Chamber Sentry MTG Card

Chamber Sentry’s varied damage output can target opponents or creatures, pivoting its role between aggressor and defender. The card’s casting versatility and instant-speed return make it a resilient and adaptable presence on the battlefield. Despite its strengths, Chamber Sentry demands careful mana base management to unlock its full potential in gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Chamber Sentry enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it. , , Remove X +1/+1 counters from Chamber Sentry: It deals X damage to any target. : Return Chamber Sentry from your graveyard to your hand.

Cards like Chamber Sentry

Chamber Sentry holds a unique position within the array of creature cards in MTG. Analogous to the adaptability of Walking Ballista, Chamber Sentry can be cast with any amount of mana, gaining counters equal to the colors used. Walking Ballista similarly allows for varied mana input, but Chamber Sentry sets itself apart by being re-castable from the graveyard in exchange for cards of different colors. This grants it a resilience that can outlive its initial destruction.

Another comparable artifact creature is Hangarback Walker, which also enters the battlefield with counters and can become formidable over time. However, unlike Chamber Sentry, Hangarback Walker doesn’t offer direct damage output, yet compensates with the creation of Thopter tokens upon its demise, potentially offering a wider board presence. There’s also the venerable Triskelion, which shares the ability to remove counters for direct damage, but lacks the flexible casting cost and graveyard retrieval that makes Chamber Sentry a versatile choice for decks embracing multiple colors.

Ultimately, Chamber Sentry’s versatility in casting and utility both on the battlefield and from the graveyard makes it a noteworthy contender. When evaluating multi-colored creature options, it carries significant appeal for its strategic adaptability in the game.

Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Hangarback Walker - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Hangarback Walker - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Chamber Sentry by color, type and mana cost

Jack-in-the-Mox - MTG Card versions
Jack-in-the-Mox - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Chamber Sentry. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
All Other DecklistsAll Other Decklists ModernMTG China Open S5 Regional Championship
Sultai Acererak ComboSultai Acererak Combo Pioneer4c Soul Cauldron ComboSat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chamber Sentry enters the battlefield as a flexible utility creature, contributing to card advantage by being a versatile tool in your deck. Its ability to deal damage equal to the number of colors of mana spent to cast it lets you remove key threats from the board or even finish off an opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although Chamber Sentry doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it provides a significant advantage in multicolored decks. The opportunity to use any color of mana to cast it means you’re able to optimize your mana base and maintain a smooth curve.

Instant Speed: Chamber Sentry’s return to hand ability can be activated at instant speed, offering remarkable flexibility. This lets you adapt to the board state by bringing Chamber Sentry back to your hand in response to removal or end-of-turn setups for your next strategic play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chamber Sentry necessitates the discard of another card when you use its ability to return it from the graveyard to your hand. This could set you back in card advantage, particularly during late-game scenarios where each card’s value is magnified.

Specific Mana Cost: Assembling the colors to cast Chamber Sentry for its full value demands a diversified mana base, which might complicate your deck’s construction. Specialized mana requirements can be a challenge, especially in formats where mana fixing is less abundant.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Chamber Sentry’s adaptability is a merit, the mana investment to maximize its damage output can be substantial. Other cards at a lower cost could potentially provide equal or greater impact on the game, making Chamber Sentry a less efficient choice in aggressive or tightly curved decks.

Reasons to Include Chamber Sentry in Your Collection

Versatility: Chamber Sentry excels in decks that can manipulate a spectrum of mana colors, thanks to its unique casting cost and ability to tap into a full range of mana symbols. Its adaptability makes it a go-to for multicolored commanders and strategies.

Combo Potential: Its ability to enter the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number of colors spent to cast it makes for intriguing synergies. Combine this with proliferate mechanics or other counter manipulations for some robust game plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given how Chamber Sentry can be recalibrated to any game situation, its relevance in the current meta can’t be overstated. Whether you’re aiming to control the board or seeking a silver bullet for problematic permanents, this card has the potential to be a game-changer in varied matchups.

How to beat

The allure of using Chamber Sentry in MTG is evident due to its flexibility in mana usage and potential to deal damage to any target. This unique creature thrives on the variety of colors used to cast it, with power and toughness to match. To effectively counter it, consider using removal spells that don’t rely on the creature’s power or toughness like Fatal Push or Path to Exile. These spells can swiftly deal with the Sentry regardless of how large it has grown.

Another approach is to limit the Sentry’s impact by restricting the player’s mana base. Cards like Blood Moon can disrupt the multicolored mana sources necessary for Chamber Sentry to be a substantial threat. Artifact removal such as Abrade or Nature’s Claim are direct answers as well, ensuring that this adaptable creature is taken care of before it becomes a problem or able to utilize its ability to ping any target.

Focusing on a strategy that hinders the opponent’s ability to utilize diverse mana resources or that employs instant-speed interaction will keep a card like Chamber Sentry in check. Despite its potential power, there are efficient ways within MTG to neutralize this versatile threat.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chamber Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Jumpstart, 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 Chamber Sentry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chamber Sentry Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Adam Paquette.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 2322015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4612015NormalBlackAdam Paquette

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chamber Sentry has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chamber Sentry card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2018-10-05 Colorless mana won’t give Chamber Sentry another +1/+1 counter. Colorless is not a color.
2018-10-05 If Chamber Sentry enters the battlefield without being cast, it receives no +1/+1 counters.
2018-10-05 If an effect allows you to spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast Chamber Sentry, you consider only the actual mana spent to determine how many counters it receives.
2018-10-05 If another creature enters the battlefield as a copy of Chamber Sentry, consider what mana was spent to cast that creature to determine how many +1/+1 counters it enters with.
2018-10-05 The value of X chosen when you activate Chamber Sentry’s first activated ability doesn’t have to be the same value of X that you chose when you cast it.
2018-10-05 You can choose any value for X as you cast Chamber Sentry. The value chosen for X doesn’t directly affect the number of +1/+1 counters Chamber Sentry enters the battlefield with, but it does let you pay more mana and thus spend more colors of mana to cast it.