Futurist Sentinel MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact — Vehicle |
| Abilities | Crew |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 54 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daniel Ljunggren |
Key Takeaways
- Futurist Sentinel provides card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed play versatility.
- The card requires careful mana balancing and comes with a discard trade-off.
- Its strategic adaptability makes it a competitive choice for dynamic MTG decks.
Text of card
Crew 3 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 3 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
"I folded a model in paper first to test the relative tensile strength of the plates." —Katsumasa, the Animator
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When it comes to maintaining a solid hand size, the Futurist Sentinel offers players the potential to sift through their deck efficiently, improving access to key cards needed as the match progresses.
Resource Acceleration: This sentinel is not just about defense; it can also be a catalyst for growth on the battlefield. By possibly untapping lands or artifacts, it can ramp up your mana resources, giving you an edge to cast more impactful spells sooner than expected.
Instant Speed: The versatility of acting at instant speed with the Futurist Sentinel adds a strategic element to gameplay. It enables players to react on the fly to the evolving board state, catching opponents off-guard while optimizing their own play opportunities.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Futurist Sentinel card comes with an inherent drawback of needing to discard a card, which could potentially put a strain on your hand, especially if you are running a strategy that relies on maintaining a certain number of cards in hand to execute combos or control the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This sentinel requires a specific blend of mana to cast. Deck builders will have to carefully consider their mana base to ensure they can meet the precise cost without disrupting the overall mana curve of their deck. This can be particularly challenging in multicolor decks that may not always have the right color of mana available at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively steep mana requirement to get this artifact creature onto the battlefield, players might find that there are other creatures or artifacts that provide similar or better utility without such a significant investment. This can make the Futurist Sentinel less appealing in environments where efficiency and speed are crucial to victory.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Futurist Sentinel finds a place in diverse deck builds, easily synergizing with artifact and creature-focused strategies alike. Its ability to modify power and toughness while also granting an alternative ability offers adaptable solutions for varying board states.
Combo Potential: With its modular nature, this card can form potent combinations with other cards that capitalize on counters or tap/untap mechanics. This makes it a linchpin in decks designed to exploit these interactions for significant gameplay advantages.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where artifact and modular mechanics are gaining traction, Futurist Sentinel offers real strategic value. It aligns well with decks that need to stay responsive to rapid shifts in the competitive environment, ensuring your collection remains current and competitive.
How to Beat
Futurist Sentinel joins the Magic: The Gathering scene as a unique artifact creature offering a blend of defense and foresight. While this sentinel stands guard, you may notice that your opponents are hesitant to attack, thanks to its ability to untap another target artifact or creature you control. Yet, no card is without its weaknesses; crafting a strategy to overcome the sentinel is key.
To dismantle the defense that Futurist Sentinel provides, cards that can handle artifacts effortlessly are your go-to. Consider using artifact removal spells like Naturalize or Abrade to bypass its protection, allowing you to continue your assault unfazed. Should your deck be more control-oriented, counterspells are also an effective measure to prevent the sentinel from ever entering the battlefield.
An alternate approach is to use your own creatures with abilities that trigger upon being tapped or untapped. This converts the sentinel’s strength into your advantage. Therefore, utilizing the sentinel’s defensive nature to fuel your tactical responses ensures that the sentinel’s future on the battlefield remains uncertain.
Cards like Futurist Sentinel
Futurist Sentinel joins the ranks of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering that are as much about utility as they are about power on the battlefield. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Pilgrim’s Eye, which similarly offers a deck-thinning ability upon entering the battlefield. Although Pilgrim’s Eye ensures a land drop by fetching a basic land card, Futurist Sentinel goes beyond by providing a peek at the top card of your deck, allowing you to not just anticipate but also plan your subsequent moves.
Comparable to the likes of Wall of Omens, Futurist Sentinel provides defensive value with the added benefit of card insight rather than straight card draw. The sentinel’s unique characteristic is giving you continual information, which can be strategically pivotal in both limited and constructed formats. Then there’s Riddlesmith, which offers a different form of card selection with its looting ability upon casting an artifact. Unlike Futurist Sentinel, Riddlesmith impacts hand quality immediately, yet lacks the ongoing informational advantage.
The sentinel firmly holds its place in the roster of artifact creatures that provide players with the foresight to sculpt their future turns. It’s the blend of possible defensive stature and the strategic top-of-deck revelation that makes this card a nuanced choice for tacticians on the MTG battlefield.
Cards similar to Futurist Sentinel by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Futurist Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Futurist Sentinel 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 Futurist Sentinel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |