Overall, yes, “Sign in Blood” is a solid card. Here are a few reasons why many players consider it a good choice in various formats:
- Efficient Card Draw
- For just two black mana (BB), you get to draw two cards at the cost of losing 2 life. This is often seen as an efficient way for black-based decks to maintain card advantage, especially in formats where life loss can be balanced or mitigated.
- Flexibility
- Unlike some similar spells (e.g., “Night’s Whisper”), “Sign in Blood” can target any player, not just yourself. This can be relevant in specific situations: for instance, if your opponent is at 2 or fewer life, casting “Sign in Blood” on them can close out a game.
- Multiple Printings and Accessibility
- First introduced in Magic 2010 (M10), “Sign in Blood” has been reprinted numerous times, making it relatively easy to find. Its availability keeps the price low, which is great for budget deck builders.
- Synergies and Strategies
- In Commander (EDH), it is an inexpensive way to draw, although many EDH decks have plenty of other draw options. In 60-card constructed formats, “Sign in Blood” remains a core piece in many black-based decks due to its low mana cost and straightforward effect.
- It also synergizes well with strategies that leverage life as a resource (such as decks featuring “Gray Merchant of Asphodel” or “Phyrexian Obliterator”) where you already expect to pay life or need more cards to keep up momentum.
- Considerations
- You must be mindful of your life total, particularly in faster-paced formats where 2 life can make a difference.
- It competes with other black draw spells like “Night’s Whisper” (1B, draw 2, lose 2 life, but only targets you) and “Read the Bones” (2B, scry 2, draw 2, lose 2 life). Depending on your deck’s mana curve and synergy needs, those spells might be more or less desirable.
In summary, “Sign in Blood” is a reliable and efficient card draw option in black, useful in a range of formats from casual play to competitive decks. Its ability to target any player can also open up fun, strategic lines of play.
Tips for Sign in Blood
DO target yourself early- or mid-game or when you need to draw some outs and losing 2 life won’t kill you.
DON’T target an opponent unless you need to do damage to them. (e.g. they’re at two life or there is some effect in play that punishes them for drawing cards.)
Drawing cards is among the most powerful things you can do in Magic.
Most of the time, you’ll target yourself and pay 2 life to draw 2 cards. The life-loss drawback exists because card drawing is a traditionally blue ability. Black can do it, too, but at a cost of life. Still, 2 life and 2 mana is often a small price to pay for getting 2 extra cards.
You can also target an opponent, although it’s probably only a good idea when you really need to do 2 damage to him/her and the extra card draws don’t matter, e.g. when your opponent is at 2 life.
