Ghostly Sentinel MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Kor Spirit
Abilities	Flying, Vigilance
Released	2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Battle for Zendikar
Set code	BFZ
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	28
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daarken

Key Takeaways

The Sentinel’s vigilant flying offers consistent pressure and defensive utility in the game.
Its specific mana requirements and high casting cost may constrain deck design flexibility.
Including flying removal or negation strategies can effectively counteract the Sentinel’s advantages.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flying, vigilance

Mystics of the Stone Havens call upon the spirits of fallen heroes to defend the refuges.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghostly Sentinel provides a unique angle for card advantage in the sense that it provides a vigilant flyer, which can consistently apply pressure while still being available for blocking. Balancing offense and defense without committing additional cards from hand each turn can subtly tip the scales in your favor in prolonged matches.

Resource Acceleration: While Ghostly Sentinel doesn’t directly generate additional resources in the form of mana or tokens, its presence can accelerate your game plan. Efficiency is key in MTG, and a 4/3 flying creature for 5 mana that can both attack and block each cycle is an optimized resource in and of itself, potentially freeing up your mana for other spells and abilities.

Instant Speed: Although Ghostly Sentinel is a creature card and doesn’t operate at instant speed, the vigilance trait inherently increases the flexibility of your battle tactics similar to instant speed interactions. By allowing you to keep mana untapped until needed, it helps you maintain the element of surprise with other cards in your deck that operate on your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Ghostly Sentinel requires a strategic approach due to its after-play implications. Each time it’s summoned, the player must be prepared to discard, potentially depleting valuable hand assets.

Specific Mana Cost: This sentinel demands a precise mana blend for casting, primarily white with an intensive mana value. Deck flexibility is impacted, as incorporating it requires a dedicated white mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Floating at a loftier mana cost, this celestial watcher may strain your reserves. When pitted against other creatures in the same range, it may falter in both efficiency and impact, pushing deck builders to ponder its true worth in competitive play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghostly Sentinel offers a flexible solution for players seeking a robust defender with flying. This card can easily slot into various white decks that aim to maintain a solid defensive line while waiting to deploy their win conditions.

Combo Potential: With vigilance and flying, Ghostly Sentinel serves as an ideal component for synergies that revolve around creatures with these abilities. It can also complement strategies that capitalize on permanents with flying to unlock certain bonuses or effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where evasion is key, having creatures that can both attack and block effectively without tapping can provide a unique advantage. Its relevance escalates in metas with a prevalence of decks that struggle to block flying creatures, making it a strategic choice for applying pressure and defending simultaneously.

How to beat

Ghostly Sentinel, a versatile creature with flying and vigilance, can be a considerable obstacle on the battlefield. To gain the upper hand against it, understanding its flying ability is key. Since it can soar above most blockers, you’ll want to include creatures with flying or reach in your deck to intercept it. In addition, spells or abilities that can remove flying characteristics such as Earthbind or Archetype of Imagination can ground this spectral guardian, making it vulnerable to your ground forces.

Another strategy involves using instant-speed removal spells, which lets you wait for the perfect moment to strike—like when the opponent taps out for a big play or commits to an attack, leaving their defenses low. Cards that can exile creatures, such as Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, or even mass removal spells meant for flying creatures like Windstorm are essential tools to clear the Sentinel from the field efficiently. Finally, cards like Pacifism or Claustrophobia can disable Ghostly Sentinel, preventing it from attacking or blocking, effectively neutralizing the threat it poses without having to remove it from play.

By incorporating these tactics, you’ll be able to counteract the challenge posed by Ghostly Sentinel and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Ghostly Sentinel

Ghostly Sentinel is an intriguing creature in the realm of Magic the Gathering, bringing to the table the combined abilities of flying and vigilance. It shares similarities with other cards like Guardian of Pilgrims, which also offers the vigilance attribute but lacks the ability to soar over the battlefield. Ghostly Sentinel stands out due to its aerial advantage, allowing it to act both defensively and offensively without tapping.

In the same category, we find Courier Griffin, a card offering both flying and a life gain effect upon entering the battlefield. Although it provides an immediate health boost, its long-term strategic defensive potential doesn’t quite match Ghostly Sentinel’s vigilance trait. Then there’s Serra Angel, a classic card renowned for its powerful combination of flying and vigilance. Serra Angel’s higher power and toughness set it apart, making it a formidable presence in many decks.

Assessing these cards alongside Ghostly Sentinel, we can see how each brings unique strategies to the table while sharing the invaluable ability to impact the game from above. Ghostly Sentinel holds its own as a versatile and cost-effective card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds.

Guardian of Pilgrims - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ghostly Sentinel by color, type and mana cost

Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions

Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions

Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghostly Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Ghostly Sentinel and other MTG cards: