Sygg, River Cutthroat MTG Card


Drawing extra cards when opponents lose life tips the scales in your favor, offering strategic leverage. Sygg’s synergy with instant-speed spells enables card advantage during unexpected phases of the game. Its conditional card draw requires precise board setup, making it less immediate than other mechanisms.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Merfolk Rogue
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

At end of turn, if an opponent lost 3 or more life this turn, you may draw a card. (Damage causes loss of life.)

"It's not a matter of deserving. It's a matter of strength. The power to hold versus the power to take."


Cards like Sygg, River Cutthroat

Sygg, River Cutthroat is a unique figure in the collection of commanders available in Magic: The Gathering. This legendary Merfolk Rogue elevates the strategic depth within the blue and black mana spaces. Providing card advantage to players savvy enough to deal three or more damage to an opponent, Sygg differs from traditional card-drawing creatures. Notably, it can be compared to Edric, Spymaster of Trest, who also creates opportunities to draw cards but requires creatures to deal combat damage to an opponent.

Likewise, Dark Confidant offers a similar advantage by granting players an extra card at the start of their turn, though this comes at the potential cost of life points, corresponding to the card’s mana value. Meanwhile, Phyrexian Arena enables a consistent draw but at the steady price of one life per turn. The prowess of Sygg, River Cutthroat shines through with its tactful trigger condition that often aligns well with aggressive strategies and synergizes with the rogue theme.

Thus, Sygg, River Cutthroat holds its own among MTG’s array of creatures that reward players with extra cards. It capitalizes on inflicting life total damage, making it a potent enabler in decks crafted for quick, incisive strikes.

Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Dark Confidant - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Dark Confidant - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions

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Zombie Outlander - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hibernation Sliver - MTG Card versions
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Returned Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Shipwreck Singer - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Fathom Feeder - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Soul Diviner - MTG Card versions
Cunning Nightbonder - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Krydle of Baldur's Gate - MTG Card versions
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Lazotep Chancellor - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
RoguesRogues ModernRoguesModern Showcase Challenge 2024-04-13

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Sygg, River Cutthroat on the battlefield, you get the opportunity to draw an extra card during each turn where an opponent has lost 3 or more life. This consistent access to additional cards can significantly tilt the scales in your favor by providing more options and responses as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: Although Sygg itself does not accelerate mana directly, the additional cards drawn can lead to more land drops or resources needed to execute your strategy more swiftly. This can translate to being one step ahead of your opponents, especially in formats where card flow is crucial.

Instant Speed: This creature’s ability works seamlessly with instant-speed interactions. Since life loss can occur on any player’s turn, the synergy with instant damage spells or effects that trigger on losing life can generate card advantage at unexpected moments, catching your opponent off-guard and potentially disrupting their plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sygg, River Cutthroat’s ability necessitates dealing 3 or more damage to an opponent, which might not always be a consistent strategy, especially if you’re facing a deck with plentiful life gain or protection measures.

Specific Mana Cost: Sygg’s casting cost requires both blue and black mana, making this card specifically tailored for decks that can accommodate multicolor strategies, which could be a limitation in mono-colored or mana restrictive builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Sygg, River Cutthroat has a low casting cost of two mana, the requirement to cause 3 damage to trigger the card draw means setting up the right board state can be cumbersome compared to other card draw mechanisms that are less conditional and may offer more immediate benefit.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sygg, River Cutthroat slides effortlessly into a variety of blue and black deck archetypes. Its low mana cost and ability to draw cards make it a superb fit for aggressive decks that aim to deal damage quickly, as well as for control decks that require consistent card flow.

Combo Potential: Catering to strategies that benefit from consistent card draw, Sygg triggers easily in decks that focus on dealing damage in increments. Paired with unblockable or evasive creatures, Sygg ensures you’re rewarded every turn with extra card advantage, bolstering your hand and fueling your plays.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where life totals are frequently under siege, Sygg, River Cutthroat maintains its relevance. Whether your opponents chip away at their own life for strategic gains, or your deck is poised to pressure life totals, Sygg will provide a steady stream of benefits, keeping your deck competitive.


How to Overcome Sygg River Cutthroat on the Battlefield

Sygg River Cutthroat presents a sneaky challenge in MTG due to its ability to draw you cards when an opponent loses 3 or more life in a turn. However, there are strategies to navigate this threat effectively. Playing with the knowledge that your opponent may be gaining card advantage means you need to mitigate damage and carefully consider the timing of your own spells. A clear tactic is to control the battlefield by removing Sygg River Cutthroat as soon as it hits the table. Spot removal spells, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are staples that can handle this rogue very efficiently. Moreover, preventing damage to keep your opponent’s life total constant can inhibit the card-drawing trigger, so consider cards that can buffer your life or negate damage.

It’s crucial to manage the battlefield state and be conscious of how your actions might inadvertently feed into your opponent’s strategy. Counterspells also serve as a formidable line of defense against Sygg River Cutthroat, hindering your opponent from ever taking advantage of its beneficial ability. In essence, maintaining board control and keeping a watchful eye on the triggers can help you retain the upper hand against a deck utilizing the cunning of Sygg River Cutthroat.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the synergy and strategic depth of Sygg, River Cutthroat elevates both your deck’s performance and understanding of MTG dynamics. Drawing additional cards when opponents lose life ensures a constant stream of resources, key to pivoting the match in your favor. Whether you aim to outpace opponents with a swift damage-dealing deck or manage the game with a calculated control approach, incorporating Sygg enriches your plays. Stay ahead of the meta and discover how this card can turn the tides of your matches. Dive deeper with us into the world of MTG and enhance your collection’s potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sygg, River Cutthroat MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Zendikar Rising Commander, 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 Sygg, River Cutthroat and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sygg, River Cutthroat Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Jeremy Enecio.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 1762003NormalBlackJeremy Enecio
22020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 1032015NormalBlackJeremy Enecio
32020-09-26The ListPLST ZNC-1032015NormalBlackJeremy Enecio

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sygg, River Cutthroat has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-05-01 As the end step begins, Sygg’s ability checks whether a player who is currently your opponent, or a player who was your opponent at the time they left the game, has lost 3 or more life over the course of the turn. If so, the ability will trigger. If not, it won’t.
2008-05-01 It doesn’t matter how the opponent lost life or who caused it, as long as the total loss of life is 3 or more.
2008-05-01 Sygg’s ability checks only whether life was lost. It doesn’t care whether life was also gained. For example, if an opponent lost 4 life and gained 6 life during the turn, that player will have a higher life total than they started the turn with — but Sygg’s ability will trigger anyway.
2008-05-01 Sygg’s ability checks to see if it triggers at the end of every turn. It doesn’t have to be your turn, and it doesn’t have to be the turn of the opponent that lost life.
2008-05-01 Sygg’s ability will trigger even if Sygg wasn’t on the battlefield at the time some or all of the life was lost.
2008-05-01 You don’t specify an opponent when the ability triggers. If multiple opponents have lost 3 or more life over the course of the turn, the ability will trigger only once.