Sirocco is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Target player reveals their hand. For each blue instant card revealed this way, that player discards that card unless they pay 4 life.
Complete guide
Sirocco is a punishing red instant designed to burn through the resources of blue-aligned mages. It forces a player to reveal their hand and pay a steep price in life or card advantage for every blue instant they are holding.
The Heat of the Desert
When you cast Sirocco, you choose a target player. Upon resolution, that player reveals their entire hand to all players. The spell then checks for specific card types: cards that are both blue and an instant. For each one found, that player must make a choice: lose 4 life or discard that specific card.
Resolution Breakdown
First, the target player reveals their hand. Second, the active player identifies which cards are blue instants. For each qualifying card, the targeted player chooses to either pay 4 life or discard the card. If the player does not have 4 life to pay, they must discard the card. This process happens card-by-card for every blue instant revealed.
Strategic Timing
Sirocco is most effective when your opponent is holding up mana for counterspells. Because it is an instant itself, you can cast it during their end step or in response to their spells. Note that even if you target yourself, you must still reveal your hand to all other players as part of the resolution.
Interaction examples
Deflecting SwatIf you cast Sirocco targeting an opponent, they might respond with Deflecting Swat to change the target to you. If they control their commander, they can cast it for free. If the target changes, you will be the one revealing your hand and potentially losing life for any blue instants you are holding.
Chaos WarpIf you target an opponent with Sirocco and they reveal Chaos Warp, nothing happens regarding that specific card. Although Chaos Warp is an instant, it is red, not blue. Sirocco only affects cards that meet both criteria: the blue color identity and the instant card type.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Sirocco
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you target yourself with this spell, you must reveal your entire hand to the other players just as any other player would.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Sirocco
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.