High Sentinels of Arashin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Bird Soldier
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides a strategic edge by boosting other creatures with +1/+1 counters, essential for tactical dominance.
  2. Can be integrated into various decks, offering adaptability and resilience in a competitive setting.
  3. Demands careful resource management and can be countered effectively with targeted removal or board wipes.

Text of card

Flying High Sentinels of Arashin gets +1/+1 for each other creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it. : Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: High Sentinels of Arashin elevates your tactical play with its ability to empower other creatures with +1/+1 counters, effectively turning each counter into a potential source of power and dominance on the battlefield. This capability of enhancing multiple creatures creates a cascading effect of advantage, subtly shifting the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s bolstering ability is not only a formidable force in itself but also plays exceptionally well with mechanics that benefit from counters, such as proliferate or evolve. The multiplier effect of augmenting numerous creatures can rapidly accelerate your resource presence, giving you a notable edge in the contest for board control.

Instant Speed: The flourish that truly sets High Sentinels of Arashin apart is its activated ability that operates at instant speed. This grants you the flexibility to adapt and react to your opponent’s moves, making tactical decisions on the fly and optimizing the use of your mana each turn. Threads of strategy weave together as you maneuver through phases of the game, always ready to unfold the potential of your creatures at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of High Sentinels of Arashin is the necessity to manage your hand carefully. Without a substantial hand size, you may not get the full potential of its +1/+1 counter mechanics, which can be especially detrimental in drawn-out games where resources are scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of High Sentinels of Arashin requires white mana, which might not always be readily available in multicolored decks that also require a diverse mana base to play a mixed assortment of spells. This can restrict its playability to mainly white or white-focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, High Sentinels of Arashin can be a bit steep, especially considering that other creatures at that mana spot might provide immediate board impact. While the Sentinels offer a solid body and potential for growth, in some situations, they may not be the most mana-efficient play.


Reasons to Include High Sentinels of Arashin in Your Collection

Versatility: As a card that boosts each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter, High Sentinels of Arashin can seamlessly integrate into a variety of white-based decks. Its adaptability shines in counter-centric strategies, uplifting the power of your battlefield presence.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with proliferate mechanics and any deck that focuses on distributing +1/+1 counters. Its built-in ability to buff itself while bolstering others offers numerous pathways for combo exploitation, enhancing both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the card promotes a broad creature enhancement strategy, it can stay relevant in various meta scenarios. In an environment where buffing creatures are key, High Sentinels of Arashin provides value as both a threat and an enabler, ensuring its lasting relevance in a competitive setting.


How to beat

High Sentinels of Arashin stands tall in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a formidable flying threat with the capacity for growing stronger with each bolster. This card can be a real hurdle if left unchecked on the battlefield. Countering this high-flying threat demands a strategic approach. Removal spells are your first line of defense; instant-speed options like Murder or Path to Exile can neatly clear the bird from the skies before it spirals out of control.

Board wipes like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict are also effective tools, erasing the Sentinels along with any other creatures bolstering their power. Don’t overlook the power of enchantment removal either, as cards like Banishing Light can neutralize High Sentinels without triggering any death effects. Finally, as with any creature, simply blocking with a creature of equal or greater power can prove effective, especially if flying or reach capabilities are on your side.

It is essential to anticipate your opponent’s moves and avoid allowing the Sentinels to build up a formidable presence. With careful planning and the right cards, these sentinels can be grounded before they become an insurmountable obstacle in your path to victory.


Cards like High Sentinels of Arashin

High Sentinels of Arashin stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering as a dynamic creature card. Its ability to bolster other creatures makes it a strategic part of any deck focused on +1/+1 counters. Comparably, Abzan Falconer offers a similar style, enabling creatures with +1/+1 counters to gain flight, thus changing the battlefield’s aerial dynamics. While the Falconer affects the board immediately, High Sentinels requires mana investment to distribute counters.

Another card that works well in tandem with +1/+1 themes is Ainok Bond-Kin. Although it doesn’t have the same mana sink ability to grow other creatures, it grants them first strike as long as they have a +1/+1 counter, adding a layer of combat complexity. Similarly, Elite Scaleguard pushes the mechanic further, with the added twist of tapping opposing creatures whenever a creature with a +1/+1 counter attacks.

Ultimately, High Sentinels of Arashin serves a unique role, especially for strategists who prefer to empower creatures over time and benefit from the added utility of its creature type. Its balance between being a threat and enhancing others on the board stands up when compared to its counterparts.

Abzan Falconer - MTG Card versions
Ainok Bond-Kin - MTG Card versions
Elite Scaleguard - MTG Card versions
Abzan Falconer - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Ainok Bond-Kin - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Elite Scaleguard - Fate Reforged (FRF)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase High Sentinels of Arashin MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir Promos and Khans of Tarkir, 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 High Sentinels of Arashin and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The High Sentinels of Arashin Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by James Ryman.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-09-26Khans of Tarkir PromosPKTK 13s2015normalblackJames Ryman
22014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 132015normalblackJames Ryman
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1082015normalblackJames Ryman
42023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1892015normalblackJames Ryman

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where High Sentinels of Arashin has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-09-20 High Sentinels of Arashin gets +1/+1 per creature, not per +1/+1 counter. It doesn't matter how many +1/+1 counters are on any other creature you control as long as there's one or more.
2014-09-20 The activated ability can target and put +1/+1 counters on High Sentinels of Arashin itself.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks