Budget Alternatives to Sarkhan the Masterless
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Sarkhan the Masterless ($0.46)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Versatile Deck Staple role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Sarkhan the Masterless at a Glance
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
Matches Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker card type and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #animate-self, #burn-creature.
Soul of Magma
Acts as a Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #noncreature-typal, #repeatable-removal.
Lathliss, Dragon Queen
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #evasion, #noncreature-typal.
Sarkhan the Masterless
30-day $0.46–$0.46 · +0% (11 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-23
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Sarkhan the Masterless and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarkhan the Masterless (Original) | Legendary Planeswalker | $0.46 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker | Legendary Planeswalker (5 MV) | $0.59 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #2 Lathliss, Dragon Queen | Legendary Creature (6 MV) | $0.55 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #3 Ancient Hellkite | Creature (7 MV) | $0.24 | $0.22 | 48% | Strong match |
| #4 Soul of Magma | Creature (5 MV) | $0.09 | $0.37 | 80% | Partial match |
| #5 Dragonkin Berserker | Creature (2 MV) | $0.33 | $0.13 | 28% | Strong match |
| #6 Siege-Gang Commander | Creature (5 MV) | $0.31 | $0.15 | 33% | Partial match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Sarkhan the Masterless
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
(Legendary Planeswalker — Sarkhan • 5 MV)
+1: Until end of turn, Sarkhan becomes a legendary 4/4 red Dragon creature with flying, indestructible, and haste. (He doesn't lose loyalty while he's not a planeswalker.) −3: Sarkhan deals 4 damage to target creature. −6: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of your draw step, draw two additional cards" and "At the beginning of your end step, discard your hand."
Matches Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker card type and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #animate-self, #burn-creature.
- • Costs $0.59 (0% savings over Sarkhan the Masterless)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 5 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Lathliss, Dragon Queen
(Legendary Creature — Dragon • 6 MV)
Flying Whenever another nontoken Dragon you control enters, create a 5/5 red Dragon creature token with flying. {1}{R}: Dragons you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.
Acts as a Legendary Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 1 more mana (6 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #evasion, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.55 (0% savings over Sarkhan the Masterless)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Ancient Hellkite
(Creature — Dragon • 7 MV)
Flying {R}: This creature deals 1 damage to target creature defending player controls. Activate only if this creature is attacking.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 2 more mana (7 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #burn-creature, #evasion.
- • Costs $0.24 (48% savings over Sarkhan the Masterless)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Soul of Magma
(Creature — Spirit • 5 MV)
Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, this creature deals 1 damage to target creature.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #noncreature-typal, #repeatable-removal.
- • Costs $0.09 (80% savings over Sarkhan the Masterless)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Dragonkin Berserker
(Creature — Human Berserker • 2 MV)
First strike Boast abilities you activate cost {1} less to activate for each Dragon you control. Boast — {4}{R}: Create a 5/5 red Dragon creature token with flying. (Activate only if this creature attacked this turn and only once each turn.)
Acts as a Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and costs 3 less mana (2 MV vs 5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #evasion, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.33 (28% savings over Sarkhan the Masterless)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 5 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Siege-Gang Commander
(Creature — Goblin • 5 MV)
When this creature enters, create three 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens. {1}{R}, Sacrifice a Goblin: This creature deals 2 damage to any target.
Acts as a Creature alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless's Legendary Planeswalker and shares the exact same mana value (5 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #noncreature-typal, #repeatable-removal.
- • Costs $0.31 (33% savings over Sarkhan the Masterless)
- • Fills the Legendary Planeswalker curve slot cleanly
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Sarkhan the Masterless's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Sarkhan the Masterless Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Sarkhan the Masterless's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $0.46 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sarkhan the Masterless Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless?+
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker ($0.59) is the best overall alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless ($0.46), saving $0.00 (0% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Sarkhan the Masterless in MTG?+
Cards like Sarkhan the Masterless include Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker ($0.59), Lathliss, Dragon Queen ($0.55), Ancient Hellkite ($0.24), Soul of Magma ($0.09). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Sarkhan the Masterless?+
Soul of Magma ($0.09) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 80% compared to Sarkhan the Masterless.
Why would a player want a replacement for Sarkhan the Masterless?+
At $0.46, Sarkhan the Masterless represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Sarkhan the Masterless?+
The closest pick, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, still has limits: overlaps 5 of 17 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
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