Soraya the Falconer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Legendary Creature — Human
Released	1995-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Homelands
Set code	HML
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	18
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dennis Detwiller

Key Takeaways

Soraya boosts bird creatures, potentially overcoming multiple threats by improving board presence.
Her instant-speed abilities allow surprise gameplay twists, offering combat advantages.
Despite strengths, Soraya’s effectiveness hinges on a solid presence of bird creatures.

Text of card

All Falcons get +1/+1. o1oo W Target Falcon gains banding until end of turn.

"Soraya speaks with the hunters of the air, as do all of her family line." —Autumn Willow

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soraya the Falconer offers an indirect route to card advantage by bolstering bird creatures, potentially turning each bird you cast into a more formidable threat. This increase in board presence can often translate into a card advantage as each enhanced creature may handle multiple threats or generate additional value over time.

Resource Acceleration: While Soraya the Falconer herself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, her ability to empower a specific tribe can lead to a more efficient use of your mana. Every bird creature you control gets a boost, meaning the mana invested into those birds yields a higher return on board presence and impact.

Instant Speed: Soraya the Falconer’s abilities, specifically the ability to give banding to a bird until end of turn, can be activated at instant speed. This reactive aspect of her abilities can catch opponents off-guard during combat, turning the tides in your favor by allowing for advantageous blocking or attacking scenarios.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While not directly needing discard as a cost, Soraya the Falconer’s abilities necessitate a strong board presence with Birds to be effective. This pigeonholes the strategy, making you vulnerable to discard effects from opponents that target your key creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Soraya demands a specific split of mana types, requiring one white and two colorless. This can be a stumbling block in multicolored decks, which may not consistently produce the required white mana, especially in the early game when setting up your board is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, Soraya’s ability to empower other Birds comes at a significant investment. In the fast-paced nature of many MTG games, this cost can set you back, especially when there are other creature buffs or tribal lords available at a lower cost, offering similar or better buffs without being restricted to Birds.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Soraya the Falconer offers a unique advantage by enhancing bird creatures in your deck. Its ability to grant banding, although often overlooked, provides a significant strategic edge in gameplay, particularly in formats where combat interactions are vital.

Combo Potential: This card is not just a standalone piece; it’s a synergistic engine in bird-themed decks, enabling powerful interactions with other avian creatures and turning a flock of feathered friends into a formidable force on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where tribal decks gain popularity, Soraya the Falconer stands out as a useful tool. Its potential to buff a team of birds and offer protective banding can disrupt opponent strategies while reinforcing your own tactical approach to emerging metas.

How to beat

Soraya the Falconer is an intriguing card that can dominate the battlefield by enhancing Bird creatures within the game of Magic the Gathering. This card stands out as a unique tribal commander, particularly in decks that utilize a flock of feathered friends. To outmaneuver a strategy centered on Soraya, it’s essential to disrupt the synergy she provides to Bird creatures. Targeted removal spells can effectively remove this keystone card from play, thereby diminishing the overall power of an opposing aviary army.

An alternative strategy to overcoming Soraya the Falconer involves board wipes that clear multiple creatures at once. By using cards that can reset the board, you eliminate the threat of an ever-growing flock, as well as the buffs provided by Soraya herself. Additionally, keeping pressure on your opponent by frequently presenting threats can distract their focus from building a formidable Bird-based offense. It is also advantageous to exploit moments when Soraya is not bolstered by other cards, as her individual combat prowess is less formidable without her feathered companions.

When you analyze Soraya’s strengths and weaknesses, it becomes clear that while she can lead a potent Bird tribal deck, there are several effective methods to neutralize that advantage and maintain control over the game.

Cards like Soraya the Falconer

Soraya the Falconer stands out as a unique asset in the realm of tribal support cards in Magic: The Gathering. Much like Lovisa Coldeyes, who bolsters the powers of Warriors, Berserkers, and Barbarians, Soraya enhances another specific creature type: Birds. Both of these cards are leaders in their own rights, with the ability to turn entire tribes into formidable forces on the battlefield.

However, Soraya has a special feather in her cap—the capability to grant banding to Birds. The mechanic of banding is seldom found in MTG, setting Soraya apart from other tribal leaders like Kangee, Aerie Keeper, who rather than granting banding, acts as a boosting engine for flying creatures based on feather counters. Soraya’s banding benefit provides tactical advantages that can protect and fortify your feathered friends during combat.

In essence, Soraya the Falconer brings a particular strategic angle to bird-based decks with an old-school twist. While not as flexible as global enhancers like Adaptive Automaton, Soraya’s niche effect can be the cornerstone of a high-flying victory. As enthusiasts sift through the flock of MTG’s tribal cards, Soraya’s ability to empower and unite makes her a distinct contender within the category.

Kangee, Aerie Keeper - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Soraya the Falconer by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soraya the Falconer MTG card by a specific set like Homelands, 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 Soraya the Falconer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soraya the Falconer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-10-01	A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it.
2008-10-01	Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player or planeswalker.
2008-10-01	If a creature with banding attacks, it can team up with any number of other attacking creatures with banding (and up to one nonbanding creature) and attack as a unit called a “band.” The band can be blocked by any creature that could block a single creature in the band. Blocking any creature in a band blocks the entire band. If a creature with banding is blocked, the attacking player chooses how the blockers’ damage is assigned.
2009-10-01	If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it. That player can ignore the damage assignment order when making this assignment.