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Since the days of 2012 Core Set, Sorin Markov has been a fan favorite Planeswalker. The ancient vampire has been a prominent feature in Magic for years, and when he returned in War of the Spark players were excited. Now, Sorin is back yet again in Magic: The Gathering Core Set 2020 spoilers. This time, he is supporting vampire decks as Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord!

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Sorin is back in Core Set 2020 spoilers as Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord

Breakdown

For 3 mana in black, Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord is a legendary Planeswalker that enters with 4 loyalty. He has two fairly powerful +1 abilities. The first allows you to give any creature deathtouch and lifelink. As an upside, it also gives a +1/+1 counter if the targeted creature is a vampire. His other +1 lets you sacrifice a vampire for a pseudo-Lightning Helix effect. The last ability is a -3, letting you put a vampire into play for free.

Right away Sorin defines himself as vampire tribal Planeswalker. All of his abilities are heavily focused around the creature type and heavily support them. Outside of the tribe, his abilities do next to nothing (outside of his first ability). He can’t really win games on his own; he requires your deck to be built around him.

Standard has tons of vampire support from Ixalan block, but it’ll only be around for a little bit. While it’s still around, a vampire tribal deck with Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord in it is very viable. Cards like Legion Lieutenant and Dusk Legion Zealot both are very powerful, and with a unifying card like Sorin the deck could be good enough to be competitive.

As for Modern, vampires have always been a fringe tribe that hasn’t really been good enough to be competitive. However, Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord might just be the piece the deck has been lacking. The deck just got Cordial Vampire in Modern Horizons, and Sorin works directly with it with his sacrifice ability. Also, being able to put a Vampire Nocturnus into play as early as turn 3 is incredibly powerful. Will it be enough to push the tribe into the spotlight? We’ll have to wait and see.

Stay tuned for more Core Set 2020 spoilers!