Selenia, Dark Angel MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 270
2015-05-06 - Number 210
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Angel |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying Selenia, Dark Angel counts as an Angel. Pay 2 life: Return Selenia to owner's hand.
"I am light. I am dark. I must give my life to serve; not even death can release me." —Selenia, dark angel
Cards like Selenia, Dark Angel
In the vast world of Magic: The Gathering, Selenia, Dark Angel stands out as an iconic blend of versatility and resilience. A fellow card that mirrors its purpose is Restoration Angel. Both are creatures with flying, allowing for powerful aerial control. Selenia, however, boasts a unique pay life cost to return to its owner’s hand, thus evading many forms of removal. Restoration Angel doesn’t share this quality but instead offers a flicker effect, momentarily exiling creatures for strategic maneuvers.
Another card to consider in tandem with Selenia is Archangel Avacyn. She not only flaunts flying but vigilance as well, and comes with a transformative surprise that can sweep the board. While Archangel Avacyn has a higher impact capability, it lacks Selenia’s tactical evasiveness. Additionally, Malakir Rebirth is a spell with a trick similar to Selenia’s self-preservation, offering instant protection at a lower cost but as a one-off event.
Each card has its niche, but Selenia, Dark Angel offers that intriguing mix of repeatable evasion and aggression that can pivot games into your favor, making it a unique contender in its category within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Selenia, Dark Angel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Selenia, Dark Angel offers dynamic play options that can directly impact card advantage. With its ability to dodge removal by returning to your hand, it ensures you retain a significant threat without losing card equity on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Although Selenia itself does not provide direct resource acceleration, it supports strategies that benefit from having a high life total. Its synergy with cards and mechanisms that exploit life points can lead to accelerated game play and powerful board states.
Instant Speed: Selenia’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, offering flexibility and surprise elements to your strategy. Its capacity to bounce back to your hand can be activated in response to various spells or during combat, making it a versatile piece in any engagement.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Selenia, Dark Angel requires you to pay 2 life and return her to your hand, which can leave you without a blocker and diminish your life total. This becomes particularly disadvantageous against aggressive decks that capitalize on reducing your life swiftly.
Specific Mana Cost: Her casting cost demands a precise combination of white and black mana, which may not easily slot into more versatile or multi-color decks that could benefit from her abilities. Players must carefully consider their mana base to accommodate her.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana to get Selenia on the battlefield, players might find her somewhat costly, particularly since MTG offers other angelic options with impactful abilities for the same or lower mana investment. This can lead to suboptimal tempo, especially in formats where efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Selenia, Dark Angel’s flying ability makes her an excellent defender against creatures without reach or flying. Moreover, her ability to pay 2 life to return her to her owner’s hand makes her a flexible choice for dodging removal or surprising your opponent.
Combo Potential: This card fits neatly into life manipulation decks, particularly with the use of cards that benefit from life payments or life total exchanges, thus enabling various powerful combo plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where commander strategies and life total manipulation are ever-present, Selenia, Dark Angel holds her ground as a strong contender. Her presence can pivot the balance in games, especially in metas that reward complex and adaptive gameplay.
How to beat
Selenia, Dark Angel presents a unique challenge to players in Magic: The Gathering due to her flying ability and the potential to be a major threat when handling life totals. When facing this card, it’s advantageous to control the board with removal spells that can target flying creatures or use abilities that don’t specify target types, such as global board wipes.
Removal spells like Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile are efficient ways to deal with Selenia, removing her from the game before her life-swapping ability can become troublesome. It’s also helpful to disrupt the combo pieces often paired with Selenia. Cards like Torment of Hailfire or Exsanguinate can close out the game when combined with her ability to manipulate life totals. Counterspells are another solid strategy, preventing your opponent from shifting the balance in their favor.
Lastly, stay vigilant against the life manipulation strategies that accompany Selenia. Keeping track of your life total and your opponent’s access to mana can inform your decisions on whether to counterplay or push for a more aggressive strategy to close out the game swiftly before Selenia’s abilities can turn the tide.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Selenia, Dark Angel MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Selenia, Dark Angel 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
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Printings
The Selenia, Dark Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Matthew D. Wilson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 270 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Matthew D. Wilson | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 210 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matthew D. Wilson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Selenia, Dark Angel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |