Ageless Sentinels MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender,Flying |
| Released | 2003-05-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scourge |
| Set code | SCG |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 1 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Tony Szczudlo |
Key Takeaways
- Ageless Sentinels generates card advantage by shifting roles from defense to offense during the game.
- Defender synergies and wall tribal decks benefit from Ageless Sentinels’ early game defensive presence.
- Instant speed threshold activation allows Ageless Sentinels to surprise opponents and adapt to game changes.
Text of card
(Walls can't attack.) Flying When Ageless Sentinels blocks, its creature type becomes Giant Bird. (It's no longer a Wall. This effect doesn't end at end of turn.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ageless Sentinels shines in its ability to tangentially generate card advantage. As it shifts from a stalwart defender into a potent flying attacker, it can change the dynamics on the board, forcing opponents to deal with a new threat and potentially drawing out removal spells that could have targeted more pivotal cards in your strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to resource acceleration, Ageless Sentinels can be a keystone in decks that capitalize on defender synergies or wall tribal, indirectly accelerating your game plan by holding off early aggression and allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere to advance your board state.
Instant Speed: Although Ageless Sentinels operates at sorcery speed, the magic of this card lies in its transformation ability. In response to achieving threshold—which can happen at instant speed if conditions are met—you can turn this unsuspecting wall into a formidable flying creature. This feature grants you the flexibility to adapt to the changing state of the game and catch your opponent off guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ageless Sentinels requires you to sacrifice other permanents, an action that can put you at a disadvantage if you’re struggling to maintain board presence or running low on cards.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that necessitates white mana, this card is typically restricted to decks that run that color, potentially limiting its inclusion in multi-color strategies that don’t heavily feature white.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment to cast Ageless Sentinels is notably hefty when considering the card’s overall impact. For the same mana value, players could cast spells or summon creatures with more immediate and potentially game-changing effects.
Reasons to Include Ageless Sentinels in Your Collection
Versatility: Ageless Sentinels is a card that offers flexibility in defensive deck builds. Its ability to become an indestructible Wall allows it to withstand most combat scenarios, making it a fit for decks that aim to stabilize the board early on.
Combo Potential: This card holds potential for synergies with strategies that capitalize on toughness or creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. When paired with cards that can switch power and toughness, Ageless Sentinels can become an unexpected offensive threat.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are common, Ageless Sentinels provides a robust line of defense. It proves especially relevant in formats where long-term board control is crucial to outlasting your opponents.
How to beat
Contending with Ageless Sentinels in a game of Magic: The Gathering can be a challenge for any player. This card, emblematic of defensive maneuvers, has the notable ability to block attacks effectively while being impervious to damage thanks to its indestructible trait. To successfully navigate around this formidable wall, strategic play is essential.
One effective tactic is to employ spells or abilities that target a player’s lawful right to declare attackers or blockers, such as “tap target creature” spells, which can prevent the Ageless Sentinels from blocking. Alternatively, utilizing cards that change a creature’s combat abilities, like those that remove indestructible or detain creatures, can also be a savvy move. Additionally, since Ageless Sentinels can hinder player strategies that revolve around damage, looking at cards that don’t deal damage but instead cause loss of life or mandate sacrifices can circumvent its defenses.
Ultimately, even against the steadfastness of Ageless Sentinels, by diversifying your strategy and including cards that offer alternative paths to victory, you can adeptly tackle this obstacle and maintain the momentum towards your win-condition.
Cards like Ageless Sentinels
Ageless Sentinels stands as a unique defender in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This card transforms into a Giant creature with flying when it blocks, making it kin to cards like Wall of Reverence, which also offers a defensive position with a creature-type twist. Yet, Ageless Sentinels has the surprise factor of not only stopping foes but also becoming airborne aggression on a successful block.
When comparing it to similar defenders like Wall of Frost, which freezes a creature upon blocking, Ageless Sentinels shifts the dynamic from mere obstruction to potential offense. Furthermore, we have Guardians of Meletis, which, akin to Ageless Sentinels, showcases a reliable toughness but lacks the transformative attack power. Ageless Sentinels capitalizes on its ability to serve dual roles: initial defense followed by a significant threat once it turns into a 4/4 Giant with flying.
Thus, Ageless Sentinels creatively elevates the standard for defensive play in Magic: The Gathering, offering both a shield in early turns and a sword when the opportunity arises, blending the static role of a Wall with the dramatic offensive shift that can turn the tide of a game.
Cards similar to Ageless Sentinels by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ageless Sentinels MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Ageless Sentinels 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ageless Sentinels has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ageless Sentinels card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | It becomes both creature type Giant and creature type Bird. |
| 2005-08-01 | Once it stops being a Wall, it can attack because it also loses Defender. |