Adarkar Sentinel MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 306
2008-09-22 - Number 201
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Soldier |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
o1: +0/+1 until end of turn
"We encountered the Sentinels in the wastes, near no living thing. Their purpose was inscrutable." —Disa the Restless, journal entry
Discover the Unique Appeal of Adarkar Sentinel
Adarkar Sentinel offers a unique presence in the realm of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). This mono-artifact creature from the Ice Age set can be paralleled to Spined Thopter and Pierce Strider, to name a couple. Similar to Adarkar Sentinel, Spined Thopter also possesses the ability to impact the board as soon as it enters play thanks to its Flying trait, providing immediate aerial defense or offense. However, Adarkar Sentinel’s ability to become a robust 3/5 creature until end of turn gives it an edge in combat.
Cards like Adarkar Sentinel
Exploring artifact creatures akin to Adarkar Sentinel reveals a breadth of strategic options. Sentinel and its fellow artifact creature, Guardian Automaton, share a heavy mana investment for activation or casting. Automaton brings the added bonus of life gain upon death, while Sentinel boasts the capacity for a temporary power increase. Both cards ask for careful timing and resource management. Another comparable entity is the Clockwork Beast, which enters with more initial impact but requires an upkeep cost to maintain its presence on the battlefield.
It’s evident that when analyzing adaptability and potency, Adarkar Sentinel stands out in its ability to offer a formidable defense or an imposing threat, albeit at a significant mana cost. Its comparison to other similar artifact creatures cements its place as a potentially impactful card, provided the player can navigate its steep activation requirement skillfully.
Cards similar to Adarkar Sentinel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Featuring the ability to untap it for a mere three mana, Adarkar Sentinel can repeatedly defend or become an aggressor without any additional card cost. This makes it a strategic piece in controlling the board and preserving hand resources.
Resource Acceleration: In decks synergizing with artifacts, Adarkar Sentinel can serve as a reliable cog. It benefits from resource acceleration cards that reduce the cost of activating its untap ability, thus enabling a quicker offense or defense.
Instant Speed: While Adarkar Sentinel itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to untap for only three mana means that it can be readied during the end step before your turn, allowing you to remain versatile against incoming threats. Additionally, this enables surprise blocking tactics against unsuspecting attackers.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Adarkar Sentinel demands players to pitch another card into their graveyard to enable its untap ability. This necessity can put you in a precarious position, especially when your hand size is dwindling and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature comes with a mana cost that’s exclusively colorless, which is not inherently a negative but demands a significant amount of generic mana. Thus, it requires a substantial commitment of resources which might otherwise be used for more versatile spells or creatures.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at five mana, Adarkar Sentinel sits at a higher end of the mana curve for creatures that don’t immediately impact the board state. Given the pace of many MTG games, the investment needed to play and then activate the sentinel can often be outpaced by more cost-effective options leading to potentially unfavorable tempo trades.
Reasons to Include Adarkar Sentinel in Your Collection
Versatility: Adarkar Sentinel demonstrates its adaptability through its ability to stand strong in control strategies. Its robust defense aligns with decks that prefer to bide time and fortify positions before launching decisive strikes.
Combo Potential: With its capacity to become untapped, this artifact creature lends itself to combinations with cards that capitalize on untapping mechanics, offering a seamless integration into intricate combo plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where artifacts are pivotal, Adarkar Sentinel shines. Its presence enhances strategies focusing on artifact synergy, making it a relevant choice in certain metagames.
How to beat
Adarkar Sentinel is a classic artifact creature from the Ice Age set of Magic the Gathering, bringing a unique twist to the battlefield with its ability to become a formidable blocker. With the potential to morph into a 3/5 artifact creature until end of turn for the cost of five mana, this sentinel can stand tall against many attacking creatures, often deterring opponents from making aggressive moves.
However, overcoming the Adarkar Sentinel involves strategic planning. Efficient removal spells that bypass its defensive stature are key. Creature spells with power greater than five or those with trample allow you to surpass its blocking capabilities. Moreover, leveraging enchantments that restrict the Sentinel’s abilities, or artifact removal cards that specifically target artifact creatures, can provide an upper hand. It’s important to manage resources effectively and not to overcommit when the sentinel is on the opposing side, as its high activation cost can limit the opponent’s ability to use their mana pool optimally. Hence, fast-paced decks with low mana curves or those stacked with direct removal options tend to have an advantage against the Adarkar Sentinel’s defensive posture.
In essence, through clever deck construction and astute in-game decisions, players can navigate around the challenges posed by Adarkar Sentinel and maintain control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Adarkar Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition II, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Adarkar Sentinel and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Adarkar Sentinel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Melissa A. Benson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 306 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 201 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Melissa A. Benson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Adarkar Sentinel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |