Rhystic Syphon
Sorcery
Unless target player pays 
, that player loses 5 life and you gain 5 life.
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Prophecy
- Price
- $0.22
- EDHREC rank
- #28385
Rhystic Syphon drains a target player for 5 life and pads yours by the same amount — a 10-point life-total swing for five mana — unless they pay 3 to cancel the effect. That conditional clause is the catch: in a table with one wealthy opponent, it often just whiffs.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is the natural home for Rhystic Syphon — four players means the life totals start at 40, the conditional clause creates political tension, and a 10-point swing can matter in a race. Outside Commander, it's legal in Legacy and Vintage but sees zero play there; five mana for a conditional drain is nowhere near the power level those formats demand. Oathbreaker is technically an option, but the two-player structure means your opponent almost always has the mana to pay 3, gutting the card's upside.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.22 bulk tier
At $0.22, Rhystic Syphon is deep bulk — the kind of card you pull from a bulk bin without thinking twice. It won't appreciate; the effect is too marginal to drive demand.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.