Griffin Sentinel MTG Card
2009-07-17 - Number 12
2011-07-15 - Number 21
2013-07-19 - Number 20
2019-07-12 - Number 21
Key Takeaways
- Vigilance grants Griffin Sentinel the power to attack and defend without tapping, bolstering board control.
- Its aerial blocking capability is crucial against flying creatures, showcasing its defensive strength.
- Griffin Sentinel fits into combos that utilize untapped creatures, enhancing its utility beyond mere blocking.
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.
Text of card
Flying Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.)
Once a griffin sentinel adopts a territory as its own, only death can force it to betray its post.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Griffin Sentinel might not look like a powerhouse in gathering extra cards, but its vigilance allows it to support your card advantage indirectly. By remaining untapped after attacking, it can be used for various tap abilities or simply as an aerial blocker, which can help maintain your defenses and keep your more valuable cards safe.
Resource Acceleration: While this three mana cost flyer doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it’s a reliable addition to your battlefield. Its presence forces your opponents to consider their attacks and defenses, potentially slowing their game and giving you an edge to develop your board state and resource allocation.
Instant Speed: Griffin Sentinel doesn’t have instant speed, but its vigilance trait complements this aspect of gameplay. Since it’s always primed for action, you can freely play your instant-speed spells without worrying about leaving your defenses down, effectively giving you more freedom with your mana and reactive play during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Griffin Sentinel card doesn’t have a discard requirement, ensuring you maintain your hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting Griffin Sentinel requires one white mana and two generic mana, which could be restrictive for multi-colored decks craving a flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three for a modest 1/3 flyer, some players might find the Griffin Sentinel less impactful compared to other creatures at the same cost bracket that provide additional abilities or higher stats.
Reasons to Include Griffin Sentinel in Your Collection
Versatility: Griffin Sentinel is a flexible addition to any deck that values defense and aerial presence. Its flying ability ensures it can block most threats from the sky, while vigilance allows it to remain a constant deterrent, ready to defend turn after turn.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its vigilance trait, Griffin Sentinel pairs well with cards that capitalize on creatures being untapped. It can be included in combos that benefit from tapping or untapping creatures, while still being available to defend.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flyers are prevalent, having an accessible three-mana cost flyer like Griffin Sentinel can be crucial. It’s a dependable blocker against other airborne threats and an excellent card for slowing down aggressive strategies, making it a useful card to have on hand.
How to Beat Griffin Sentinel
The Griffin Sentinel is a classic creature card that has a place in Magic: The Gathering’s vast history of flying defenders. Its vigilant ability, which allows it to attack without tapping, makes it a steady presence on the battlefield, providing a measure of both offense and defense. When facing this card, one must consider strategic moves to bypass or eliminate this vigilant defender.
One effective strategy is to use removal spells that can target the Griffin Sentinel regardless of it being untapped, such as Murder or Doom Blade. Another approach is to leverage spells that can bypass the defender trait, like those granting trample or additional combat phases. Aerial dominance is also key; employing creatures with higher flying power can outmatch the Sentinel’s modest 1/3 stats. Cards like Lava Coil are particularly useful as they can deal with the Sentinel and render its toughness irrelevant.
Utilizing these methods allows players to navigate around Griffin Sentinel’s vigilant nature, ensuring it doesn’t become a consistent threat while maintaining the game’s momentum in your favor.
Cards like Griffin Sentinel
Griffin Sentinel stands as a vigilant protector in the skies of the Magic: The Gathering universe. Its kinship can be found in other flying defenders like Suntail Hawk, a classic one-drop with flying that shares the Sentinel’s aerial ability. However, Griffin Sentinel boasts an additional feature – vigilance. This means it can attack without tapping, keeping it ready to block incoming threats, unlike the Suntail Hawk.
Guardian of Pilgrims is another creature bearing resemblance to the Griffin Sentinel. Both bear a cost-efficient mana curve, but the sentinel offers a higher defense, trading off the Pilgrim’s initial aggressive advantage of granting another creature a power boost. A more comparable card is the Steadfast Guard, a creature card similar in mana cost and vigilance attribute; however, it’s bound to the ground, lacking the flying trait that enables Griffin Sentinel to circumvent an array of ground-based defenses.
When looking through the lens of defense-oriented fliers in the game, Griffin Sentinel keeps a unique post. With its combination of vigilance and the power to block flying creatures, it remains a reliable piece, particularly in limited formats where evasion and board control can pivot the tide of battle.
Cards similar to Griffin Sentinel by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Griffin Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2012, 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 Griffin Sentinel and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Griffin Sentinel Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by Warren Mahy.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 12 | 2003 | normal | black | Warren Mahy | |
| 2 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 21 | 2003 | normal | black | Warren Mahy | |
| 3 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 20 | 2003 | normal | black | Warren Mahy | |
| 4 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 21 | 2015 | normal | black | Warren Mahy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Griffin Sentinel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
