Hibernation Sliver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Hibernation Sliver’s ability safeguards Slivers, adding resilience and playability in various game states.
  2. Instant speed activation grants strategic advantage and surprise, critical in MTG gameplay.
  3. Life cost and specific mana needs pose challenges, yet its benefits often outweigh these drawbacks.

Text of card

Each Sliver gains "Pay 2 life: Return this creature to owner's hand."

Mogglings have been known to play ball with hibernating slivers, completely unaware of their true nature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Hibernation Sliver, players can effectively protect their key creatures from removals or unfavorable blocks by bouncing them back to hand. This creates a dynamic where the player can re-utilize Sliver synergies every time they are replayed, maintaining hand presence while the battlefield evolves.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, Hibernation Sliver allows for a different form of acceleration by saving mana in the long-term. Instead of casting new creatures, players can bounce and replay the same Slivers, effectively mitigating casting costs over multiple turns.

Instant Speed: Hibernation Sliver’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing tremendous flexibility. This not only allows players to respond to threats on the fly but also permits strategic plays during the end step of an opponent’s turn, thus optimizing turn progression and maintaining the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hibernation Sliver requires players to pay 2 life whenever they choose to return it to their hand, making it a potentially costly card to maintain control over in a game where life points are precious.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost to summon Hibernation Sliver is one blue and two other mana, which necessitates a commitment to blue mana sources and could restrict its integration in multi-colored decks that may not focus on blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its ability to dodge removal is advantageous, the three total mana cost for a 2/2 creature might be seen as steep compared to other slivers or creatures that might offer more immediate board presence or come with other beneficial abilities for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Hibernation Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Hibernation Sliver offers flexibility in deckbuilding, seamlessly integrating into Sliver tribal decks or strategies that require self-bouncing mechanics. Its ability to return to your hand ensures your key pieces are protected from removal.

Combo Potential: This card creates combo opportunities with cards that thrive on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. The two-mana activation cost is modest, allowing for rapid-fire plays and synergy with effects that trigger upon a creature’s return to hand.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape filled with targeted removal and board wipes, Hibernation Sliver’s self-preservation makes it a resilient choice. It’s particularly relevant against control decks that rely heavily on eliminating threats one by one.


How to beat

Hibernation Sliver adds a unique twist to the battlefield in MTG, allowing any Sliver creature the ability to return to its owner’s hand at the cost of two life. This resilience against removal can make Hibernation Sliver a daunting card to play against. To effectively counteract this advantage, a strategic approach involves applying pressure on the opponent’s life total, making the ability’s life payment a risky proposition. Utilizing cards that restrict or punish creature bouncing, such as Torpor Orb or Hushwing Gryff, can also nullify this card’s pesky ability.

In addition, it’s beneficial to attack the mana base to keep your opponent from easily replaying their creatures, employing land destruction or counterspells to interfere with their plays. Cards that can exile creatures or grant untargetable status to your important permanents might also be handy in circumnavigating the Sliver’s recursive potential. While dealing with Hibernation Sliver, it’s important to remember that control and disruption are your allies—keeping Slivers off the board is key to maintaining dominance in the game.

Overall, understanding your opponent’s strategy and carefully choosing your responses allows you to turn the tide of battle and maintain a competitive edge over Hibernation Sliver and its synergistic Sliver companions.


BurnMana Recommendations

Grasping the strategic value of Hibernation Sliver can mean the difference between victory and defeat in your MTG matches. This card’s capacity to safeguard your Sliver forces and retrigger entry effects shouldn’t be underestimated. Whether you’re an aficionado of tribal decks or seeking to craft a strategy that capitalizes on the tenacity of your creatures, Hibernation Sliver is an asset worth considering. Dive deeper into the world of Slivers with us, learn how to harness their collective power, and imbue your deck with an adaptable defense mechanism that can perplex your opponents. Enhance your MTG prowess—come explore more insights and tactics with Hibernation Sliver.


Cards like Hibernation Sliver

Hibernation Sliver provides MTG players with a unique defensive capability among Sliver creatures. In the broader context of MTG’s creature offerings, it holds a similar place to Spike Weaver, which can also prevent damage by removing +1/+1 counters. However, Hibernation Sliver allows any Sliver the option to return to its owner’s hand at the cost of just 2 life points, an ability Spike Weaver does not share.

Another Sliver with a defensive edge is Crystalline Sliver, which gives all Slivers shroud, protecting them from being targeted. Although this doesn’t prevent damage, it offers long-term resilience against targeted spells and abilities. Unlike Hibernation Sliver, it doesn’t allow Slivers to dodge mass removal effects. Conversely, Hibernation Sliver effectively acts as an emergency bounce mechanism for Slivers to evade such threats. Finally, comparing Hibernation Sliver to another tribal classic, Selfless Spirit, which can sacrifice itself for one-turn indestructibility for your creatures, Hibernation Sliver stands out for its repeatability and ability to affect the Sliver tribe directly.

Evaluating these cards, Hibernation Sliver is particularly appreciated in MTG decks that focus on Sliver synergy. Its ability to protect and preserve the Sliver strategy makes it an esteemed choice for players crafting a deck around these unique creatures.

Spike Weaver - MTG Card versions
Crystalline Sliver - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions
Spike Weaver - MTG Card versions
Crystalline Sliver - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions

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Dimir Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Witch - MTG Card versions
Zombie Outlander - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Woodlot Crawler - MTG Card versions
Returned Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Shipwreck Singer - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Fathom Feeder - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Soul Diviner - MTG Card versions
Cunning Nightbonder - MTG Card versions
Shadowstorm Vizier - MTG Card versions
Sygg, River Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Krydle of Baldur's Gate - MTG Card versions
Cavern Harpy - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hibernation Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Premium Deck Series: Slivers, 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 Hibernation Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hibernation Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Scott Kirschner.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-03-02StrongholdSTH 1281997NormalBlackScott Kirschner
22009-11-20Premium Deck Series: SliversH09 122003NormalBlackScott Kirschner
32015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 2092015NormalBlackScott Kirschner
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6642015NormalBlackScott Kirschner
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9252015NormalBlackScott Kirschner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hibernation Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.

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