Soul Strings 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
Return two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand unless any player pays.
Complete guide
Soul Strings is a political graveyard recursion spell that offers high efficiency for black mages if they can out-negotiate their opponents. It allows you to return two creatures to your hand for a low cost, provided no one is willing to pay the tax to stop you. Understanding the timing of this payment is key to maximizing its value.
What It Does
Soul Strings targets two creature cards in your graveyard. When the spell resolves, it checks to see if any player—starting with the active player and proceeding in turn order—wants to pay {X} mana. If at least one player pays, the spell does nothing and the cards remain in your graveyard. If no one pays, both targeted cards return to your hand.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, you cast the spell by choosing X and targeting two creature cards in your graveyard. Once the spell begins to resolve, players are given the option to pay {X}. This is not a triggered ability; the payment happens during resolution. If any player (including yourself, though rarely relevant) pays the mana, the effect is countered. Otherwise, you recover both creatures.
Common Mistakes
A common error is thinking players can wait to see if someone else pays before deciding. In truth, players must decide in turn order. Another mistake is targeting only one creature; the spell explicitly requires two targets. If your graveyard contains fewer than two creature cards, you cannot cast Soul Strings at all.
When to Play It
This card shines when your opponents are tapped out or when X is large enough that paying it would ruin their upcoming turns. It is also a great tool in multiplayer games where you might have an ally who wants you to have those creatures back to deal with a common threat.
Interaction examples
Demonic TutorIf you have already used Demonic Tutor to find a win condition and it was discarded or countered, you can use Soul Strings to return two other creatures that might help you protect your next play. Note that Soul Strings only returns creatures, so it cannot target the Demonic Tutor itself.
ReanimateWhile Reanimate puts one creature directly onto the battlefield for the cost of life, Soul Strings puts two into your hand for a cost of mana. If an opponent pays the {X} for Soul Strings, your targets stay in the graveyard, leaving them as valid targets for a subsequent Reanimate.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Soul Strings
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Each player gets the option to pay when this spell resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Soul Strings
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.