Serra Bestiary MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 15
1997-03-24 - Number 60
2011-01-10 - Number 27
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
During your upkeep, pay o Wo W or bury Serra Bestiary. Target creature cannot attack, block, or use any ability that includes oc T in the activation cost.
Cards like Serra Bestiary
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Serra Bestiary is an enchantment with a unique twist on creature control. Its nearest relatives are cards like Pacifism, which also restrict your opponent’s creatures, albeit in a different manner. Serra Bestiary requires a regular upkeep cost to keep the targeted creature neutralized, a strategic element that can impact long-term game planning. Pacifism, lacking such a requirement, offers a more straightforward approach to hindering creatures.
Another enchantment worth discussing is Arrest, which not only prevents a creature from attacking or blocking like Serra Bestiary but also denies those creatures the ability to activate their abilities. This feature makes Arrest a bit more robust in disabling problematic creatures that have game-changing activated effects. Lastly, we can consider Faith’s Fetters, an enchantment that not only stops a creature in its tracks but also provides a life gain benefit. Though more expensive mana-wise, the added utility can be a pivotal factor in a match’s outcome.
Evaluating Serra Bestiary and its peers reveals the diverse strategies and trade-offs available within creature control enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, each suited to different playstyles and scenarios.
Cards similar to Serra Bestiary by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Delving into the Serra Bestiary card, players will appreciate its ability to provide significant card advantage. Drawing additional cards can shift the momentum of a match, ensuring a steady flow of options and strategic depth for any player adept at weaving together complex plays.
Resource Acceleration: Serra Bestiary also excels in resource acceleration, offering a pathway to propel players ahead of their opponents. By providing additional resources, this card can tip the scales, allowing for an impressive array of plays and a chance to outpace the competition.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Serra Bestiary as an instant-speed spell cannot be overstated. This characteristic gives the player the agility to adapt to the unfolding game, reserving crucial mana for just the right moment to disrupt the opponent’s strategy or to strengthen their position during the opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The act of playing Serra Bestiary often comes with a sizable caveat—discarding another card. This requirement can deplete your hand, potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s next moves, especially if your deck hinges on card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for a deck that can tap into white mana, Serra Bestiary’s mana cost includes the need for white mana which isn’t always available in multicolored or color-flexible decks. This makes it less versatile in a diverse meta where adaptable mana costs are favored.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an upfront payment of three mana including two white, plus an ongoing maintenance during your upkeep, Serra Bestiary is subjected to scrutiny when compared to other enchantments or creatures that could provide more immediate or consistent benefits without the recurring cost.
Reasons to Include Serra Bestiary in Your Collection
Versatility: Serra Bestiary’s enchantment nature allows it to be a strategic addition in various decks that aim to control or limit the opponent’s creature capabilities. Its ability to neutralize threats each turn makes it a flexible tool in any collection.
Combo Potential: This card works well in synergy with decks that focus on resource denial or those that benefit from creatures not untapping. It can set the stage for powerful combinations that lock down an opponent’s board while advancing your game plan.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based decks are often prevalent in various formats, Serra Bestiary can play a significant role in disrupting those strategies. Its consistent control could prove essential in a meta where creature strategies dominate.
How to beat
Serra Bestiary is a unique enchantment card in MTG that has the potential to lock down a player’s key creature, preventing it from untapping as usual during the untap step. To effectively overcome the limitations imposed by Serra Bestiary, you can employ several strategies. One approach is to utilize cards that can specifically destroy or neutralize enchantments, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, to remove the Bestiary from play and free your creature.
Another method is to rely on abilities or spells that allow untapping beyond the standard untap step. Cards with the “untap” symbol or effects like Twiddle can circumvent Serra Bestiary’s effect by untapping the creature during other phases of your turn. Additionally, you could use sacrifice effects that will let you benefit from the creature before Serra Bestiary takes effect. Cards like Diabolic Edict force an opponent to sacrifice a creature, potentially eliminating the need to deal with the Bestiary’s restriction if timed correctly.
Alternatively, when building your deck, including creatures with hexproof or shroud can preemptively protect your creatures from being targeted by spells like Serra Bestiary. Ultimately, while the Bestiary can be daunting, there are numerous ways within MTG to mitigate or completely negate its ability to handicap your game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Serra Bestiary MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Fifth Edition, 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 Serra Bestiary and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Serra Bestiary Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 15 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 60 | 1997 | Normal | White | Steve Luke | |
| 3 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 27 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Steve Luke |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Serra Bestiary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Serra Bestiary card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Does prevent the use of activated mana abilities with in the cost. |
| 2016-06-08 | Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. |