Sentinel Spider MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spider
Abilities Reach, Vigilance
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Vigilance and reach make Sentinel Spider a persistent defensive powerhouse on the battlefield.
  2. Its well-balanced stats provide versatility as both an attacker and defender in green-themed decks.
  3. Though costly, its strengths can influence the board significantly, impacting overall game strategy.
Vigilance card art

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

Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.) Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)

"Your first reaction may be to stand very still and hope she didn't see you. Trust me, she did." —Endril, Kalonian naturalist


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Sentinel Spider itself may not draw you cards, its vigilance and reach provide a solid defensive position, deterring opponents from attacking and thus maintaining your card advantage on the board.

Resource Acceleration: With a combination of high power and toughness, Sentinel Spider can quickly become a formidable creature that helps you maintain a presence on the battlefield, indirectly contributing to your resource strategy by negating the need for additional creature spells.

Instant Speed: Although Sentinel Spider doesn’t have instant speed, its vigilance allows it to act similarly by being able to attack without tapping, thus being ready to block on your opponent’s turn, which can be as valuable as playing a spell at instant speed in certain scenarios.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sentinel Spider does not have a discard requirement, providing no inherent disadvantage in terms of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Sentinel Spider includes both green mana and generic mana, which means it fits primarily in green-focused decks and might be less flexible for multicolored or other themed decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost tallying up to five, the Sentinel Spider can be considered a significant investment, especially when there might be alternatives that provide either a larger creature or additional effects for the same or less mana investment.


Reasons to Include Sentinel Spider in Your Collection

Versatility: Sentinel Spider can serve as both a solid defender with reach and a potent aggressor thanks to its well-balanced attack and defense stats. This makes it a versatile addition that fits in various green decks, bolstering your ability to deal with flying threats.

Combo Potential: Due to its vigilance trait, it pairs well with cards that benefit from creatures staying untapped, allowing you to maintain a robust defense while exploiting tap and untap synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where flying creatures dominate or games tend to stall out on the ground, Sentinel Spider shines by providing an ever-alert defense against aerial assaults while being ready to swing back without leaving you exposed.


How to beat

Confronting a Sentinel Spider in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic finesse due to its imposing combination of vigilance and reach. These traits allow the spider to block most attackers while being ever-ready to intercept any airborne threats. To effectively navigate around this arachnid’s defenses, removal spells are a solid solution. Consider utilizing point removal cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile that can dispatch the creature without the need for direct combat.

Another avenue is to outpace the Sentinel Spider with swifter, more aggressive strategies. Deploying numerous low-cost creatures can overwhelm the Spider’s singular defensive capability. Alternatively, challenge its reach with cards that grant your creatures flying, bypassing it entirely. Finally, using enchantments or artifacts that prevent the Sentinel Spider from blocking can neutralize its defensive presence, clearing the path for your victory. Employ these tactics judiciously, and the Sentinel Spider will become less of an obstacle and more of a stepping stone to achieving dominance on the battlefield.


Cards like Sentinel Spider

Sentinel Spider stands out in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It bears a resemblance to cards like Giant Spider, which also boasts reach, allowing it to block creatures with flying. What distinguishes Sentinel Spider, though, is its potent power and toughness combination, dominating as a 4/4 as opposed to Giant Spider’s 2/4 stats.

Moving onto comparison with Netcaster Spider, we find an interesting distinction. Although Netcaster Spider has a lower mana cost and a special ability that grants it a power boost when blocking creatures with flying, its baseline stats of 2/3 don’t stack up against Sentinel Spider’s solid presence on the battlefield.

Lastly, we consider Spidery Grasp, a non-creature spell, yet relevant due to its ability to provide a similar benefit – granting reach and a power/toughness boost during combat. This instant spell can surprise an opponent; however, it lacks the recurring board impact that a creature like Sentinel Spider brings to the game over multiple turns.

In summary, Sentinel Spider finds its niche as a formidable defense against flying threats in Magic: The Gathering, providing a reliable combatant with a commanding presence and strategic advantage for players valuing steady board control.

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Netcaster Spider - MTG Card versions
Spidery Grasp - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Netcaster Spider - Magic 2015 (M15)
Spidery Grasp - Innistrad (ISD)

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

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Moss Monster - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironroot Treefolk - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Elven Riders - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Crashing Boars - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)
Kavu Chameleon - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Okina Nightwatch - Arena League 2005 (PAL05)
Consuming Blob - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Moss Monster - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sentinel Spider MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Eternal Masters, 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 Sentinel Spider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sentinel Spider Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Vincent Proce.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1892003normalblackVincent Proce
22016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1852015normalblackVincent Proce
32020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 1042015normalblackVincent Proce
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2532015normalblackVincent Proce

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sentinel Spider has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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