Sorin, Grim Nemesis MTG Card


Sorin’s +1 ability offers card advantage and potential direct damage, boosting your hand and pressuring opponents. Mana cost specificity and high casting cost may restrict deck flexibility and early game development. Effective counter strategies include direct planeswalker removal and early game pressure to limit Sorin’s impact.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Sorin
Loyalty 6

Text of card


+1: Reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. Each opponent loses life equal to its mana value.
-X: Sorin, Grim Nemesis deals X damage to target creature or planeswalker and you gain X life.
-9: Create a number of 1/1 black Vampire Knight creature tokens with lifelink equal to the highest life total among all players.


Cards like Sorin, Grim Nemesis

In the vast world of Magic: The Gathering, Sorin, Grim Nemesis stands as a powerful planeswalker with a unique set of abilities. If we look for cards with a somewhat parallel function, Ob Nixilis Reignited is a worthy mention. Both planeswalkers feature a formidable card-drawing ability tied to life loss, with Sorin extending that damage to the opponent. However, while Ob Nixilis maintains a consistent minus ability in destroying creatures, Sorin’s minus ability is more versatile, allowing the reveal and casting of cards for free based on converted mana cost.

An additional comparison can be drawn with Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. Although Ugin’s abilities impact the board on a broader scale, Sorin’s targeted approach to removing creatures or planeswalkers could be more favorable in specific situations. Ugin’s sweeping exile effect could hold greater power in some scenarios, but its reliance on colorless mana can limit its inclusion in many decks compared to the more flexible casting cost of Sorin.

Assessing Sorin, Grim Nemesis involves balancing the benefits of immediate impact with the potential for long game advantage. Sorin’s ultimate ability to create an emblem with an enduring effect can change the course of a game, favorably positioning Sorin among top-tier planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering.

Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sorin, Grim Nemesis by color, type and mana cost

Kaya, Bane of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Kaya, Bane of the Dead - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Abzan boisAbzan bois Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
Orzhov MidrangeOrzhov Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024
Orzhov PlaneswalkersOrzhov Planeswalkers GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 08 2024
Abzan PlaneswalkersAbzan Planeswalkers GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sorin Grim Nemesis shines in the area of card advantage. His +1 ability not only reveals the top card of your library for potential direct damage but also adds that card to your hand, effectively drawing you a card each turn. This consistent gain keeps your options open and can pressure opponents with the revealed damage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing traditional mana ramp, the control and board presence that Sorin offers can indirectly accelerate your resources. By controlling the board with his -X ability, you’re able to maintain a stronger position, which means your lands and creatures can be put to more effective use. Additionally, his ultimate -9 ability can give you a considerable boost by creating an emblem that exiles the top card of each opponent’s library when you cast a spell, potentially accelerating your lead by denying opponents their resources.

Instant Speed: Although Sorin Grim Nemesis operates at sorcery speed, he influences instant speed play. His mere presence on the battlefield can deter opponents from committing fully to their turn, knowing that you could potentially use his -X ability to respond to threats or remove key pieces from their board. This changes the pace of the game and can give you a psychological edge, as opponents must consider the risk of playing into Sorin’s powers.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sorin Grim Nemesis requires careful hand management, as his -X ability can lead to an undesirable discard if you’re not holding enough cards, which can set you back, especially in the late game when maximizing each card’s impact is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two black and one white, this planeswalker demands a dedicated mana base. This specificity can be restrictive, often necessitating a two-color deck at minimum, which can limit deck-building options and consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At six mana to cast, Sorin Grim Nemesis comes in on the higher end of the curve. His cost may slow down your early game momentum, and in formats where speed is essential, he might not be the optimal choice when faster, lower-cost cards could contribute to board presence more effectively.


Reasons to Include Sorin Grim Nemesis in Your Collection

Versatility: Sorin Grim Nemesis is a planeswalker card that can adapt to various playing styles. Its ability to draw cards while potentially dealing damage, gain life, and act as a removal tool makes it a dynamic option for multiple deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card’s +1 ability synergizes well with decks that capitalize on life differential and card advantage, while his -X ability can be a game-changer when combined with strategies that increase or leverage loyalty counters.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where long-term control and powerful finishers are crucial, Sorin Grim Nemesis stands out as a potent card. Its relevance in the meta can be significant, especially when control decks are prevalent, making it an asset in outlasting opponents and closing games.


How to beat

Sorin Grim Nemesis is a formidable planeswalker card in Magic: The Gathering that can challenge even seasoned players. To effectively counter this card, a strategic approach must be employed. The first step is to prioritize spells that can directly remove planeswalkers from the battlefield, such as Dreadbore or Hero’s Downfall. These ensure that Sorin Grim Nemesis’s presence is short-lived, preventing the accumulation of loyalty counters and the subsequent powerful abilities that can swing the game.

Another tactic is to apply pressure on your opponent with early threats. This forces the opposing player to use Sorin’s abilities defensively, reducing the chances of benefiting from his card advantage and life manipulation effects. Deploying creatures with haste or those that can deal damage directly to planeswalkers, like Lightning Bolt, can also prove effective.

Lastly, playing around Sorin’s -X ability is crucial. By maintaining a diverse range of threats on the board, the -X ability becomes less damaging as it would not be able to remove all your threats at once. In essence, by disrupting the opponent’s game plan and applying constant pressure, you increase your chance to claim victory against a deck featuring Sorin Grim Nemesis.


BurnMana Recommendations

Summing up the strengths and weaknesses, Sorin Grim Nemesis emerges as a versatile card that’s worthy of attention. Its ability to generate card advantage, act as a removal tool, and enhance late-game potential gives it a place in decks geared towards control and resilience. His mana cost demands strategic deck construction, ensuring a mana base that supports both his casting and optimal activation. Within MTG’s ever-shifting landscape, having Sorin in your arsenal could provide the edge needed for a victorious strategy. For depth on mastering this card and integrating it into powerful deck builds, continue your journey with us, where we delve into insights and tactics for every style of play.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sorin, Grim Nemesis MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad Promos and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Sorin, Grim Nemesis and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sorin, Grim Nemesis Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 251s2015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
22016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 2512015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4002015NormalBorderlessUta Natsume
42023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2432015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sorin, Grim Nemesis has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-04-08 If a card in your library has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2016-04-08 In a Two-Headed Giant game, the highest life total among all players is the highest life total among all teams.