Sorin the Mirthless MTG Card


Drawing cards through Sorin’s +1 fuels your gameplay strategy, enhancing deck efficacy. Sorin’s lifelink token adds strategic depth and prolongs players’ survival in games. Flexibility to cast spells from any graveyard at instant speed with Sorin’s −3.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Sorin
Loyalty 4

Text of card


+1: Look at the top card of your library. You may reveal that card and put it into your hand. If you do, you lose life equal to its mana value.
-2: Create a 2/3 black Vampire creature token with flying and lifelink.
-7: Sorin the Mirthless deals 13 damage to any target. You gain 13 life.


Cards like Sorin the Mirthless

Sorin the Mirthless is a standout planeswalker card that has made waves within the MTG player community. This enigmatic vampire planeswalker certainly shares traits with other cards in the multiverse. Liliana, the Last Hope is a card that comes to mind when comparing abilities that impact the board and offer card advantage. Both planeswalkers can disrupt the opponent by targeting creatures, although Sorin does this through direct damage while Liliana utilizes creature shrink effect.

Another similar card is Ob Nixilis Reignited, which like Sorin, can draw cards and eliminate threats. Where Sorin the Mirthless leverages life points for card advantage, Ob Nixilis inflicts pain on the player for drawing cards. An important difference is in their ultimate abilities—Sorin can create an emblem with the potential for repeated life drain, while Ob Nixilis offers an overwhelming tide of card draw.

In evaluating their roles in the game, it becomes clear that Sorin the Mirthless is a versatile choice for control strategies, providing a balance of offensive and defensive utilities. His ability to adapt to various game states makes him a highly valued card in MTG decks that center around planeswalker synergies and incremental advantage.

Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions
Liliana, the Last Hope - MTG Card versions
Ob Nixilis Reignited - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sorin the Mirthless by color, type and mana cost

Liliana, Untouched by Death - MTG Card versions
Liliana, Waker of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Dark Realms - MTG Card versions
Davriel, Soul Broker - MTG Card versions
Liliana, Untouched by Death - MTG Card versions
Liliana, Waker of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Dark Realms - MTG Card versions
Davriel, Soul Broker - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
UBRUBR LegacyLegacy League 2024-05-16
Esper MidrangeEsper Midrange StandardEsper MidrangeStandard Challenge 64 2024-03-31
Dimir ControlDimir Control StandardDimir ControlStandard Challenge 64 2024-03-31
Orzhov ControlOrzhov Control StandardOrzhov ControlTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: May 6, 2024
Grixis MidrangeGrixis Midrange PioneerGrixis MidrangePioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-05
Grixis ControlGrixis Control LegacyGrixis ControlLegacy Challenge 32 2024-03-31
Mono-Black DiscardMono-Black Discard PioneerMono-Black DiscardPioneer Preliminary 2024-04-22
Golgari MidrangeGolgari Midrange StandardGolgari MidrangeStandard Challenge 64 2024-03-31
Abzan PlaneswalkersAbzan Planeswalkers GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 14 2024
Mono-Black MidrangeMono-Black Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sorin the Mirthless shines by offering card advantage through his +1 ability. Drawing cards is a powerful mechanic in MTG and having Sorin on your side means you can consistently dig deeper into your deck, effectively increasing your chances of finding the answers or threats you need to control the game.

Resource Acceleration: Though not a direct source of mana, the lifelink vampire token generated by Sorin’s −2 ability provides a strategic advantage in the vein of resource acceleration. By gaining life, you’re effectively earning more turns to deploy your resources and strategies, all while developing a board presence that can protect Sorin and pressure opponents.

Instant Speed: Sorin may not be an instant, but he compensates with his −3 ability which disrupts at instant speed by allowing you to cast a spell from any graveyard. This versatile power can swing a game by using opponents’ own strategies against them or by recasting key spells from your own graveyard, making Sorin a flexible and unpredictable addition to any match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Sorin the Mirthless is the requirement to discard a card for certain abilities. While this can help with graveyard synergy, it’s a trade-off that can deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: This vampire planeswalker comes with a mana cost that includes two black mana symbols, restricting its seamless inclusion to multi-color decks and making it more suitable for mono-black or decks with a heavy black mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two specific black mana, it’s a commitment to get Sorin on the field. When considering the pace of the current meta, players may find that there are alternative planeswalkers or impactful cards with lower mana costs that could be played sooner or provide more immediate board presence or advantage.


Reasons to Include Sorin the Mirthless in Your Collection

Versatility: Sorin the Mirthless slips into various deck builds with ease. With his ability to impact the board by creating Vampire tokens, controlling opponent’s creatures, or serving as a steady source of card advantage, he’s a multi-faceted planeswalker that brings value in multiple phases of the game.

Combo Potential: This planeswalker can synergize with life gain strategies, enhance Vampire tribal themes, and combo with cards that benefit from loyalty counter manipulation or planeswalker activations. These interactions can turn Sorin the Mirthless into a linchpin for deadly combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamic nature of the MTG meta, a planeswalker like Sorin the Mirthless, who can disrupt opponents’ plans while furthering your own, remains a relevant choice. His dual nature of defensive token generation and offensive direct damage via his ultimate makes him adaptable enough to maintain a presence in ever-shifting competitive environments.


How to beat

Sorin the Mirthless is a formidable planeswalker card that can tip the scales in your opponent’s favor if left unchecked in a game of Magic: The Gathering. To counter this powerful vampire, it’s important to have a strategy that dismantles its abilities. Sorin’s lifelink ability via its +1 can prolong games, so direct damage spells or creatures that can pressure planeswalkers are key. Creatures with flying or those that can’t be blocked are especially useful as they can bypass ground defenses.

Targeted removal spells can also be crucial in managing Sorin before it becomes an insurmountable threat. Instant speed removal like Hero’s Downfall enables you to respond to Sorin hitting the board immediately. Cards with the ability to exile, like Banishing Light, are also effective as they prevent further lifegain and vampire token generation. Ensuring you have these cards in your deck can make a difference in games where Sorin is a clear threat.

Moreover, maintaining card advantage by drawing extra cards can ensure you have answers when you need them. Having a well-rounded strategy and the ability to respond to threats swiftly, and Sorin the Mirthless will be less daunting to overcome in your MTG matchups.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the dark allure of Sorin the Mirthless could be the edge your MTG gameplay needs. With his vast array of abilities—from offering card advantage to flexing instant speed disruption—Sorin’s presence on the battlefield commands attention. Ignite your MTG matches with this formidable planeswalker, exploiting his lifelink tokens for resource acceleration or employing his disruptive −3 ability to cast spells from the graveyard. Consider the pros and cons, strategize against counters, and make him a keystone in your collection. Seek mastery in this multifaceted game and ensure your MTG sessions are charged with strategy and surprise. Join us to evolve your MTG savvy with Sorin the Mirthless.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sorin the Mirthless MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 the Mirthless and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sorin the Mirthless Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 953552015NormalBlackJustyna Dura
22021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 1312015NormalBlackMartina Fačková
32021-11-19Crimson Vow Art SeriesAVOW 12015Art seriesBorderless
42021-11-19Crimson Vow Art SeriesAVOW 22015Art seriesBorderless
52021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3372015NormalBorderlessBastien L. Deharme
62021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 2972015NormalBlackAyami Kojima
72021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 2782015NormalBorderlessJustyna Dura
82022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 3982015NormalBlackMartina Fačková

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sorin the Mirthless 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 Sorin the Mirthless card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-11-19 If you choose not to reveal the card you looked at with Sorin's first loyalty ability, it stays on top of your library.