Aven Sentry MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 3
2019-11-07 - Number 31
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-3
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird Soldier |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying
"My flock flew from a distant continent ruined by cataclysm and war. Benalia gave us shelter to end our exodus."
Cards like Aven Sentry
Aven Sentry stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a reliable airborne threat for any limited format deck. With its vigilant capability, it allows players to maintain a defensive stance while applying offensive pressure. This compares to other creatures such as Kor Skyfisher, which boasts a similar flying feature. However, Aven Sentry takes the edge with its vigilance, allowing it to remain untapped after attacking.
Another card to consider alongside Aven Sentry is Concordia Pegasus. Both carry the key ability to fly over ground-based defenses. The Pegasus often shows up as a common blocker in many white decks due to its lower casting cost. Unlike Concordia Pegasus, Aven Sentry presents a more formidable presence thanks to higher power. Yet despite the Sentry’s advantages, its higher mana cost is something players need to account for when building their mana curve.
Evaluating Aven Sentry in the broader scope of creature options available in Magic: The Gathering reveals that it’s a moderate pick—suitable for certain strategic plays, but one must weigh its cost against other available creatures with flying that might serve similar roles in a deck.
Cards similar to Aven Sentry by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aven Sentry’s flying ability gives you an aerial tactic that can be challenging for opponents to block, especially in the early to mid-game. This strategic elevation can help maintain pressure on your opponent while potentially drawing out their resources to deal with the threat.
Resource Acceleration: While Aven Sentry itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can contribute to deterring opponents from attacking. Its presence on the battlefield can preserve your life total, indirectly allowing you to save removal spells or other defensive resources for more pressing threats, leading to better resource management over time.
Instant Speed: Aven Sentry plays at sorcery speed but complements instant speed spells well. Holding back mana for instant speed interaction while having a threat like Aven Sentry on board forces opponents to play cautiously. This can lead to more advantageous exchanges for you as they navigate the potential instant speed tricks you could have up your sleeve.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Aven Sentry may not require a discard to play, the card could lead you to make difficult decisions when another spell or effect in your deck demands that resources be thrown away. In such situations, holding onto a card like Aven Sentry might cut off more strategic plays later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Aven Sentry’s casting cost demands two plains, which narrows down the decks it fits into. Those who run multicolored decks may find the specific white mana cost challenging to meet at times, especially in the early game or in decks with a greedy mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that offers 3/2 flying, the four mana investment might not always align with your game tempo. In the realm of MTG, where efficient mana spending is key to victory, there are other creatures or spells that could offer greater impact or versatility for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include Aven Sentry in Your Collection
Versatility: Aven Sentry is a dependable card that can be slotted into a variety of white decks. Its flying ability allows it to soar over ground-based defenses, making it a consistent source of damage or an effective blocker against other airborne threats.
Combo Potential: This creature’s flying trait makes it an excellent partner for cards that benefit from controlling creatures with flying, such as empowering them or triggering synergistic effects upon attacking or defending.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors the ground game, Aven Sentry shines by providing an aerial offense that can evade many common blockers. Additionally, its decent toughness allows it to survive in battles against other small to mid-sized fliers that are prevalent in certain metagames.
How to beat
Aven Sentry is a flying creature that can present a challenging obstacle for players in Magic: The Gathering. As with any card that has the potential to control the board, understanding your options to counter it can turn the tide of a match. Aven Sentry boasts the flying ability, making it unreachable for ground creatures without reach or flying themselves. It’s prudent, therefore, to include creatures with these abilities in your deck to curb the Sentry’s dominance in the air.
Alternatively, direct removal spells are highly effective against Aven Sentry. Cards that can target and destroy, exile, or shrink creatures negate the Sentry’s aerial advantage. Spells like Doom Blade, Path to Exile, or Murder are perfect examples of cost-effective ways to deal with flying threats. It’s also advisable to have instant-speed removal, which allows you to respond to the Sentry being activated, minimizing the potential damage it can deal. Another strategy is to use enchantments that restrict the Sentry’s abilities or prevent it from attacking or blocking.
In essence, Aven Sentry can be a thorn in your side if left unchecked, but with the right strategy and a deck equipped with versatile responses, its impact can be swiftly mitigated, keeping the skies clear for your victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aven Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Aven Sentry 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 Aven Sentry Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Dan Scott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 31 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aven Sentry has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |