Ogre Sentry MTG Card

Ogre Sentry’s low cost and strong defense make it a valuable early-game blocker. Although it can’t attack, its presence influences opponent strategies and board stability. Flexible for various decks, it shines in metas where early damage prevention is key.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Ogre Warrior
Abilities Defender
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Defender

"You have to appreciate the genius of it. Why bother building defenses when you can just fill the pass with angry ogres?" —Javad Nasrin, Ondu relic hunter

Cards like Ogre Sentry

Ogre Sentry stands as a sturdy defender in the pantheon of protective creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card shares the battlefield with the likes of Wall of Omens, which also sports a high defense for a low mana cost. Unlike Wall of Omens, Ogre Sentry does not grant card draw upon entry, yet it compensates with a solid 3/3 frame for a mere two mana investment.

Another card that echoes the defensive sentiment is Guard Gomazoa. This jellyfish, too, is designed to thwart attackers, offering a flying deterrent alongside a preventative ability to negate combat damage. In comparison, Ogre Sentry lacks such aerial defense or inherent damage prevention, but it stands firm as a ground-based obstacle. Costing one mana more than Ogre Sentry, Guard Gomazoa provides a different aspect to defending strategies.

Analyzing the role of formidable blockers, Ogre Sentry presents a cost-effective choice with its simplistic yet effective role on the battlefield. Despite the absence of additional abilities, its 3 toughness are enough to turn the tide of early-game confrontations, marking its place amongst the strong defensive cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Guard Gomazoa - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Guard Gomazoa - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Ogre Sentry itself doesn’t directly provide card draw, its sturdy presence can influence opponents’ decisions, potentially leading to advantageous trades and preserving your other valuable cards on the battlefield. Moreover, it can be a key piece in maintaining defensive lines, ensuring you retain essential resources for longer periods.

Resource Acceleration: Ogre Sentry doesn’t directly accelerate your resources; however, its low casting cost aids in efficient mana expenditure in the early game. A strategic deployment could allow you to stabilize your board while saving mana for more impactful spells later on.

Instant Speed: Ogre Sentry is a creature card and hence doesn’t operate at instant speed. Nevertheless, being a 3/3 for a mere two mana means it can be summoned early, enabling quick responses to aggressive strategies. This can effectively disrupt the pace of opponents who rely on early creature dominance to secure wins.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ogre Sentry does not have a direct discard requirement, but it’s worth noting that its effectiveness might compel players to discard other cards in order to maintain a strong defensive position.

Specific Mana Cost: Ogre Sentry demands a specific mana cost of one red and one colorless, making it not as flexible for decks that aren’t strongly red-aligned or those looking to maintain a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a 3/3 creature that can’t attack, some players might find Ogre Sentry’s mana cost a bit steep for its ability, especially when there are other two-mana creatures with more versatile abilities or higher power and toughness.

Reasons to Include Ogre Sentry in Your Collection

Versatility: Ogre Sentry fits well into defensive strategies with its solid 3/3 stats for only two mana, making it a reliable early blocker against aggressive decks.

Combo Potential: This card can be an integral part of decks that capitalize on defenders or those that benefit from creatures with high toughness, enabling various synergistic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its sturdy defensive capabilities, Ogre Sentry can be particularly effective in a meta where preventing early combat damage is crucial to setting up more complex board states in later turns.

How to beat

Ogre Sentry is known for being a dependable defender in Magic: The Gathering. With a solid 3/3 stat line for a mere two mana, it stands as a formidable obstacle for early game aggressors. However, every card has its Achilles’ heel. When confronting an Ogre Sentry, the key is to employ flying or unblockable creatures that can easily bypass its defensive stance. Removal spells are also effective; a simple Shock can make quick work of the Sentry, and with many players opting for more versatile creatures, the Ogre’s lack of attack power can be a significant limitation.

Cards with trample can prove advantageous too, as they allow you to deal damage to the opponent even while the Ogre Sentry is on the board. Additionally, spells that force the Ogre Sentry to tap or become incapacitated ensure that its defense is nullified for a turn, allowing a clear path for your attackers. In essence, by utilizing evasion tactics or direct removal, players can navigate around this creature’s stalwart defense and maintain the pressure on their adversary.

Taking into account these strategies, the Ogre Sentry can be overcome with the right approach, especially when factoring in the dynamic nature of Magic: The Gathering matches and the vast array of cards at a player’s disposal.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ogre Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 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 Ogre Sentry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ogre Sentry Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2016-08-26. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1592003NormalBlackEric Deschamps
22016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1682015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ogre Sentry has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal