Sidewinder Sliver MTG Card


Flanking on Slivers from Sidewinder disrupts opponent blocks and fortifies creature attacks. Specific mana cost may limit deck inclusion but flanking utility compensates for non-instant speed. Strategic inclusion in collections can dominate board states in Sliver-centric deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

All Slivers have flanking. (Whenever a creature without flanking blocks a Sliver, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.)

"They encircled our patrol with the stealth of snakes, corralling us like livestock." —Merrik Aidar, Benalish patrol


Cards like Sidewinder Sliver

Sidewinder Sliver, an intriguing entity in Magic: The Gathering, neatly falls into the same cluster of Sliver creature type cards. It analogously shares traits with Muscle Sliver, a card notorious for its power-boosting ability to fellow Slivers. Nevertheless, Sidewinder Sliver has its uniqueness – granting an additional flanking mechanic to all Slivers on the field. This means that non-flanking creatures taking on any Sliver would face a reduction in their power, giving Sidewinder Sliver an extra bite in combat.

In a similar light, Sinew Sliver is another card worthy of comparison. It follows the power-enhancing trait alike Muscle Sliver but presents itself as a more cost-effective alternative. Yet, it lacks the strategic flanking feature that Sidewinder Sliver proficiently brings to the table. Lastly, we might look to Predatory Sliver. Once again, it boosts strength among Slivers, but it doesn’t contribute the tactical advantage like Sidewinder Sliver does.

In conclusion, parsing through the distinct traits and evaluating various alternatives, Sidewinder Sliver indeed carves a niche position amongst the Sliver creature type cards in Magic: The Gathering, owing to its tactical advantages in combat situations.

Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sinew Sliver - MTG Card versions
Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sinew Sliver - MTG Card versions
Predatory Sliver - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sidewinder Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Sidewinder Sliver. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
SliversSlivers PauperSliversLega Pauper Canavese - 1a Tappa Paupergeddon Winter Edition 2023 - 38 Players
Selesnya SliversSelesnya Slivers PauperSlivers2° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana
Four-color SliversFour-color Slivers PauperSliversBLUE - SAT - 1PM - Chicago Pauper Cup
Sliver Sliver SliverSliver Sliver Sliver PauperSliversTappa LP Comense Pauperissima "Road to Milano" @Magic Akiba
Five-color AggroFive-color Aggro LegacySlivers$1K - Legacy - SCG CON Hartford - Friday - 1:00 pm
Rogue DecklistsRogue Decklists PauperSliversNacional Pauper 2023
Sliver KingSliver King PauperSliversTappa Lega Pauperissima @ Magic Akiba

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sidewinder Sliver provides a card advantage to its controller by imbuing all sliver creatures on the field with flanking. This effect disrupts the opponent’s board state and their block strategies, while bolstering one’s army of slivers.

Resource Acceleration: While Sidewinder Sliver does not directly accelerate player resources, it indirectly facilitates resource management. By enhancing your slivers and making them harder to block effectively, the need to recast lost slivers can be minimized, saving mana in the process.

Instant Speed: Although Sidewinder Sliver is not at instant speed, its effects are active as soon as it hits the battlefield. This allows for tactical plays during your main phase, forcing your opponents to reconsider their strategies. Flanking gives an edge to its controller as opponents have to think twice before blocking a Sliver creature.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Sidewinder Sliver card doesn’t come with a discard requirement. However, due to its nature, this creature may force you to discard another valuable card from your hand just to keep it on the battlefield which may prove to be a tricky decision when resources are limited.

Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost of the Sidewinder Sliver card is biased towards White Mana. This specificity can pose a limitation, making it difficult to include in decks that do not primarily feature White Mana. Thus, constraining its flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana (one generic and one white), Sidewinder Sliver’s benefits may not immediately outweigh its expenditure compared to other lower-cost Slivers or alternative creatures. Experienced MTG players may find more efficient cards within the same mana range that offer similar or better advantages.


Reasons to Include Sidewinder Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Sidewinder Sliver is an adaptable creature card that can slip into various deck types, particularly those that empower a mass of Slivers. Its ability to grant all Slivers the flanking ability makes it a formidable tool.

Combo Potential: The combo potential of this card is evident when played with other Sliver cards, maximizing the strength of their collective abilities, and effectively establishing a strong board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Sidewinder Sliver maintains its relevance in any meta-game state where creature-heavy strategies are dominant. The additional flanking attribute it lends to fellow Slivers can provide an edge, disrupting the opponent’s game plan.


How to Beat

Sidewinder Sliver is an intriguing addition to the Sliver tribe in Magic: The Gathering. Its attribute of granting all slivers you control the ability to have flanking gives your sliver deck an added edge. However, overcoming Sidewinder Sliver is not as daunting as it might initially appear.

A card such as Crippling Fatigue, for instance, can eliminate Sidewinder Sliver before it becomes a substantial threat. With its power to inflict -2/-2 to a creature, it effectively neutralizes Sidewinder Sliver on arrival. Similarly, Echoing Decay can provide a viable strategy against slivers. This spell can sweep multiple slivers when timed correctly.

Cards that grant – or boost – an effect of “protection from creatures” can also prove invaluable. Cards like Holy Day, for instance, can stymy sliver strategies, preventing all combat damage that would occur in a turn. This not only defends against Sidewinder Sliver but all slivers on the board.

In conclusion, understanding your deck’s strengths, having knowledge of potential threats, and correctly timing your responses will all help you mitigate the impact of Sidewinder Sliver on your Magic game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an ongoing journey and every card, such as Sidewinder Sliver, opens up new strategic dimensions. Understanding its strengths, like granting all your slivers the tactical advantage of flanking, can be pivotal in a creature-centric deck. However, it’s also essential to consider its place within your mana curve and alignment with your deck’s color needs. If you’re looking to refine your sliver strategy or searching for cards to enhance your tactical gameplay, Sidewinder Sliver is a noteworthy candidate. Join us to deepen your MTG expertise and discover how this unique card can augment your next winning deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sidewinder Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Sidewinder Sliver and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Sidewinder Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 412003NormalBlackRon Spencer
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6152015NormalBlackRon Spencer
32021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 432015NormalBlackRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sidewinder Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sidewinder 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.
2021-03-19 Once a Sliver has become blocked by a creature without flanking, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 even if the blocked Sliver loses flanking before the ability resolves.