Illuminor Szeras MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Artifact Creature — Necron
Abilities Secrets of the Soul
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Szeras gives a continuous card advantage, crucial for outstripping opponents in resources and game pressure.
  2. Its high adaptability makes it a resilient pick for diverse MTG deck strategies and metas.
  3. Demands precise mana and can result in difficult card discard choices, testing player resourcefulness.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Illuminor Szeras MTG card by a specific set like Warhammer 40,000 Commander and Warhammer 40,000 Commander, 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 Illuminor Szeras and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Secrets of the Soul — , Sacrifice another creature: Add an amount of equal to the sacrificed creature's mana value.

"Immortality is not quite the same as invulnerability, but it is close enough."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Illuminor Szeras ensures you stay ahead by providing a steady stream of card advantage every turn. This can be critical for outpacing your opponents in resources and maintaining pressure.

Resource Acceleration: While Szeras itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it synergizes well with other cards that do, allowing you to more efficiently deploy your threats and answers.

Instant Speed: Although Illuminor Szeras is not an instant, it impacts the board immediately upon entering, setting the stage for powerful plays and interactions that keep opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Illuminor Szeras, you must be ready to part with a card from your hand, often a painful decision for players who need to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Illuminor Szeras demands a precise combination of mana types that can be challenging to manage, especially in multicolor decks where resources are spread thin.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The resources needed to summon Illuminor Szeras are sizable, potentially setting you back compared to opponents playing more cost-efficient threats or answers.


Reasons to Include Illuminor Szeras in Your Collection

Versatility: Illuminor Szeras shines as a highly adaptable card, capable of integrating seamlessly into a myriad of deck builds. Its ability to both enhance your creatures and act as a source of card advantage makes it an excellent addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or benefit from manipulating the number of counters on your creatures. Its inherent abilities offer diverse interactions that combo enthusiasts will appreciate.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Illuminor Szeras can provide both a tactical edge and resilience against opponents. Being prepared for such metas with adaptable cards is key to staying competitive.


How to beat

Illuminor Szeras can be an intimidating opponent on the MTG battlefield with its ability to enhance creatures and unravel your strategies. Facing down this powerful artifact creature requires a deliberate approach. A successful strategy often involves removing it from the battlefield before its abilities can be activated. Targeted removal spells like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can efficiently deal with Szeras. Board wipes are also effective, as they can clear Szeras alongside other potential threats.

Counterspells are another robust method to ensure that Szeras never poses a threat. By denying entry onto the battlefield, you can preserve your game plan and tempo. Additionally, exploiting the times when Szeras isn’t a creature by using artifact removal such as Abrade or Disenchant can be a smart move to dismantle your opponent’s board without needing to address its creature status.

Attention to mana curve and playing proactively can also tilt the game in your favor. Deploying aggressive creatures early or setting up a defense that neutralizes the boosts Szeras provides can mitigate its impact. Each of these tactics underscores the importance of tailored strategy and reaction speed to outmaneuver the imposing prowess of Illuminor Szeras in the game of MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG is part of its enduring charm, necessitating clever play and insightful deck building. Illuminor Szeras stands as a testament to this, challenging players to craft thoughtful strategies around its potential. With our insights into the card’s pros and cons, analogous cards, and methods to outplay it, we believe you’re well-equipped to make informed decisions regarding its place in your deck or collection. Advance your MTG skills and refine your understanding by exploring further with us. Dive deep into card synergies, meta shifts, and find your next game-winning strategy. Learn more, and be prepared to face any challenge that comes your way on the battlefield.


Cards like Illuminor Szeras

Illuminor Szeras stands out in the world of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other artifact creatures like Steel Overseer, which also offers a way to bolster your creature forces. Steel Overseer allows you to put a +1/+1 counter on each artifact creature you control with each activation, while Illuminor Szeras provides a bulk addition of +1/+1 counters once when it enters the battlefield but affects multiple creatures.

Triskelion is another card that comes close in functionality. Its ability to remove +1/+1 counters to deal damage gives it a direct way to interact with the board and control opposing forces, while Illuminor Szeras is more about enhancing your board presence and requires other cards or strategies to capitalize on the counters provided. Arcbound Ravager also draws a comparison as it can redistribute +1/+1 counters through its modular ability, offering a degree of resilience and strategic depth to your gameplay.

Each card has its niche, but Illuminor Szeras’ capacity for an immediate widespread impact makes it a valuable asset for players aiming to scale up their creatures’ power and toughness, particularly in decks built around counter synergies.

Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Ravager - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Ravager - MTG Card versions

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Armix, Filigree Thrasher - MTG Card versions
The Book of Vile Darkness - MTG Card versions
Mask of Griselbrand - MTG Card versions
Nim Replica - MTG Card versions
Skeleton Shard - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Totem - MTG Card versions
Onyx Goblet - MTG Card versions
Moriok Replica - MTG Card versions
Prakhata Pillar-Bug - MTG Card versions
Whispersteel Dagger - MTG Card versions
Serpent's Soul-Jar - MTG Card versions
Wand of Orcus - MTG Card versions
Glass-Cast Heart - MTG Card versions
Undercity Scrounger - MTG Card versions
Enormous Energy Blade - MTG Card versions
Chainflail Centipede - MTG Card versions
Smogbelcher Chariot - MTG Card versions
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Printings

The Illuminor Szeras Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Darren Tan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 37★2015NormalBlackDarren Tan
22022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 372015NormalBlackDarren Tan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Illuminor Szeras has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-10-07 Use the mana value of the sacrificed creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine the amount of to add.