Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance MTG Card


Channel ability draws samurai/warrior cards, offering considerable card advantage. Produces red mana efficiently, accelerating resource availability for players. Its instant speed activation enhances flexibility and adaptive gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Land
Abilities Channel

Text of card

: Add . Channel — , Discard Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance: Create two 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens. They gain haste until end of turn. This ability costs less to activate for each legendary creature you control.


Cards like Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance

Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance contributes uniquely to the array of cards that increase mana production in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This land card mirrors some of the traits seen in storied locations like Gaea’s Cradle or Tolarian Academy, which also escalate mana based on certain in-game conditions. While Sokenzan doesn’t tap for mana based on the number of creatures you control or the artifacts you possess, it still offers an impressive boost by adding one red mana for each modified creature under your command.

Another parallel can be made with Castle Embereth, which also caters to red mana strategies by providing a rampup for attacking creatures albeit in a different fashion. The key difference is in the static ability of Sokenzan, which means your red creatures get larger as the game progresses, potentially generating more mana. Castle Embereth requires an activation cost to enhance your creatures, but doesn’t have the same capacity to increase your mana pool directly.

When analyzing Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance against its peers, it stands out for decks that thrive on modifying creatures, promising a steady and potentially exponential source of red mana that could prove to be a game-changer in creature-focused strategies.

Gaea's Cradle - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Academy - MTG Card versions
Castle Embereth - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Cradle - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Academy - MTG Card versions
Castle Embereth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance by color, type and mana cost

Mountain - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Ruins - MTG Card versions
Dormant Volcano - MTG Card versions
Sandstone Needle - MTG Card versions
Smoldering Crater - MTG Card versions
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Encampment - MTG Card versions
Teetering Peaks - MTG Card versions
Forgotten Cave - MTG Card versions
Vivid Crag - MTG Card versions
Blighted Gorge - MTG Card versions
Memorial to War - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Mountain - MTG Card versions
Castle Embereth - MTG Card versions
Desert of the Fervent - MTG Card versions
Kazuul's Fury // Kazuul's Cliffs - MTG Card versions
Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge - MTG Card versions
Spikefield Hazard // Spikefield Cave - MTG Card versions
Shivan Gorge - MTG Card versions
Flamekin Village - MTG Card versions
Mountain - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Ruins - MTG Card versions
Dormant Volcano - MTG Card versions
Sandstone Needle - MTG Card versions
Smoldering Crater - MTG Card versions
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Encampment - MTG Card versions
Teetering Peaks - MTG Card versions
Forgotten Cave - MTG Card versions
Vivid Crag - MTG Card versions
Blighted Gorge - MTG Card versions
Memorial to War - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Mountain - MTG Card versions
Castle Embereth - MTG Card versions
Desert of the Fervent - MTG Card versions
Kazuul's Fury // Kazuul's Cliffs - MTG Card versions
Valakut Awakening // Valakut Stoneforge - MTG Card versions
Spikefield Hazard // Spikefield Cave - MTG Card versions
Shivan Gorge - MTG Card versions
Flamekin Village - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
GoblinsGoblins LegacyGoblinsLegacy Preliminary 2024-05-01
Mono-Red PrisonMono-Red Prison LegacyMono-Red PrisonLegacy Preliminary 2024-05-01
Boros ConvokeBoros Convoke StandardBoros ConvokeStandard League 2024-04-30
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro PioneerGruul AggroPioneer Preliminary 2024-04-30 (1)
Mono-Red AggroMono-Red Aggro StandardMono-Red AggroStandard League 2024-04-30
4c Legends4c Legends Standard4c LegendsStandard Preliminary 2024-05-01
Rakdos TransmogrifyRakdos Transmogrify PioneerRakdos TransmogrifyPioneer League 2024-04-30
Boros HeroicBoros Heroic PioneerBoros HeroicPioneer League 2024-05-01
Izzet ProwessIzzet Prowess PioneerIzzet ProwessPioneer Preliminary 2024-04-30 (1)
Rakdos SacrificeRakdos Sacrifice PioneerRakdos SacrificePioneer League 2024-04-30

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance provides a strategic benefit through its channel ability, allowing you to discard the card for a burst of power—drawing three samurai or warrior cards from your deck straight to your hand.

Resource Acceleration: As a land card, it taps for red mana without entering the battlefield tapped, ensuring immediate resource acceleration. Additionally, it can tap for two red mana, making it a powerful source for casting high-cost spells or activating abilities sooner than your opponents expect.

Instant Speed: This card’s channel ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to adapt and react to your opponent’s moves, fortifying your position at the optimal moment during their turn or in response to an action.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When utilizing Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance, you face the steep price of having to let go of a valuable card from your hand. This can hinder your game, particularly when your options are already few, or the card pool in your hand is essential for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation of this red-centric location’s abilities means you must tap into a specific color of mana. Due to this restriction, if your deck’s color palette is broad or different, inserting Sokenzan might prove cumbersome, limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively high cost to get it into play, Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance risks pacing behind in a game where speed can be critical. Considering the landscape of available cards, one might find alternatives that yield similar benefits without the hefty mana investment, putting Sokenzan at a comparative disadvantage.


Reasons to Include Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance in Your Collection

Versatility: Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance offers a flexible land option that produces multiple colors of mana, making it a valuable addition to multicolored decks in need of mana fixing. Its ability to also serve as a late-game mana sink enhances its utility in various game stages.

Combo Potential: With its second ability to give creatures haste, this land can be a game-changer by enabling unexpected combos and sudden offensive plays, fitting seamlessly into strategies that capitalize on speed and creature-based synergies.

Meta-Relevance: As the game increasingly emphasizes quick plays and adaptability, Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance is becoming more relevant. Its ability to accelerate mana and push for a decisive turn gives it a solid position in the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play.


How to beat

Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance poses a robust challenge on the battlefield with its land card abilities that enhance red spell powers and generate samurai creatures. It can quickly alter the state of play, giving an advantage to players wielding red spells and those adept at deploying swift Samurai strategies. To counter this mighty land, focusing on land destruction or control spells can be pivotal. Through disruption, you aim to prevent your opponent from ever activating Sokenzan’s formidable abilities.

Moreover, playing cards that restrict land abilities or counter noncreature spells can be highly effective. Consider leveraging blue’s control suite to counter key spells that depend on Sokenzan or manipulating the game state with artifacts that nullify land powers. Engaging strategies that focus on versatility and denial will ensure Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance’s influence doesn’t dominate the game. By incorporating cards that can adapt to and control the dynamic nature of Magic’s gameplay, you can maintain the upper hand against opponents relying heavily on this powerful land.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 981312015NormalBlackNao Miyoshi
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 981332015NormalBlackLucas Staniec
32022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty PromosPNEO 276s2015NormalBlackLucas Staniec
42022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 2762015NormalBlackLucas Staniec
52022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 4152015NormalBorderlessNao Miyoshi
62022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty PromosPNEO 276p2015NormalBlackLucas Staniec
72022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 5042015NormalBlackLucas Staniec

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-02-18 Discarding the card is part of the cost to activate a channel ability.
2022-02-18 If a channel ability requires a target, you may not activate it without a target just to discard the card.