Sarcatog MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Atog
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	293
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Mark Brill

Key Takeaways

Card flow benefits emerge from Sarcatog’s ability to churn through enchantments and artifacts, granting an edge in gameplay.
Operates on instant speed, enabling swift, unexpected interactions and providing substantial game flexibility.
Demands a hybrid mana cost and artifact discard, possibly limiting its deck compatibility and pacing in play.

Text of card

Remove two cards in your graveyard from the game: Sarcatog gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Sacrifice an artifact: Sarcatog gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sarcatog’s unique ability to consume artifacts or enchantments from your graveyard translates directly into drawing cards or thinning your deck, offering a strategic edge in card flow during match play.

Resource Acceleration: One of the key benefits of Sarcatog is its potential to magnify resource acceleration. By exiling an artifact or enchantment, it gains incremental advantages, either paving the way for powerful plays or pressuring opponents with its growing threat.

Instant Speed: The adaptability of this creature card is highlighted by its ability to interact at instant speed. Sarcatog can utilize resources or respond to opposing strategies instantaneously, allowing players to devise unexpected moves and demonstrating its flexibility in tight situations.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sarcatog demands that you discard an artifact to activate one of its key abilities. In cases where your hand is depleted or your board state relies on the artifacts present, this requirement can place you at a significant disadvantage, stripping away essential resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The Sarcatog features a hybrid mana cost, which includes both blue and black mana. This specificity means that the card is less flexible, fitting primarily into decks that can reliably provide both types of mana, potentially limiting its universal application in a variety of MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that requires three mana to cast, Sarcatog’s abilities may not match up with the tempo of more aggressive or fast-paced decks. When you factor in the additional cost of discarding cards or sacrificing artifacts to leverage its abilities, it may seem inefficient compared to other creatures that offer more immediate board presence or impact for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sarcatog is a multitasking powerhouse that can be an asset in decks that thrive on graveyard management and resource utilization. Its ability to feed on artifacts and enchantments makes it a flexible choice for various gameplay strategies.

Combo Potential: With ample combo potential, Sarcatog shines in scenarios where it can collaborate with cards that generate tokens or cycle graveyard resources, thereby escalating its threat level with each activation.

Meta-Relevance: As the game ebbs and flows with different meta environments, Sarcatog remains relevant in metas that favor graveyard interplay and strategies that capitalize on sacrificing permanents for greater benefits.

How to beat

Sarcatog, a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, represents a unique challenge on the battlefield. Renowned for its ability to consume artifacts and enchantments, Sarcatog’s power grows as it gnaws through a player’s resources. To counter this voracious eater, one must employ effective strategies. Focusing on graveyard disruption is key — cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void ensure that the resources Sarcatog depends on are inaccessible.

Another proactive approach is to limit the resources Sarcatog can exploit. Utilizing instant-speed removal when it activates its ability can leave an opponent scrambling. Consider employing cards like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization to capitalize on this opening. Additionally, playing around Sarcatog’s strengths by avoiding overreliance on artifacts and enchantments in your game strategy will diminish its impact significantly. Lastly, remember that Sarcatog’s strength is also its greatest weakness; the more it consumes, the fewer resources your opponent has at their disposal. Turn the tide by making each card Sarcatog devours a painful loss for them.

Overall, while Sarcatog can be a daunting MTG card to face, understanding its mechanics and adopting the right techniques ensures you’ll have the upper hand in any duel it enters.

Cards like Sarcatog

Sarcatog is an intriguing creature card in MTG that fans of graveyard interaction decks might find attractive. It shares some traits with other cards that feast on graveyard resources, like Atog, which also requires the sacrifice of artifacts for a temporary power boost. However, Sarcatog allows you to exile two cards from your graveyard to give it a +1/+1 until end of turn, a slight divergence from Atog’s permanent artifact consumption.

Another related card is Psychatog, which has the potential to become a significant threat by removing cards from the graveyard and discarding from the hand to pump its strength. This is a bit more versatile than Sarcatog, giving players the option to adapt to various game situations. Then there’s Nantuko Husk, a creature that grows by sacrificing other creatures, making it a pivotal piece in combos and strategies focused around creature control rather than graveyard manipulation.

When we consider the unique ability to clear out graveyard clutter while powering up, Sarcatog provides an interesting twist on the established Atog formula. It excels in the right deck, offering a strategic edge in MTG gameplay similar to its ancestral Atog lineage.

Cards similar to Sarcatog by color, type and mana cost

Vial Smasher the Fierce - MTG Card versions

Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - MTG Card versions

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions

Sedge Troll - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)

Pyre Zombie - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Anathemancer - Friday Night Magic 2010 (F10)

Vial Smasher the Fierce - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)

Sedge Sliver - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Shambling Remains - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)

Cryptborn Horror - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Hellhole Flailer - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Kathari Bomber - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent - Commander Masters (CMM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sarcatog MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Sarcatog and other MTG cards: