Sea Eagle MTG Card
1999-07-01 - Number 50
2000-04-01 - Number 18
2003-07-28 - Number S4
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying
Where air meets water, fish meets talon.
Cards like Sea Eagle
Sea Eagle from Magic: The Gathering flutters into the realm of low-cost flying creatures, reminiscent of other winged entries such as Healer’s Hawk and Faerie Miscreant. What Sea Eagle brings to the table is its cost-efficient flying trait which for two mana offers a 1/1 creature that can often evade ground defenses effortlessly.
The Healer’s Hawk, albeit just one mana, not only flies but also boasts lifelink, providing a dual threat as it both pressures the opponent and stabilizes your life total. Meanwhile, the Faerie Miscreant adds utility by potentially drawing a card, adding a layer of advantage when more than one is in play. Although lacking additional abilities, Sea Eagle’s strength lies in its blue identity, which can be pivotal in decks that emphasize on flying synergies or tribal bonuses with birds or drakes.
Despite its simplicity, Sea Eagle’s role in bolstering aerial strategies shouldn’t be underestimated. As part of a flier-focused deck, it can provide an early and consistent presence in the skies, enabling more sophisticated plays as the game progresses.
Cards similar to Sea Eagle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sea Eagle comes into play with a peck at your opponent’s hand, permitting a glance at their strategic plans and an opportunity to discard a nonland card of your choice. This interaction allows you to disrupt their tactics while enhancing your knowledge of their resources, a form of card advantage that keeps you one step ahead.
Resource Acceleration: Upon swooping into the battlefield, Sea Eagle may not provide direct resource acceleration through treasure tokens, but it can pave the way for smoother plays ahead. By potentially discarding a key piece from your adversary’s grip, you ensure that your subsequent turns are met with less resistance, thereby speeding up your own game plan.
Instant Speed: With the agility of an avian predator, Sea Eagle can be summoned at instant speed, offering you the flexibility to adapt and react to threats or opportunities at the most tactical moment. Whether it’s end of turn or mid-combat, this swift winged creature ensures your mana is never idle if there’s no need for immediate action.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sea Eagle’s effectiveness is somewhat diminished by a mandatory discard clause. This means whenever you wish to deploy this card onto the battlefield, you’re compelled to part with another card in your hand. This trade-off can put you at a disadvantage, especially in tense moments when your hand size is critical for maintaining your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting of Sea Eagle demands a precise combination of mana types. Notably, it requires blue mana, which can be restrictive. Decks not aligned with blue mana sources or those running multiple colors might find it challenging to consistently meet the card’s mana requirements without compromising their mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Sea Eagle offers distinct airborne capabilities, its casting cost is on the higher side when compared to other creatures with similar abilities. Players often look for cost-effective options, and in the case of Sea Eagle, the mana investment may not match up favorably against alternatives with lower costs or those that offer additional benefits beyond just flying.
Reasons to Include Sea Eagle in Your Collection
Versatility: Sea Eagle offers flexibility for decks that require an early threat in the air. Its flying ability makes it a dependable option for evasion tactics, fitting seamlessly into various aggressive blue strategies.
Combo Potential: This card works well with synergistic effects that capitalize on flying creatures such as favorable winds or cards that benefit from having multiple creatures with flying on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta frequently adjusts to the dominance of ground-based creatures, having Sea Eagle in your collection provides an inexpensive way to gain an aerial advantage, potentially outmaneuvering popular deck archetypes focused on terrestrial power.
How to beat
Overcome the soaring threat of Sea Eagle in Magic: The Gathering with strategic plays. This avian creature card may not appear formidable at first glance, given its low casting cost and modest abilities, but in the right deck it can be a persistent nuisance. Assess your removal options – spells that can target flying creatures or those that deal damage irrespective of a creature’s abilities will be crucial here. Cheap, efficient removal like Shock or Fatal Push can handily dispose of Sea Eagle before it can cause too much trouble.
Alternatively, enhancing your own aerial defenses can be a sound strategy. Utilization of cards with reach or your own flyers can block Sea Eagle effectively, nullifying the aerial advantage it seeks to establish. Don’t let its simplicity deceive you; with a focused game plan, you can readily clip the wings of this unassuming adversary. Stick to your removal spells and blockers, and Sea Eagle’s impact will be minimal, ensuring you maintain control of the skies and the game.
Understanding when to remove a threat or when to build a stronger board presence is key to victory. Keeping Sea Eagle in check will allow you to dominate the tempo and pace, leading your deck to triumph as you navigate the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sea Eagle MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999 and Starter 2000, 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 Sea Eagle and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Sea Eagle Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-07-01 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by Anthony S. Waters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 50 | 1997 | Normal | White | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 2 | 2000-04-01 | Starter 2000 | S00 | 18 | 1997 | Normal | White | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | S4 | 2003 | Normal | White | Anthony S. Waters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sea Eagle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |