Sakura-Tribe Springcaller MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Snake Shaman |
| Released | 2005-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Betrayers of Kamigawa |
| Set code | BOK |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 142 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Key Takeaways
- Lands summoned during your upkeep by Sakura-Tribe Springcaller thin your deck, improving draw quality.
- It accelerates mana resources, crucial for early deployment of high-cost spells or abilities.
- Extra lands are usable instantly, offering flexibility and swift reaction to opponents’ moves.
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, add to your mana pool. This mana doesn't cause mana burn. Until end of turn, this mana doesn't empty from your mana pool as phases end.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Sakura-Tribe Springcaller, you gain the ability to conjure a land card onto the battlefield during every one of your upkeeps. This consistent mechanism not only ramps up your land count but also thins out your deck, making your draws more valuable over the long haul.
Resource Acceleration: This card is particularly adept at ramping up your mana resources. By putting an extra land onto the battlefield each turn, Sakura-Tribe Springcaller helps you accelerate your mana availability, which can be pivotal for casting high-cost spells ahead of schedule or activating demanding abilities that could turn the tides of the game.
Instant Speed: While Sakura-Tribe Springcaller itself isn’t an instant, the lands put into play can be used instantaneously. This gives you flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions during their turns, keeping you nimble and able to adapt to new threats or opportunities as they arise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles you may face with Sakura-Tribe Springcaller is its necessity to discard another card. This compulsory action can place you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already running thin on options.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck-building flexibility can be hampered due to the specific mana colors required to play Sakura-Tribe Springcaller. Its casting cost commands a commitment to green mana, which may not align with your deck’s color scheme or mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the landscape of MTG, efficiency is key. Sakura-Tribe Springcaller’s mana cost is on the high side when you consider its abilities. Other cards in the game might provide similar or superior effects without such a significant mana investment, which is something to consider when optimizing your deck’s performance.
Reasons to Include Sakura-Tribe Springcaller in Your Collection
Versatility: Sakura-Tribe Springcaller boasts the flexibility to be slotted into various deck archetypes, particularly those that thrive on mana acceleration and synergize with creature-based strategies. Its ability to untap lands can be pivotal in casting high-cost spells ahead of schedule.
Combo Potential: As a card with inherent combo potential, Sakura-Tribe Springcaller can be an integral component of intricate plays. It can work in tandem with cards that profit from untapping lands, or in decks that aim to exploit creatures with tap abilities for an explosive outcome.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tempo and board presence are crucial, this card can provide a significant advantage, facilitating faster deployment of threats and ensuring you keep pace with the evolving battlefield dynamics.
How to beat
Sakura-Tribe Springcaller is a creature that can give Magic the Gathering players a mana boost during their upkeep, proving to be a valuable asset for those looking to ramp up their resources. However, to effectively counter this card, it’s important to have a strategy that disrupts your opponent’s mana curve. Quick removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, efficiently deal with this creature before it can generate too much advantage. Similarly, an inclusion of counter spells like Mana Leak can prevent Sakura-Tribe Springcaller from ever hitting the battlefield.
Denying your opponent the extra mana can stifle their ability to play high-cost spells earlier in the game, keeping the pace to your advantage. Furthermore, employing strategies that limit your opponent’s creatures from untapping or using abilities, such as with the card Tangle Wire or Frost Breath, can also be effective. Yet, remember that timing is key. Engaging Sakura-Tribe Springcaller upon its casting or at the beginning of upkeep before mana is added can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Thus, while Sakura-Tribe Springcaller has the potential to bolster an opponent’s play, a focused approach to hindering its impact on the game can turn the tides in your favor. With planning and the right cards, triumph against this mana-generating creature is well within reach.
Cards like Sakura-Tribe Springcaller
The allure of Sakura-Tribe Springcaller lies in its mana acceleration capabilities in Magic: The Gathering, akin to other mana dorks in the game. It compares to cards like Llanowar Elves, a one-drop creature that can tap for one green mana. Sakura-Tribe Springcaller provides a more substantial benefit by giving you any color mana, but this comes at the cost of higher mana to cast and only providing the bonus at the beginning of your upkeep.
Another card that embodies the essence of mana acceleration is Birds of Paradise. This card offers flying and the flexibility of tapping for any color mana, which is immediate unlike the delayed benefit of Sakura-Tribe Springcaller. However, Sakura-Tribe Springcaller offers an increased toughness, potentially making it a sturdier option on the battlefield.
While assessing these mana generators, Sakura-Tribe Springcaller stands out with its ability to bolster not just green but any color mana pool, thus expanding deck versatility. Despite the slower pace, its potential in multicolor decks cannot be overlooked, presenting interesting choices for players optimizing their mana curve.
Cards similar to Sakura-Tribe Springcaller by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sakura-Tribe Springcaller MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Sakura-Tribe Springcaller and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sakura-Tribe Springcaller has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
