from a creature they control to themselves, thus preventing harm to their valuable creatures without losing board presence.

Comparably, we can look at Shelter, which not only gives protection but also allows its caster the bonus of drawing a card. Shelter provides a twofold benefit, although at a cost of more mana than Sivvi’s Valor. And then there’s Brave the Elements, which offers protection to all creatures of a certain color you control, giving a comprehensive shield against multi-target threats. Although it doesn’t require a mana payment at your turn, unlike Sivvi’s Valor, it lacks the flexibility of protecting from all colors.

Considering the nuances and strategic uses, Sivvi’s Valor is a unique addition to defending strategies in Magic: The Gathering, providing a personalized damage control not commonly found in the game.

Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Brave the Elements - MTG Card versions
Benevolent Bodyguard - Judgment (JUD)
Shelter - Odyssey (ODY)
Brave the Elements - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Sivvi's Valor by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions
Armed Response - MTG Card versions
Renewed Faith - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Army of Allah - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Holy Light - Masters Edition (ME1)
Blood of the Martyr - Chronicles (CHR)
Piety - Renaissance (REN)
Martyrdom - Alliances (ALL)
Harsh Justice - Portal (POR)
Kor Chant - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Just Fate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Waylay - Urza's Saga (USG)
Warrior's Honor - Anthologies (ATH)
Radiant's Judgment - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Restrain - Invasion (INV)
Prismatic Strands - Commander 2019 (C19)
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Teferi's Protection - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Oblation - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Wing Shards - Commander 2017 (C17)
Armed Response - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Renewed Faith - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sivvi's Valor MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Sivvi's Valor and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sivvi's Valor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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