Rhystic Syphon MTG Card


Rhystic Syphon offers card and mana advantage, crucial for turning the tide in matches. Instant speed allows flexible play, but specific mana costs may limit its use. While powerful, its discard requirement and mana cost need careful deck integration.
Rhystic Syphon - Prophecy
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set nameProphecy
Set codePCY
Number76
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRon Spencer

Text of card

Unless target player pays o3, he or she loses 5 life and you gain 5 life.

Jamuraan wizards are linked together by magic, a bond that only the wicked dare exploit.


Cards like Rhystic Syphon

Rhystic Syphon is a unique option in the realm of life manipulation cards within the world of Magic the Gathering. When compared to the likes of Consume Spirit, which also serves the dual purpose of draining life while padding your own, Rhystic Syphon shines with an added silver lining – it can drain life from multiple opponents. Consume Spirit, however, targets a single entity and requires mana investment proportionate to the damage dealt and life gained.

Exsanguinate is another similar spell that has the capacity to affect each opponent, much like Rhystic Syphon. The primary difference lies in the scalability of Exsanguinate, which can become increasingly powerful with a larger mana investment, thereby affecting the overall game state more dramatically. Rhystic Syphon, while fixed in the amount of life exchange, offers a consistent effect regardless of the stage of the game.

Conclusively, Rhystic Syphon presents a noteworthy choice for players looking to influence the life totals across the board. It does so with a level of certainty and straightforwardness that some may prefer over the variable impact of its counterparts, bolstering its place in deck constructions that favor solid and stable gameplay progressions.

Consume Spirit - MTG Card versions
Exsanguinate - MTG Card versions
Consume Spirit - MTG Card versions
Exsanguinate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rhystic Syphon by color, type and mana cost

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Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Spread the Sickness - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rhystic Syphon provides a dual benefit by stripping an opponent of a precious card and granting you a new card in hand. This exchange can tip the scales in your favor, bolstering your options while diminishing your adversary’s strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Beyond the theft of resources, Rhystic Syphon propels your mana pool. By adding a dose of black mana upon successful execution, it offers a boost, potentially unlocking earlier access to high-cost spells or reinforcing your capacity for multispell turns.

Instant Speed: The beauty of instant-speed spells lies in their flexibility, and Rhystic Syphon does not disappoint. Cast it at the last feasible moment, disrupt your opponent’s plans mid-combat or end of turn, and maintain the element of surprise. Always keeping your opponents guessing enhances your tactical depth during each phase of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rhystic Syphon demands the player to pitch another card from their hand, which could lead to a depleted grip of cards. In a tense game, where every card counts, such a requirement can hinder your ability to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Rhystic Syphon necessitates a precise mana arrangement that includes black mana. This can bind it exclusively to decks that run black, or decks that have managed to achieve a reliable mana base to accommodate its restrictive casting cost, potentially narrowing its adaptability across various builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it delivers a potentially powerful effect, Rhystic Syphon also comes with a relatively steep mana cost. In a fast-paced game, the four mana needed to cast it could be better invested in multiple spells or establishing board presence, making it a less optimal choice when speed and efficiency are of the essence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rhystic Syphon showcases its flexibility by seamlessly integrating into decks focused on life drain or spell-based strategies. It caters to the needs of various deck archetypes, serving both as a form of removal and a means to stabilize your life total.

Combo Potential: Its ability to gain life while depleting an opponent’s reserves is an asset in combos, pairing well with cards that reward you for life gained or those that capitalize on the life disparity between players.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggro decks prevail, Rhystic Syphon emerges as a crucial tool. It disrupts the tempo of aggressive strategies, providing you with a lifeline against fast-paced opponents while trimming their forces.


How to beat

Rhystic Syphon is a spell that demands attention on the MTG battlefield. This card stands out as it not only causes life loss to an opponent but also offers you life gain, making it a pivotal card in strategies centred around life point swing. The crux of circumventing the impact of Rhystic Syphon lies in maintaining a mana reserve. Since it offers an opponent the option to pay mana to negate its effect, ensuring you have available mana can effectively neutralize its benefit to the caster.

Similarly, including cards that limit spell casting or penalize the use of spells is wise, such as Damping Sphere or Harsh Mentor. Furthermore, instant-speed removal or counterspells such as Disallow or Negate that can directly address Rhystic Syphon before its effects become active on the board are also invaluable. Being aware of your opponent’s mana pool and the potential for casting Rhystic Syphon will allow you to hold back resources tactically to counter it. To beat this card, playing conservatively and being diligent with mana can turn the tides in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rhystic Syphon MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Rhystic Syphon and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rhystic Syphon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal