Sarcomancy MTG Card

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 154

Vintage Masters (VMA)
2014-06-16 - Number 139

Tempest Remastered (TPR)
2015-05-06 - Number 115

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment

Key Takeaways

Provides dual-value with a zombie token and enchantment from one card, boosting board presence significantly.
Accelerates decks that thrive on abundant creatures, while also demanding consistent zombie control.
Despite a mana-specific and upkeep cost, it’s a versatile and meta-relevant card for zombie decks.

Text of card

When Sarcomancy comes into play, put a Zombie token into play. Treat this token as a 2/2 black creature. During your upkeep, if there are no Zombies in play, Sarcomancy deals 1 damage to you.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sarcomancy provides a creature token upon entering the battlefield, thus effectively giving you two resources—a creature and an enchantment—for the price of one card. This can be crucial in matchups where maintaining board presence correlates directly with your potential to win.

Resource Acceleration: The Zombie token that Sarcomancy creates upon entry can be especially handy for decks looking to enhance their resource pool. By adding to your creature count, it can act as an accelerator for strategies that benefit from having numerous creatures in play, such as those involving sacrifice mechanics or swarm tactics.

Instant Speed: While Sarcomancy itself is not an instant, the immediate effect of creating a Zombie token upon casting can mimic the surprise element of instant speed spells. This allows for strategic plays, enabling you to apply pressure on your opponent’s turn as the token remains ready to be used the moment it hits the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sarcomancy mandates you to sacrifice a creature during each upkeep if you don’t control any Zombies. This can strain your resources, especially if you can’t consistently generate zombie tokens to maintain its presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment costs one black mana, which makes it exclusive to black or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the multitude of MTG deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although only costing one black mana, the ongoing requirement potentially presents a high cumulative cost over the course of a game, especially if you’re unable to leverage the zombie token it provides or if removal of the token could lead to self-inflicted detriment each turn.

Reasons to Include Sarcomancy in Your Collection

Versatility: Sarcomancy is a unique spell that can seamlessly adapt to various playing styles. Its ability to create a creature upon entering the battlefield allows for both aggressive early starts and strategic late-game plays.

Combo Potential: The Zombie token that Sarcomancy generates upon hitting the field offers excellent synergy with decks that capitalize on creature or zombie-based mechanics, opening up numerous combo possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given the recurring popularity of zombie themes in various metagames, Sarcomancy maintains its relevance by fitting into these strategies and enhancing the overall deck performance against current top-tier decks.

How to beat

Sarcomancy, a potent enchantment from Magic: The Gathering’s Tempest set, is renowned for its ability to generate a 2/2 Zombie token as soon as it hits the battlefield. This feature alone can apply early game pressure, demanding prompt attention from opponents. Similar to other token generators like Bitterblossom, Sarcomancy further complicates the battlefield with its recurring power but doesn’t require life point sacrifices each turn, unlike its fairy-producing counterpart.

Combatting Sarcomancy effectively involves swift enchantment removal or strategies that can negate the advantage gained by the undying Zombie it creates. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize offer a straightforward solution, removing the enchantment and thereby halting the flow of Zombie tokens. Should the 2/2 creature already be in play, board wipes or targeted removal such as Doom Blade stand as reliable methods to clear the Zombie, allowing players to regain control of the game.

In essence, countering the offensive surge provided by Sarcomancy hinges on being prepared with removal options. By considering cards that disrupt opponent strategies directly through destruction or indirect through control, players can navigate around the obstacles posed by Sarcomancy and steer the game back into their favor.

Cards like Sarcomancy

Sarcomancy is an intriguing addition to the suite of necromantic enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the functionality of cards like Bitterblossom, which also generates creatures. However, Sarcomancy has a distinct approach, creating a Zombie token when it enters the battlefield with a caveat – if you control no Zombies, it deals damage to you each turn. Unlike Bitterblossom, it does not require a constant loss of life each turn for new token generation.

Delving further into analogs, we come across Dreadhorde Invasion. It offers a similar aspect of producing token creatures like Sarcomancy, yet with a twist of amassing an army over time. Albeit it gradually strengthens your forces, it doesn’t have the immediate impact of a Zombie token that Sarcomancy provides on its entry. In contrast, Endless Ranks of the Dead also allows for an evolution of one’s army, multiplying existing Zombies. It’s potent, yet lacks the initial creature boon that comes with Sarcomancy.

Evaluating these cards, Sarcomancy holds its ground as a unique choice among its peers due to its ability to immediately affect the board and its synergistic potential in Zombie-focused decks.

Endless Ranks of the Dead - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sarcomancy MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Vintage Masters, 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 Sarcomancy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sarcomancy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Daren Bader.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-10-14	Tempest	TMP	154	1997	Normal	Black	Daren Bader
2	2014-06-16	Vintage Masters	VMA	139	2015	Normal	Black	Daren Bader
3	2015-05-06	Tempest Remastered	TPR	115	2015	Normal	Black	Daren Bader