Seraph of the Masses MTG Card
2014-07-18 - Number 32
2023-04-21 - Number 205
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Convoke,Flying |
| Power | * |
| Toughness | * |
Text of card
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) Flying Seraph of the Masses's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control.
Cards like Seraph of the Masses
Seraph of the Masses is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering that thrives on a board filled with allies. Its cost and strength directly correlate with the number of creatures under your control. This card resonates with Cloudgoat Ranger, another creature that gets stronger by bringing Kithkin tokens into play, boosting its power.
Triumph of the Hordes is another card that shares Seraph’s theme of leveraging the quantity of creatures you have. While not a creature itself, this spell instantly turns a crowded battlefield into a lethal threat by granting infect and a significant power boost. However, unlike the perpetual presence of Seraph, Triumph offers a one-shot deal, making timing its play crucial.
Moreover, the card Geist-Honored Monk mirrors Seraph’s attributes closely. Both have vigilance and power and toughness determined by the number of creatures you command, ensuring they scale in strength as your army grows. The Monk additionally summons spirits upon entering the battlefield, providing an instant advantage. While Seraph of the Masses requires commitment to a wide strategy for it to shine, its potential to become a game-ending threat makes it a valuable piece in decks aiming for an overwhelming presence.
Cards similar to Seraph of the Masses by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Seraph of the Masses thrives in a strategy teeming with creatures. Its unique power and toughness calculation is directly proportional to the number of creatures you control, which can easily overwhelm your opponent and provide you with a significant board presence. This can often result in you gaining an unrivaled advantage as you leverage a single card into a massive threat.
Resource Acceleration: The strength of Seraph of the Masses can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. While it doesn’t directly provide mana or tokens, it does allow you to accelerate the impact of the resources already on your field – your creatures. Each creature you summon increases the Seraph’s might, which can, in turn, expedite your victory.
Instant Speed: While Seraph of the Masses itself is not an instant, it supports and benefits from instant-speed interactions. By enabling you to summon creatures at the end of your opponent’s turn and then on your turn casting the Seraph, you can maximize its potential. Spells that create creature tokens at instant speed can significantly amplify the Seraph’s size right before it swings into combat, catching opponents unprepared.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Seraph of the Masses does not explicitly require a card to be discarded, it is important to note that any card that demands a significant number of creatures to be effective can indirectly lead to a discard-like scenario. As you tap creatures for its convoke ability, your hand may be depleted as you’re compelled to play more creatures to the field, reducing your backup options.
Specific Mana Cost: Seraph of the Masses has a mana cost requirement that includes white mana. This specificity may confine its playability to decks that run on white mana or multicolored decks that include white. Players exclusively using other colors won’t find this card fitting into their strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: This card’s cost is steep, even with the convoke ability, potentially requiring a significant number of creatures to be tapped to make it affordable. In fast-paced games or against decks that limit creature presence, harnessing the full potential of Seraph of the Masses becomes more challenging. There are alternatives that may provide a faster or more guaranteed impact on the battlefield without the reliance on a substantial creature presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Seraph of the Masses can be an integral part of decks that capitalize on creature numbers. Its ability to grow more potent with each creature you control makes it flexible for swarm strategies.
Combo Potential: This angel has great synergy with cards that generate creature tokens quickly. Combine it with proliferate mechanics or other abilities to maximize the number of creatures on your board, and its power and toughness will skyrocket accordingly.
Meta-Relevance: Seraph of the Masses shines in formats where board presence directly translates to strength. In a meta dominated by creature-based decks, having a scaling force that adjusts to the growing number of your creatures can give you a considerable edge.
How to beat
Seraph of the Masses is a unique magic the gathering card revered for its ability to become a behemoth on the battlefield proportional to your amassed creatures. Bearing the convoke mechanic, this angel gains strength from your creature-heavy strategy, making it a formidable force as the game progresses.
Confronting Seraph of the Masses effectively calls for a shift in tactics. For starters, prioritize removal spells to keep the battlefield clear and restrain the Seraph’s power crescendo. Cards like Supreme Verdict or Doom Blade disrupt the synergy needed for it to become a threat. Moreover, leveraging instant-speed spells or abilities that can counter creature spells, such as Essence Scatter or Negate, ensures that Seraph never graces the playing field.
Improving your deck’s resilience against creature-dependent cards is another angle worth considering. Employing sweepers or strategies that don’t rely heavily on creatures can neutralize the advantage Seraph of the Masses brings. Additionally, focusing on Direct Damage or Planeswalkers can help you control the game, negating the impact of this winged warrior. In essence, thorough planning and a proactive mindset are key to overcoming the holy might of Seraph of the Masses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Seraph of the Masses MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Seraph of the Masses and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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Printings
The Seraph of the Masses Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 32 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Seraph of the Masses has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Seraph of the Masses card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | As long as Seraph of the Masses is on the battlefield, its ability will count itself. |
| 2014-07-18 | The ability that defines Seraph of the Masses's power and toughness works in all zones, not just the battlefield. |
| 2021-03-19 | If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke. |
| 2021-03-19 | When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value. |
| 2021-03-19 | You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. |