Silver Seraph MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Angel
Abilities	Flying,Threshold
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	6
Toughness	6
Number	23
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matthew D. Wilson

Key Takeaways

Silver Seraph dramatically strengthens your creatures, establishing board dominance when its Threshold is active.
Despite not being a direct mana accelerator, Silver Seraph can effectively reduce the pressure on your resources.
Reaching Threshold instantly bolsters your creatures, akin to an instant speed effect that can swing battles.

Text of card

Flying Threshold Other creatures you control get +2/+2. (You have threshold as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

A symbol of hope for hopeless times.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Silver Seraph is on the battlefield, its Threshold ability can be a significant boon, particularly in drawn-out matches. If you’ve amassed seven or more cards in your graveyard, you grant all creatures you control +2/+2, which isn’t just a temporary pump but a sustained enhancement that can transform every creature into a more formidable threat, drawing you into a stronger position with each turn.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Silver Seraph doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, its imposing presence as a 6/6 flyer can quickly ramp up the pressure on your opponents, potentially reducing the need for additional resource investment as you maintain a dominant board state. Additionally, by ensuring your smaller creatures become threats, you minimize the need for casting cost-intensive spells to outpace your opponent.

Instant Speed: While the Silver Seraph itself is a creature that requires sorcery speed to play, the effects of transforming your board with the Threshold ability can be compared to an instant speed effect in practice. As soon as you hit the requisite number of cards in your graveyard, your board is instantly buffed, quite similar to an instantaneous power-up that can turn the tides during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s move.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To fully utilize Silver Seraph’s overshadow ability, you need to meet a discard requirement, potentially depleting your hand, which can prove detrimental, particularly if your strategy hinges on card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Silver Seraph demands a heavy white mana presence with its casting cost, making it less flexible for multicolored decks that might not reliably produce the required mana. This can result in a slower gameplay or the card being stuck in your hand longer than you’d prefer.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At eight mana, Silver Seraph’s cost is steep, even for its potential board impact. In games where tempo is key, allocating so many resources to a single spell might impede the ability to respond to opponents’ threats effectively or develop your own board presence across multiple turns.

Reasons to Include Silver Seraph in Your Collection

Versatility: Silver Seraph can be a game-changer in the late game, fitting seamlessly into decks that thrive on large, impactful creatures. Its ability to affect the battlefield upon gaining the threshold enhances a wide array of strategies.

Combo Potential: With its threshold ability providing a hefty power boost to your creatures, Silver Seraph partners well in decks that generate a high volume of token creatures, amplifying their threat significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based decks prevail, Silver Seraph’s imposing presence on the board can turn the tide in your favor, making it a worthy inclusion considering shifting meta landscapes.

How to beat

Adeptly navigating your match against the Silver Seraph can be a defining factor in any game of Magic: The Gathering. This powerful card can generate an overwhelming advantage with its vigilant angels if it manages to ascend. A key strategy in outmaneuvering the Silver Seraph lies in prevention – ensuring it never achieves its full potential. Utilizing removal spells that can target it before the condition for creating angel tokens is met proves highly effective. Disruption through discard or countering key spells that would enable its ascent is also an essential tactic to employ.

Providing vigilant pressure on your opponent to restrict their board development will hinder their ability to meet the Silver Seraph’s threshold. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Doomskar serve as reset buttons, nullifying the progress an opponent has made towards activating the Seraph’s ability. It’s also beneficial to maintain a diversified suite of threats to dilute the efficacy of any single removal spell your opponent might rely on to protect their Seraph. Ultimately, knowing when to switch between defense and applying pressure is the cornerstone of besting a deck that wields the Silver Seraph.

Understanding these dynamics can ensure that Silver Seraph remains a beautiful yet ineffective piece on the opposing side, transforming a possible threat into a non-issue. Methodically managing the resources and timing one’s moves with precision will consistently outpace the tempo set by Silver Seraph decks.

Cards like Silver Seraph

Silver Seraph boasts a remarkable presence on the battlefield with its combination of flying and the threshold ability that pumps up other creatures. One can look to Twilight Shepherd as a card offering similar advantages. Like Silver Seraph, it has flying and offers a form of protection – in this case, bringing creatures back to your hand when it dies. However, it lacks the on-going buff to creatures that Silver Seraph grants upon reaching threshold.

Another analog is Avacyn, Angel of Hope, which not only has flying but also grants indestructibility to your other permanents. While Avacyn doesn’t amplify your creatures’ power and toughness, the indestructible boon can be a game-changer. Serra Avatar also falls within this echelon, matching life total with power and toughness although it doesn’t confer benefits to other creatures nor does it fly like Silver Seraph.

Tallying up their attributes reveals that Silver Seraph has a unique position in Magic: The Gathering, coupling an impressive aerial offense with the ability to substantially strengthen your forces – a synergy well-suited to players building around a threshold mechanic and aggrandizing their creature-based army.

Avacyn, Angel of Hope - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Silver Seraph by color, type and mana cost

Angel of Deliverance - MTG Card versions

Myojin of Blooming Dawn - MTG Card versions

Akroma, Angel of Wrath - MTG Card versions

Myojin of Cleansing Fire - MTG Card versions

Zetalpa, Primal Dawn - MTG Card versions

Herald of the Forgotten - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silver Seraph MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Silver Seraph and other MTG cards: