Editing Sorin Markov (section)

==In Play==
Sorin has four iterations in card form so far: Sorin Markov; Sorin, Lord of Innistrad; Sorin, Solemn Visitor; and Sorin, Grim Nemesis.

'''Sorin Markov''' costs 3BBB and starts at a fair 4 loyalty. He has three abilities:

*+2: Drain a creature or player for 2 life, you gain 2 life.
*-3: Target player's life total becomes 10.
*-7: You control target player's next turn.

Overall not too bad. His +2 helps deal with pesky dorks and keeps you alive later on in the game, his -3 is a fantastic tool against life-gain decks, and his ultimate ability can be devastating in the right board state. Quite obviously, Sorin Markov is not an aggressive card, and is much more suited to a more control-based deck, as he can keep you alive and set up for a kill.

Note that his -3 has several cards that will end the game when used in conjunction with it; Sorin's Vengeance, Urza's Rage, and any Fireball/Drain Life variant will do the trick, including the very situational Hidetsugu's Second Rite. Additionally, original Zendikar vampires are often better if you have an opponent with 10 or less life.

'''Sorin, Lord of Innistrad''' is a much lighter 2WB starting at 3 loyalty. He too has three abilities:

*+1: Make a 1/1 black vampire token with lifelink.
*-2: You get an emblem(!!!) with "Creatures you control get +1/+0".
*-6: Destroy up to 3 target creatures and/or planeswalkers, and put them in play on your side of the field from the graveyard.

If you wanted an aggressive Sorin, this is the version you're looking for. His +1 is a little weak, but it does defend him decently enough, and gives him more ammo for his incredible -2. Pumping your team permanently is a fantastic utility for 4 mana, and almost begs a token based strategy to be built around it. His ultimate also allows him to be placed into a more controlling shell, as his dinky tokens will protect both him and you until you can have him ready to pop a few threats away. Again, he's nothing incredible, but still solid for his cost and able to do something game-changing.

Combining him with multiple anthems in a weenie deck can be very powerful as well, as his "anthem" is permanent.

'''Sorin, Solemn Visitor''' costs the exact same as his previous incarnation, but now starts with four loyalty.  He continues his trend of having three abilities, all of which have the same loyalty costs as before:

*+1:  All of your creatures gain +1/+0 and lifelink until end of turn.
*-2:  Put a 2/2 Black Flying Vampire token into play.
*-6:  You gain an emblem with "At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that opponent sacrifices a creature."

'''Sorin, Grim Nemesis''' has the same CMC as his original mono-black incarnation, and enters with 6 loyalty for 4WB:

*+1:  Reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. Each opponent loses life equal to its converted mana cost.
*-X:  Sorin, Grim Nemesis deals X damage to target creature or planeswalker and you gain X life
*-9:  Put a number of 1/1 black Vampire Knight creature tokens with lifelink onto the battlefield equal to the highest life total amongst all players.

An extremely powerful planeswalker, Sorin's +1 is simply insane. If it needs to be explained to you why that ability is gross, read it again. If you still don't understand, you are beyond help. Given that all a smart player will do with Sorin is tick him up for card advantage until you need to use that glorious -X to kill something, using his -9 is often a real possibility in a grindy game, provided you can keep him alive. Not that you would ever use it over the -X for ~11-12 anywhere other than commander. This Sorin fits perfectly in a grindy control deck that can keep him alive to drain your opponent with that incidental damage while you sit back, laugh and draw cards. To be competitive, a high CMC planeswalker card has to two things - protect itself, and generate you a fuckhuge advantage. Sorin excels at the latter, and if you can protect him from the concentrated efforts an intelligent opponent will throw at him, he can and will win the game by himself. 

'''Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord''' is a Rare walker, and enters the field with 4 lotalty for 2WB:

As long as he's on the field, all of your creatures and planeswalkers have lifelink.
*+2: Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker.
*-X: Return target creature with converted mana cost X from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a Vampire in addition to its other types. 

As a lower rarity walker, this version of Sorin is a lot weaker than any of his other incarnations so far. That doesn't mean he can't work but he's going to need some help you want him to shine. He's probably still a little bit tired from getting out of the rock. Though his +2 is rather weak, it's still a +2 ability, meaning you can get his loyalty up really quickly and get stuff from your graveyard just as fast.

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