Mogg Sentry MTG Card

Mogg Sentry pressures opponents, altering their strategy for an indirect card advantage and pacing benefit. Instant speed responses allow Mogg Sentry to grow significantly during the opponent’s turn, ready for action. Despite its power, strategic play with patience and control is key to overcoming Mogg Sentry’s presence.

Planeshift (PLS)
2001-02-05 - Number 69

Eighth Edition (8ED)
2003-07-28 - Number 203

Eighth Edition (8ED)
2003-07-28 - Number 203★

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 204

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 204★

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Goblin Warrior
Power	1
Toughness	1

Text of card

Whenever an opponent plays a spell, Mogg Sentry gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

"Nobody stands in one place better than a mogg." —Tahngarth

Cards like Mogg Sentry

Mogg Sentry holds a unique spot in the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to grow stronger whenever an opponent casts a spell makes it akin to cards like Managorger Hydra. However, unlike Managorger Hydra, which receives a +1/+1 counter each time any player casts a spell, Mogg Sentry’s power boost is exclusively triggered by opponents’ actions, emphasizing its defensive nature against spell-heavy strategies.

Comparably, we see an interesting parallel with Thornscape Battlemage. Although Thornscape also thrives against certain strategies by providing a choice of abilities when it enters the battlefield, Mogg Sentry focuses consistently on becoming an aggressive guardian against spell-slinging opponents. Furthermore, its low casting cost makes it a nimble option for red deck players seeking early game board presence.

When examining these cards side by side, Mogg Sentry emerges as a solid creature for decks that capitalize on reacting to opponents’ moves, weaving seamlessly into a strategy that pressures foes to think twice before casting spells. It competes well within its niche, delivering specific advantages for those looking to tailor their deck towards a meta weighted with non-creature spells.

Thornscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mogg Sentry by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mogg Sentry’s ability to grow stronger with each spell your opponent plays can pressure opponents into altering their strategy. This can indirectly lead to card advantage as the opponent may need to use more resources to deal with the beefed-up Sentry or hold back on spells, providing you with a pacing advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Mogg Sentry itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its presence can slow down your opponent’s spell casting. It fits well in decks focused on quick mana buildup, providing deterrent early in the game and capitalizing on fast resource acceleration strategies.

Instant Speed: The Sentry’s response triggers at instant speed whenever your opponent casts a spell. This allows it to become a formidable creature without having to wait for your own turn. It’s especially effective against decks that cast numerous spells in a single turn, as it can rapidly grow to a considerable size, ready to attack or defend as soon as your turn arrives.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Mogg Sentry doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, but leveraging its ability requires you to hold onto cards to play multiple spells in one turn, which can feel like a pseudo discard if you’re forced to play inefficiently.

Specific Mana Cost: Mogg Sentry needs a red mana to cast, which means it will predominantly fit into decks with a red mana base, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color or colorless strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though costing a single red mana seems economical, the real cost of Mogg Sentry comes into play when you consider the requirement to trigger its ability. It necessitates additional spells to be cast during an opponent’s turn, which can escalate the true cost of getting value from this card, overshadowing its initial low mana investment.

Reasons to Include Mogg Sentry in Your Collection

Versatility: Mogg Sentry can seamlessly adapt to different red-based strategies. Its low casting cost makes it a suitable choice for aggressive decks aiming for a quick victory.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with decks that aim to control or manipulate the number of spells played. It grows stronger with each spell your opponent casts, making it an under-the-radar threat.

Meta-Relevance: In gaming environments where opponents frequently play multiple spells per turn, Mogg Sentry can unexpectedly become a powerhouse. It aligns well with metas where tempo plays are essential, providing a significant advantage.

How to beat

Mogg Sentry is a card that thrives on the element of surprise in the strategic depths of MTG. This creature becomes a formidable force when your opponent plays three or more spells in a single turn, as its power grows exponentially. But like every card in MTG, Mogg Sentry has its Achilles’ heel. The key to overcoming this fiery goblin is a strategic playstyle that emphasizes patience and precision. Instead of casting multiple spells in one turn, parse them out. Take on a methodical approach, deploying your spells across multiple turns. This will hinder the Sentry’s power boost and keep it within range of your removal spells.

Another effective strategy is to utilize control elements. Counterspells, for example, prevent your opponent’s spells from ever hitting the battlefield, thus protecting your creatures and health while also keeping Mogg Sentry from awakening its full potential. Direct damage spells can also be valuable, enabling you to remove Mogg Sentry before your opponent has the chance to bait out your spells in bulk. Additionally, creature-based strategies can be employed; by maintaining a steady board presence, you can pressure your opponent without overcommitting to spell plays that trigger the Sentry’s growth.

In sum, confronting Mogg Sentry requires savvy, controlled gameplay. Resist the temptation to unleash a barrage of spells in a single turn, use counters and removal to your advantage, and keep the pressure steady with your creatures. Understanding and interrupting the strategy your opponent seeks to deploy with Mogg Sentry is crucial to claiming victory in your MTG matchups.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mogg Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift and Eighth Edition, 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 Mogg Sentry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mogg Sentry Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2001-02-05	Planeshift	PLS	69	1997	Normal	Black	Edward P. Beard, Jr.
2	2003-07-28	Eighth Edition	8ED	203	2003	Normal	White	Greg Staples
3	2003-07-28	Eighth Edition	8ED	203★	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Staples
4	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	204	2003	Normal	White	Greg Staples
5	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	204★	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mogg Sentry has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal