Keen-Eared Sentry MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Venture into the dungeon |
| Released | 2021-07-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms |
| Set code | AFR |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 22 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Viko Menezes |
Key Takeaways
- Protects key cards from discard and targeted disruption, securing your strategic gameplay from opponents.
- Operational at instant speed with a static ability that’s always active, guarding against unwanted peeks into your plans.
- Limited versatility for non-white mana decks, making its inclusion in certain archetypes less flexible.
Text of card
You have hexproof. (You can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.) Each opponent can't venture into the dungeon more than once each turn.
"You're not the first to underestimate me."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: By revealing specific cards from your hand, Keen-Eared Sentry can grant selective card advantage by protecting key pieces from discard effects and targeted hand disruption, keeping your strategic plays unknown to your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana, this card can indirectly accelerate your resources. Its ability to protect your hand ensures that you retain your crucial mana-producing spells and creatures, effectively safeguarding your acceleration plans.
Instant Speed: Keen-Eared Sentry operates effectively during the entirety of the game since its static ability is always “on.” This ever-vigilant watch doesn’t rely on speed, but its ongoing effect is akin to having an instant in play that continuously shields your plans from prying eyes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of playing Keen-Eared Sentry is its requirement for card interactions to trigger its passive ability. This card requires your opponent to discard one of their cards, which might not always align with your game strategy, especially if the opponent has ways to benefit from their graveyard.
Specific Mana Cost: Keen-Eared Sentry comes with a white mana cost, which means it can only be slotted efficiently into decks that run white mana. Consequently, this limits its versatility across various deck archetypes that may not support or include white mana in their builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not excessively costly, Keen-Eared Sentry’s mana cost may be on the higher side when considering its 2/3 stat line and the situational nature of its ability. In competitive play, there are other creatures or spells at similar costs that could offer immediate board impact or passive abilities that provide value under a broader range of scenarios.
Reasons to Include Keen-Eared Sentry in Your Collection
Versatility: Keen-Eared Sentry is a valuable addition to any deck that benefits from information denial. Its ability to block opponents from peeking into your library adds a significant layer of defense, making it a useful asset across various formats.
Combo Potential: This card is a great tool for turning the tide in your favor. By pairing with cards that punish or restrict your opponent’s hand, Keen-Eared Sentry can contribute to powerful combo strategies in both limited and constructed play.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where players heavily rely on knowledge of upcoming plays, the Sentry’s static ability to keep your plans hidden gains extra importance. Its presence can disrupt opponents’ strategies that hinge on hand and library information, making it a tactical choice against such decks.
How to beat
The Keen-Eared Sentry of Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge with its ability to shut down opponents from gaining intel on your hand. Utilizing targeted removal spells is a straightforward method to handle the Sentry. Consider options like Fatal Push or Path to Exile to swiftly clear the Sentry from the board. Another strategy involves overpowering it in combat, as its low toughness makes it vulnerable to most attacking creatures.
Additionally, the ability of the Sentry can be bypassed with card types it does not affect. For instance, using land-based strategies or casting spells directly from the library circumvents the need to reveal your plans. Should the Sentry prove to be a persistent obstacle, employing board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the field and neutralize the Sentry’s information lockdown.
Countering its deployment is also effective. Spells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent the Keen-Eared Sentry from hitting the battlefield, thereby maintaining the privacy of your hand. In summary, the Keen-Eared Sentry requires a focused response but can be overcome through removal, combat, alternative strategic routes, or counterplay.
Cards like Keen-Eared Sentry
Keen-Eared Sentry has a unique spot in protection strategies for Magic: The Gathering players. This card is somewhat akin to Tocatli Honor Guard which also prevents creatures from triggering their abilities when they enter the battlefield. The Sentry diverges with its concentration on hindering spells and abilities the opponents control from causing their libraries to be searched, an increasingly relevant ability in formats where tutoring cards directly from the deck is common.
Another card that it can be compared to is Aven Mindcensor. While the Mindcensor limits the searching to the top four cards of the library, Keen-Eared Sentry completely prevents the search––a clear upper hand in certain situations. However, Aven Mindcensor has the added advantage of flash and flying, providing more versatile defensive capabilities.
Assessing the characteristic strengths, Keen-Eared Sentry holds its ground as a notable guard against search mechanics. Its full denial of library search can be profoundly impactful in disrupting an opponent’s game plan. Without the need for flash ability or evasion techniques like the Mindcensor, the Sentry’s simple yet powerful static ability can significantly shape the flow of a match.
Cards similar to Keen-Eared Sentry by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Keen-Eared Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Keen-Eared Sentry and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Keen-Eared Sentry has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
