Grandmother Sengir MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 50
2008-09-22 - Number 93
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
o1o B, oc T: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
"Rarely have power and madness been so delightfully wed as they have in our dear Grandmother." —Baron Sengir
Cards like Grandmother Sengir
Grandmother Sengir is an intriguing member of the vast tableau of creatures in MTG. It enters the realm alongside formidable peers like Royal Assassin. While both cards allow the control of the board by eliminating threats, Grandmother Sengir offers this with a twist: regenerating any creature at a considerable activation cost. Royal Assassin, by contrast, stands out with its ability to destroy any tapped creature without any cost.
Sanguine Guard is another creature that shares a kinship with Grandmother Sengir through its regeneration ability. However, Sanguine Guard’s higher power and the phenomenal ability to be unblockable if there are no untapped lands give it an interesting edge. In contrast, Grandmother Sengir’s lower casting cost makes her a more accessible option early in the game.
In the shadowy corners of MTG, several creatures mimic the utility and strategic depth of Grandmother Sengir. Each card has its own pros and cons, but they all share a common thread in providing players with an opportunity to maintain presence on the board. Thus, within the rich ecosystem of creatures that convey resilience, Grandmother Sengir still manages to carve out its unique niche.
Cards similar to Grandmother Sengir by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grandmother Sengir is compelling due to her ability to grant access to more cards in your hand. Especially in longer games, her unique skill provides a strategic edge by potentially drawing out more powerful or situational cards that can turn the tide in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While she doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration, Grandmother Sengir helps accelerate your resource pool by effectively allowing you to skip drawing less useful cards. This selective approach can enable you to reach key spells faster, ensuring a steady pace in the game’s progression.
Instant Speed: Her abilities may not be at instant speed, but Grandmother Sengir’s presence on the battlefield has an immediate effect on deck dynamics, commanding attention from opponents. She influences the flow of play, dictating more urgent reactions and thus, impacting the overall tempo of the match at any given moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Grandmother Sengir requires you to relinquish another card from your hand to harness her ability. This could be a steep price to pay, especially in matches where maintaining card advantage is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: Grandmother Sengir demands a very particular mana investment; one black and two others are non-negotiable, potentially complicating her inclusion in multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for her power and synergistic capabilities, Grandmother Sengir might seem overcosted when compared to other creatures. Savvy players will weigh her utility against other cards that present more aggressive board presence or strategic value for the same or lower cost.
Reasons to Include Grandmother Sengir in Your Collection
Versatility: Grandmother Sengir is not just a flavor win for those who appreciate the deep lore of MTG; it also offers varied utility across numerous deck types. With the ability to regenerate other Sengir vampires, this card serves as a robust support for tribal strategies within your collection.
Combo Potential: Apart from her thematic fit with vampire decks, Grandmother Sengir can be a keystone for intriguing combos. Her ability to return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand when paired with creatures that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects or sacrifice synergies, enhances overall deck strategy.
Meta-Relevance: While she may not be a staple in the ever-changing competitive meta, Grandmother Sengir holds a place in casual and Commander formats where quirky and thematic decks can shine. Her presence in your deck reinforces themes and offers utility that could tip the scales in longer, more politically driven games.
How to beat
Grandmother Sengir may not headline many top-tier decks in MTG, but underestimating this card could be a grave mistake. This iconic piece from the Homelands set is a creature that can prove resilient and troublesome for opponents due to her ability to regenerate other Sengir vampires. She might be a touch slow and costly at five mana for a 3/3 body, but in a deck themed around Sengir vampires, she becomes an enigma that demands an answer.
One effective strategy to overcome Grandmother Sengir lies in preventing her from taking center stage. Utilize removal spells that bypass regeneration, like exile or sacrifice effects, to permanently deal with her. If she’s already established her reign on the battlefield, focusing on direct player strategies or applying pressure with aggressive creatures can outpace the value she might otherwise provide. Moreover, crippling her support network of vampires through board-clearing cards will make it much harder for your opponent to capitalize on her abilities, tilting the game in your favor.
Always remember, in MTG, understanding and countering your opponent’s strategy is just as crucial as executing your own game plan. With precise play and tactical foresight, you can turn the tide against Grandmother Sengir and maintain the upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grandmother Sengir MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition II, 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 Grandmother Sengir 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 Grandmother Sengir Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 50 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 93 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grandmother Sengir has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |