Silvar, Devourer of the FreeHow it works & interactions with other cards

Hungry for Humanity

Silvar's primary utility comes from its activated ability to sacrifice a Human. Unlike many sacrifice outlets, this ability provides two distinct benefits: a permanent +1/+1 counter and temporary indestructibility. Because the cost is simply 'Sacrifice a Human,' you can use this at instant speed to respond to removal spells or to win combat trades. Since it has Menace, your opponents will find it increasingly difficult to block as it grows larger and larger.

Understanding the Partner Mechanic

When Silvar enters the battlefield, its 'Partner with' triggered ability goes on the stack. You target a specific player (usually yourself) to search their library for Trynn, Champion of Freedom. If you find the card, it goes to that player's hand, and the library is shuffled. This ensures that you have access to your Human generator as soon as Silvar hits the board, or vice versa if you play Trynn first.

Resolution and Timing

To activate Silvar's ability, you must have a creature with the 'Human' subtype on the battlefield. You pay the cost by sacrificing the Human. The ability then goes on the stack; when it resolves, Silvar receives a +1/+1 counter and gains the indestructible keyword. You can activate this multiple times in a single turn if you have enough Humans. Even if Silvar is already indestructible, you can still activate the ability to give it more counters.

Strategic Deployment

The best time to play Silvar is when you already have a board presence of Humans or when you can immediately follow up with Trynn. Because the sacrifice ability costs zero mana, Silvar is extremely difficult to remove via 'destroy' effects or damage-based board wipes, provided you keep at least one Human in reserve to protect your Nightmare.

Interaction examples

The Infinite Engine

Trynn, Champion of Freedom

If you attack with Silvar, Trynn's ability triggers at the beginning of your end step, creating a 1/1 Human Soldier token. On your opponent's turn, you can sacrifice that token to Silvar. Silvar grows by +1/+1 and becomes indestructible, protecting it from most sorcery-speed removal your opponent might try to use on their turn.

Double the Partners

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Cat' as its type, Silvar's 'Partner with' ability triggers twice when it enters. This allows you to target yourself to find Trynn, and perhaps target a teammate in a multiplayer game to let them search for their own copy of Trynn if they have one in their library.

Subtype Restrictions

Solemn Simulacrum

If an opponent casts a spell to destroy Silvar, you cannot sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum to save it. Because Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem and not a Human, it does not meet the specific requirement of Silvar's activated ability. You must ensure your sacrifice fodder has the 'Human' type printed on the card or granted by another effect.