Sefris of the Hidden Ways MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 326
2021-07-23 - Number 3
2021-07-23 - Number 3
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
| Abilities | Venture into the dungeon |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever one or more creature cards are put into your graveyard from anywhere, venture into the dungeon. This ability triggers only once each turn. Create Undead — Whenever you complete a dungeon, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Cards like Sefris of the Hidden Ways
Sefris of the Hidden Ways has carved its niche within the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a commander particularly synergistic with the dungeon delving mechanic introduced in the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms set. It stands shoulder to shoulder with other dungeon-oriented commanders like Nadaar, Selfless Paladin. While Nadaar dashes headfirst into dungeons each time it attacks, offering a steady progression, Sefris bides its time until a creature’s demise to explore these subterranean labyrinths. The approach is different, but both cater to players who relish advancing through dungeons to reap their rewards.
Similar dynamics can be observed with Acererak the Archlich, albeit with a twist. Acererak offers a direct method to complete dungeons with its ability to venture into them upon entering the battlefield, without the need for the usual prerequisite of a creature’s death or combat maneuver. Acererak is a standalone powerhouse capable of dungeon completion without the reliance on other cards, contrasting with Sefris, which promotes a strategy built on creature sacrifice and reanimation.
Delving into these comparisons, Sefris of the Hidden Ways presents an interesting interplay of graveyard manipulation and adventure, securing its position as a formidable option for players who enjoy a more strategic and nuanced approach to dungeon exploration in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Sefris of the Hidden Ways by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sefris of the Hidden Ways excels in providing players with a steady flow of card advantage, particularly in strategies revolving around milling or self-mill. This commander’s ability triggers whenever one or more creature cards are put into your graveyard from anywhere, which effectively turns each creature card entering the graveyard into a potential draw engine, keeping your hand replenished.
Resource Acceleration: Besides card draw, Sefris facilitates resource acceleration through the creation of 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens with its dungeon venturing mechanic. These tokens not only serve as blockers but can also be used in combination with various sacrificial outlets to ramp up mana or fuel other synergies within your strategy, adding more layers to your game plan.
Instant Speed: While Sefris itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the dungeons that it ventures into can be completed at instant speed with the right card interactions. This allows you to maneuver around your opponents’ plays and strategically gain the upper hand by completing dungeon rooms such as creating a treasure token, scrying, or bringing creatures back from the graveyard at the most opportune moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sefris of the Hidden Ways demands precise setup to utilize its full potential. Not only do you need a way to regularly discard or mill cards, but you must also craft a deck that can capitalize on the resurrecting mechanic, which could be cumbersome if your hand is already strained.
Specific Mana Cost: Clocking in with a precise mana requirement that includes white, blue, and black, Sefris can be tricky to cast on curve, especially in a format where mana fixing is less consistent. This restricts the card to specific three-color decks and can’t be as flexibly splashed in others.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost set at four (one white, one blue, one black, and one generic), this legendary creature may come out too slow against the backdrop of low-cost, high-impact commanders. This cost factor makes it vulnerable in fast-paced games where early dominance is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sefris of the Hidden Ways offers adaptability across various deck builds, thriving in strategies that harness graveyard manipulation and creature recurrence.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to trigger ventures into the dungeon when a creature hits the graveyard unlocks unique combos and synergies, especially with cards that allow you to repeatedly sacrifice creatures for value.
Meta-Relevance: Given its utility in reanimation strategies, Sefris of the Hidden Ways can be a key player in the current gameplay if it leans towards graveyard-based mechanics or any strategy that profit from maximizing dungeon ventures.
How to Beat Sefris of the Hidden Ways
Sefris of the Hidden Ways is a unique commander that thrives on venturing into the dungeon, a mechanic that requires a strategy centered around triggering when creatures die or are put into a graveyard from anywhere. To impede Sefris players, target the strategies that enable the venture into the dungeon. This includes preventing creatures from hitting the graveyard through exile effects or employing graveyard hate cards that can suppress or remove graveyard interactions altogether.
Techniques such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can be potent since they remove the graveyard play element, which is crucial for Sefris’s trigger. Exiling creatures as they die with cards like Scavenging Ooze ensures that Sefris’s ability never gets a chance to activate. Additionally, countering key spells that lead to self-mill or reanimation can also stall the Sefris player’s game plan, giving you the upper hand. Keeping a constant check on the graveyard and employing exile tactics will compromise the Sefris deck’s functionality and lead you towards victory.
In essence, maintaining control over the graveyard and carefully picking moments to counter or remove creatures are the secrets to outplaying a deck wielding Sefris of the Hidden Ways. Keep the pressure on and the pathways hidden, and Sefris’s strategies will unravel in your favor.
BurnMana Recommendations
Diving into the MTG realm with cards like Sefris of the Hidden Ways opens up vast strategic avenues. Excelling in card advantage and synergy through self-milling, creating evasive zombies, and weaving instant-speed dungeon ventures adds depth to your gameplay. Align your deck to capitalize on these strengths for a truly formidable setup. Should you find yourself intrigued by the interplay of the reanimation tactic and the enduring allure of dungeon delving in MTG, or seek to outmaneuver opponents using Sefris’s unique mechanics, we’re here to guide you through these cryptic passages. Visit us for deeper insights and optimal strategies to enhance your collection and conquer the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sefris of the Hidden Ways MTG card by a specific set like Forgotten Realms Commander and Forgotten Realms Commander Display Commanders, 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 Sefris of the Hidden Ways and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Sefris of the Hidden Ways Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 326 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander Display Commanders | OAFC | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sefris of the Hidden Ways has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sefris of the Hidden Ways card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | A player may only have one dungeon in the command zone at a time. |
| 2021-07-23 | Choosing the dungeon or room to venture into is part of resolving the venture into the dungeon keyword action. Once that choice is made, players may not respond until after the appropriate room ability has triggered. |
| 2021-07-23 | Dungeon cards are not part of a player's deck or sideboard. In both constructed and limited formats, players can use any dungeon card when they venture into the dungeon. |
| 2021-07-23 | Dungeons are removed from the game as a state-based action. |
| 2021-07-23 | If you somehow venture into the dungeon while a room's ability is on the stack, you will continue on in the dungeon. If you're already in the last room, complete that dungeon and start a new one. |
| 2021-07-23 | Moving into a dungeon room will cause its room ability to trigger. |
| 2021-07-23 | Once you resolve the last room ability of a dungeon, that dungeon is now completed and is removed from the game. |
| 2021-07-23 | Sefris of the Hidden Ways' first ability looks only at the type the card has in the graveyard, not the type it had in any other zone. For example, animated lands dying won't cause the ability to trigger. The opposite is also true. For example, if a creature that was cast as an Adventure is countered, it's a creature card in the graveyard and the first ability will trigger. |
| 2021-07-23 | The player venturing into the dungeon chooses which dungeon they will venture into. They may choose a dungeon that they have already completed this game. |
| 2021-07-23 | To venture into the dungeon, a player moves their venture marker into the next room of the dungeon they are currently in. If they aren't currently in a dungeon, that player instead chooses a dungeon card from outside the game, puts it into the command zone, and moves their venture marker onto the first room. |
| 2021-07-23 | You can only move forward (well, downward) in a dungeon, never backwards or sideways. |
| 2021-09-24 | Sefris of the Hidden Ways must be on the battlefield for its first ability to trigger. It does not trigger when Sefris goes to the graveyard from the battlefield, even if other creature cards also went to the graveyard at the same time. |