Esper Sentinel MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Human Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Esper Sentinel offers card advantage, drawing cards when opponents play their first noncreature spell each turn.
  2. It accelerates resources by forcing opponents to pay extra, allowing for strategic advantage and resource build-up.
  3. Instant speed and white color empower defenses, making Esper Sentinel a reliable card during opponent turns.

Text of card

Whenever an opponent casts their first noncreature spell each turn, draw a card unless that player pays , where X is Esper Sentinel's power.

Action: Using the reference as inspiration, we'd like you to design a soldier who is a similar mix of flesh and etherium (a magical metal found only on Esper).


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Esper Sentinel mtg is a valuable addition for players seeking to maintain card dominancy. The ability of this card to draw additional cards whenever an opponent casts their first noncreature spell each turn strengthens your grip on the game.

Resource Acceleration: Possessing the prominent trait of Resource Acceleration, Esper Sentinel mtg can bolster your game strategy by compelling opponents to pay {1} for each card in your hand when a noncreature spell lands play. This places you at a strategic advantage, building your resources while hindering the opponent.

Instant Speed: Esper Sentinel withstands the pressure of the game seamlessly, its White color further facilitating your defenses with Instant Speed. This aspect keeps you prepared for unexpected maneuvers in an opponent’s turn, promising a sound and calculative game technique.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Esper Sentinel imposes a disadvantage to players who have limited resources in their hand. If you’re constantly low on cards, the requirement to discard could pose a significant setback in your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Like many other cards, Esper Sentinel’s mana cost includes a specific color – white. This necessity could restrict its usability, predominantly in decks that lack sufficient white mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a single white mana might seem efficient at first but let’s not forget about its triggered ability. To keep drawing cards, you must always pay one mana every time your opponent casts their first noncreature spell each turn. Considering other cards in the MTG universe, the efficiency of Esper Sentinel can be questioned against cards providing immediate effects or getting more value relative to their mana costs.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Esper Sentinel showcases a versatility that promotes deck diversity. This white artifact creature’s ability to trigger whenever an opponent casts their first non-creature spell each turn, gives it an edge. Whether you’re planning to construct a defensive deck or aggro, Esper Sentinel fits the bill.

Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with artifact-oriented or white strategies, raising the combo stakes high. Its ability to draw you a card unless the opponent pays extra mana deepens the combo potential.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the present meta game trends, Esper Sentinel holds its ground firmly. It forces your opponent to rethink their strategies, thereby providing you with a tactical advantage. Esper Sentinel does more than just add power to your deck; it manipulates the field to your favor.


How to beat

Esper Sentinel in Magic: The Gathering is a card that compels many players to take pause. Known for its prowess in hindering opponents’ spell casting abilities, overcoming its effects can prove challenging. This White artifact creature possesses an intriguing ability – whenever an opponent casts their first non-creature spell each turn, they must pay X, where X is Esper Sentinel’s power or you draw a card. This mechanism acts as a roadblock, stunting the flow of spells.

Remember, the key is to restrict your opponent’s card drawing. Control your desire to cast non-creature spells, or ensure you have extra mana to pay the necessary costs if you can’t resist. Direct removal spells or attack strategies that generate high damage are effective.

Appropriately, understanding all aspects of Esper Sentinel’s abilities and use can give players the edge, plus the strategic insight to turn the tide of play. While it poses a formidable challenge, successful navigation around its spell-blocking capabilities can lead to a rewarding victory. Keep these strategies in mind for future games, and Esper Sentinel’s once daunting presence can become an asset to your win rate in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Esper Sentinel excels as a strategic asset in MTG, merging card advantage with opponent disruption. Its versatility allows seamless integration into various deck archetypes, shining in both offense and defense. However, its impact is maximized with proper mana management and when incorporated into decks that mitigate its potential downsides. The delicate balance of leveraging Esper Sentinel’s strengths while countering its weaknesses is critical. Dive deeper into strategies, synergies, and deck-building tips around this intriguing card. Enhance your gameplay and collection by embracing Esper Sentinel’s unique role in a dynamic MTG landscape. Explore more with us and thrive in your next match.


Cards like Esper Sentinel

Esper Sentinel in MTG stands as a noteworthy addition among one-drop white creatures, resonating with titans such as Mother of Runes. Both cards share a similar protective feature, though Esper Sentinel adds an exciting aspect of draw card on opponents casting. Unlike Mother of Runes, Esper Sentinel lacks the ability to grant protection but compensates with it’s card-drawing trait.

Rhystic Study serves as another noteworthy comparison. Featuring on blue side, this enchantment card presents an almost identical drawing mechanism. It is, however, more mana-intensive than Esper Sentinel, requiring two additional mana resources for use. Though Rhystic Study has a broader capacity, captivating any spell, its mana cost can hold back immediate board impact.

In contrast, Smothering Tithe, competes in this race. Functioning on a different scale, it’s focused more on generating treasure tokens instead of just drawing a card. Tithe’s mana cost is vast in comparison to Esper Sentinel, underlining the early game advantage that the latter brings to your MTG battles.

Equipped with all these comparisons, Esper Sentinel convinces MTG players with its elegant mana-cost to value relationship. Combining resource conservation with effective card drawing, it holds its own among its contemporaries.

Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Study - MTG Card versions
Smothering Tithe - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Rhystic Study - Prophecy (PCY)
Smothering Tithe - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Cards similar to Esper Sentinel by color, type and mana cost

Sunbeam Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Dispeller's Capsule - MTG Card versions
Court Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Origin Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Implement of Improvement - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Mouser - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Javelineer - MTG Card versions
Immovable Rod - MTG Card versions
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Hedgewitch's Mask - MTG Card versions
Hotshot Mechanic - MTG Card versions
Inchblade Companion - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Drawbridge - MTG Card versions
T.A.P.P.E.R. - MTG Card versions
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Yotian Frontliner - MTG Card versions
Swooping Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skrelv, Defector Mite - MTG Card versions
Basilica Skullbomb - MTG Card versions
Kor Halberd - MTG Card versions
Sunbeam Spellbomb - Mirrodin (MRD)
Dispeller's Capsule - Commander 2021 (C21)
Court Homunculus - Historic Anthology 5 (HA5)
Origin Spellbomb - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Implement of Improvement - Aether Revolt (AER)
Arcbound Mouser - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Arcbound Javelineer - Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
Immovable Rod - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Portable Hole - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate (HBG)
Hedgewitch's Mask - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Hotshot Mechanic - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Inchblade Companion - Alchemy: Kamigawa (YNEO)
Clockwork Drawbridge - Dominaria United (DMU)
T.A.P.P.E.R. - Unfinity (UNF)
Pin Collection - Unfinity (UNF)
Yotian Frontliner - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Swooping Lookout - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Skrelv, Defector Mite - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Basilica Skullbomb - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Kor Halberd - March of the Machine (MOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Esper Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like The List and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Esper Sentinel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Esper Sentinel Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-09-26The ListPLST MH2-122015normalblackEric Deschamps
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3282015normalblackEric Deschamps
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 122015normalblackEric Deschamps
42021-06-19Modern Horizons 2 PromosPMH2 12s2015normalblackEric Deschamps
52021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 752015normalblackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Esper Sentinel has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-06-18 If Esper Sentinel's has negative power when this ability resolves, then is . The opponent may still choose not to pay the cost if they want you to draw a card.
2021-06-18 If a noncreature spell was already cast by an opponent the turn Esper Sentinel enters the battlefield, that opponent already cast their first noncreature spell this turn, and Esper Sentinel's ability won't trigger for that opponent that turn.
2021-06-18 This ability checks Esper Sentinel's power when it resolves, not when the ability goes on the stack. If Esper Sentinel is no longer on the battlefield when it resolves, use the power it had the last time it was on the battlefield.

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