Serpent of the Endless Sea MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Creature — Serpent |
Released | 2009-07-17 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Magic 2010 |
Set code | M10 |
Power | * |
Toughness | * |
Number | 70 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Kieran Yanner |
Text of card
Serpent of the Endless Sea's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Islands you control. Serpent of the Endless Sea can't attack unless defending player controls an Island.
Cards like Serpent of the Endless Sea
The Serpent of the Endless Sea represents a unique creature card in the Magic: The Gathering realm. Its oceanic nature aligns it with other sea creatures, but its attributes place it in a league of its own. Comparable cards might include Inkwell Leviathan, a creature of similar aquatic might. Inkwell Leviathan also boasts an intimidating presence in the maritime milieu of the game, with a shroud ability that renders it immune to targeted spells. However, the Serpent of the Endless Sea brings a different angle with its varied abilities contingent upon the number of islands you control.
Another similar card worth mentioning is the Stormtide Leviathan. Both cards encapsulate the grandeur and dominance of deep-sea beings, yet they differ in abilities. Stormtide Leviathan imposes a hindrance on creatures unable to swim by making all lands islands and restricting attacks to only flyers or islandwalkers. The advantage of the Serpent lies in its scalability; it flourishes in a deck rich with islands, potentially growing to overwhelm your opponent.
Ultimately, while there are several Leviathans and sea monsters in Magic: The Gathering, the Serpent of the Endless Sea has distinguishing features that could be pivotal in blue-centric control decks, specifically designed to exploit a battlefield strewn with islands.
Cards similar to Serpent of the Endless Sea by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Serpent of the Endless Sea allows you to delve deeper into your deck, providing access to crucial spells and increasing your hand options. By offering reliable card draw mechanics, it ensures that you sustain the upper hand against your adversary.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable sea creature often comes with mechanisms that untap lands or generate additional mana, thereby significantly ramping up your resources. This acceleration can prove pivotal in outpacing your opponents and unleashing more powerful spells earlier in the game.
Instant Speed: Although creatures typically cannot be cast at instant speed, the Serpent of the Endless Sea may feature flash or enable other effects that can be activated on the fly. This adaptability allows for reactive play, empowering you to make moves during your opponent’s turn and maintain the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Serpent of the Endless Sea necessitates a card to be discarded upon activation of certain abilities. This can be particularly challenging when your hand is depleted, making it hard to maintain card advantage and momentum in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a strict color requirement, this card demands a significant blue mana commitment. This could potentially restrict its integration, making it less versatile across various deck archetypes that might not support heavy blue mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: To cast Serpent of the Endless Sea, players must allocate a considerable amount of mana, which could lead to a slower gameplay approach. In scenarios where tempo is crucial, this may result in a disadvantage as other cards could provide similar benefits at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Serpent of the Endless Sea in Your Collection
Versatility: Serpent of the Endless Sea adapts well to various blue-centric strategies that value both board presence and thematic resonance. It’s a creature card that can make a splash in both casual sea-monster-themed decks and more competitive environments where evasion is key.
Combo Potential: This serpent enhances decks that play around with creature type interactions or benefit from having high-powered creatures under your control. It can be a crucial component in triggering powerful synergies or unlocking combo finishes.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where large creatures can dominate, having a potent sea serpent can be decisive. Its ability to interact with the current gameplay landscape means it can often find a place in sideboards or even main decks, depending on the prevalence of certain strategies.
How to beat
The Serpent of the Endless Sea card can prove to be a slippery challenge for many duelists in the eclectic realms of Magic: The Gathering. This aquatic behemoth often demands immediate attention due to its formidable presence on the battlefield. To successfully navigate against such a card, strategic removal spells are key. Cards like Path to Exile offer a straightforward solution, allowing you to exile the Serpent, bypassing its potentially high toughness. Board wipes, such as Wrath of God, can also sweep the problem away in one fell swoop, ensuring the aquatic threat doesn’t resurface any time soon.
Counterplay is another effective tactic. While the Serpent slithers into play, countering it with spells like Cancel or Essence Scatter can prevent it from ever making a splash. If the Serpent has already docked at your opponent’s board, enchantments such as Pacifism or Deep Freeze can render the creature harmless, effectively anchoring it without dealing with its possibly extensive bulk. Lastly, don’t overlook the importance of card advantage and draw spells to cycle through your deck to find these solutions, ensuring you have the upper hand against the vastness of the Endless Sea.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Serpent of the Endless Sea MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010, 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 Serpent of the Endless Sea 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Serpent of the Endless Sea has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |