Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper MTG Card


Serra Faithkeeper offers board control with card advantage and instant-speed reactive play, enhancing strategic depth. While powerful, the card requires careful hand management and deck integration due to its costs and conditions. Its potential for deck synergy and relevance in the current meta makes it a compelling addition for many players.
Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper - March of the Machine
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Angel
Abilities Flying, Vigilance
Released2023-04-21
Set symbol
Set nameMarch of the Machine
Set codeMOM
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number21
Frame2015
LayoutTransform
BorderBlack
Illustred byDenys Tsiperko

Text of card

Flying, vigilance

"I was there when Phyrexia doomed Serra's realm with a single touch. I was there when Yawgmoth tried and failed to conquer Dominaria. And I will still be here when Elesh Norn lies dead."


Cards like Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper

Exploring the card pool of Magic: The Gathering, Serra Faithkeeper weaves into the rich tapestry of creature cards with a unique blend of abilities. Echoing the utility found in other cards like Banisher Priest or Oblivion Ring, this card competently exiles opposing threats. Where the Serra Faithkeeper stands out is in its angelic synergy and the potential to safeguard a user’s gameplan by strategically removing problem creatures from the battlefield.

Yet, one could draw parallels with Fiend Hunter, another card that temporarily exiles creatures. While Fiend Hunter effectively performs a similar function, it lacks the thematic coherence that Serra Faithkeeper brings to an angel or cleric focused deck. The specificity of Serra Faithkeeper taps into the nostalgia and lore of Dominaria, augmenting its place among its peers. Avian Changeling is another card to consider, offering tribal flexibility that outstrips Serra Faithkeeper’s purely angelic affiliation, yet it does not affect the board in the same way.

As players assess their options, the Serra Faithkeeper presents itself as a robust choice for anyone seeking to combine exile mechanics with tribal decks, especially within the storied world of Dominaria, thus securing its relevance in the MTG realm.

Banisher Priest - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions
Avian Changeling - MTG Card versions
Banisher Priest - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Fiend Hunter - MTG Card versions
Avian Changeling - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Serra Faithkeeper card from the Invasion of Dominaria set provides substantial card advantage, allowing you to gain the upper hand over your opponent by drawing additional cards or generating value in other ways. Players can often establish a commanding presence on the board with the help of such cards.

Resource Acceleration: This card contributes to resource acceleration by enabling you to access resources or deploy threats earlier than usual. The acceleration can be in the form of extra mana, reduced casting costs, or other mechanics that expedite your game plan.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Serra Faithkeeper at instant speed offers significant strategic flexibility. This allows players to be reactive during the opponent’s turn, leaving mana open for responses and keeping the opponent guessing about potential plays. Playing at instant speed can turn the tide of a match by disrupting the opponent’s strategy at a critical moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Serra Faithkeeper card necessitates discarding another card, which might set you back if your hand is already depleting. Holding onto key cards is crucial in any match, and being forced to let go of one could hinder your strategy significantly, especially in the early game when maintaining a healthy card advantage is essential.

Specific Mana Cost: Serra Faithkeeper comes with a mana cost that includes white mana. This means its integration is primarily effective in mono-white or multicolor decks that can reliably generate white mana. Therefore, its usage might not be universal, potentially limiting its versatility across the diverse decks in play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you consider Serra Faithkeeper’s overall cost in terms of mana, it may seem steep relative to its abilities. There are competing cards that may offer similar or better returns for less mana investment. This high cost could potentially slow your tempo, letting opponents take the lead in crucial moments of the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Serra Faithkeeper can seamlessly integrate into a variety of decks, particularly those revolving around angel synergies or lifegain strategies. Her ability to slot into diverse game plans makes her a valuable card for any collector or player looking to enhance their deck’s resilience and tactics.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique abilities enable it to combine well with other cards that benefit from gaining life or controlling white creatures. For deck builders who enjoy crafting intricate combos, Serra Faithkeeper offers numerous possibilities to explore within your deck’s ecosystem.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the current MTG landscape often features aggressive and creature-heavy decks, having a card like Serra Faithkeeper with life-gain abilities and protective features can offer a significant edge. Her relevance in the meta allows her to be a defensive bulwark against many popular strategies, making her a strong contender for inclusion in competitive play.


How to beat

The card Serra Faithkeeper from the Invasion of Dominaria set presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. With its ability to both buff creatures and protect your life total, overcoming this card requires smart strategy and precise card choices. One of the most effective ways to combat Serra Faithkeeper is through removal spells that can bypass its capabilities, such as those that exile or force the player to sacrifice, circumventing its protective aura.

Board wipes are another potent option, able to clear the field of multiple threats including Serra Faithkeeper, regardless of its power and toughness boosts. Additionally, employing counterspells when the card is on the stack ensures it never even touches the board, eliminating the threat before it becomes active. Lastly, hand disruption can be key – cards like Thoughtseize allows you to pluck the Faithkeeper right out of your opponent’s hand before they have the chance to cast it.

By incorporating these methods into your deck and gameplay, you’ll be ready to dismantle the protection and advantages Serra Faithkeeper offers your opponents, maintaining control of the game’s flow and edging closer to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.
2023-04-14 A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it.
2023-04-14 A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.”
2023-04-14 A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters.
2023-04-14 As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.
2023-04-14 Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat.
2023-04-14 Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it.
2023-04-14 If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face.
2023-04-14 If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger.
2023-04-14 If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat.
2023-04-14 If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below).
2023-04-14 If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face.
2023-04-14 If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed.
2023-04-14 In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal.
2023-04-14 Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it.
2023-04-14 Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.”
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.