Serra Disciple MTG Card
2018-04-27 - Number 34
2019-11-07 - Number 224
2020-09-26 - Number DOM-34
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird Cleric |
| Abilities | First strike,Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying, first strike Whenever you cast a historic spell, Serra Disciple gets +1/+1 until end of turn. (Artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas are historic.)
Theologians now believe the Ancestor was another divine form of Serra.
Cards like Serra Disciple
Serra Disciple finds its place in the collection of creature cards designed to synergize with historic spells in Magic: The Gathering. This flyer echoes the abilities of cards like Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle, which rewards you for playing historic spells by returning target creature cards from the graveyard to the battlefield. Unlike Teshar, Serra Disciple focuses on quick boosts, gaining a temporary lift in power and toughness with each historic spell you cast.
Diving deeper into comparisons, we see Baird, Steward of Argive as another card with historic synergy, albeit with different effect, imposing an additional cost on your opponent’s creatures to attack. While Serra Disciple excels in aggressive strategies with a penchant for flying creatures, Baird offers a more defensive approach to take advantage of historic spells. Additionally, Kwende, Pride of Femeref stands out by giving double strike to creatures with first strike. Unlike Serra Disciple, which benefits immediately and individually, Kwende seeks a wider battlefield impact over time.
Thus, when evaluating the utility and adaptability of creatures thriving on historic synergies, Serra Disciple is a card to consider for decks that focus on fast, impactful plays and favor aerial combat tactics within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Serra Disciple by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Serra Disciple brings a unique blend to the battlefield with its ability to empower your other spells. Each time you cast a historic spell, Serra Disciple gains a vital edge with a +1/+1 boost until end of turn, potentially tipping the scales in your favor and maintaining a presence on the board that cannot be ignored.
Resource Acceleration: This eager flier seamlessly fits into decks focusing on Artifacts, Legendaries, or Sagas, known as historic spells. Its low casting cost means you can deploy it early while continuously developing your mana base and strategic plays without missing a beat in your curve.
Instant Speed: Although Serra Disciple is not an instant itself, it deeply synergizes with decks that contain a plethora of instants and other historic spells. Its ability to gain first strike until end of turn gives it a combat prowess that can be leveraged instantly, making it a formidable obstacle for opponents during combat phases.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Serra Disciple can be a boon in the right deck, players should be aware it does not have a direct discard requirement. However, as a creature that benefits from historic spells, finding an efficient balance between creature spells and non-creature historic spells can indirectly dictate discards to optimally leverage its abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: Serra Disciple requires both white mana and generic mana for casting, which means that in multicolor decks, having the precise mana combination available when you need it can be challenging. The specific mana requirement aligns with its thematic design but can limit flexibility in deck construction.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively modest 1/1 stat line for two mana, some argue that Serra Disciple’s cost is a bit steep. Considering other creatures in the game, you might find ones that provide a better stat-to-mana cost ratio, even though they might lack the flying or first strike keywords or the synergy with historic spells.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Serra Disciple shines in decks that play a significant number of historic spells, offering both an immediate and an ongoing benefit for each artifact, saga, and legendary spell you cast. This flexibility allows it to serve as a resilient threat in a wide variety of deck types.
Combo Potential: With its ability to gain flying and first strike until end of turn, Serra Disciple can be a key component in combos that capitalize on combat tricks or equipment synergies. Pairing it with cards that enable multiple casts in a turn can quickly escalate its power on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aerial threats and early aggressive strategies are prevalent, Serra Disciple can assert dominance by taking to the skies and trading up with its first-strike capability. This makes it a potent addition to decks seeking to outpace opponents with rapid, evasive damage.
How to beat
Serra Disciple is a unique card to face in MTG, offering both flying and first strike abilities, which can be a challenge to overcome. However, cards that can deal damage without engaging in combat, like Lightning Bolt or Shock, can take down Serra Disciple without giving it the chance to utilize its first strike capability.
Additionally, employing flying blockers can negate the advantage Serra Disciple has in the air. Cards such as Wind Drake not only serve as excellent defensive tools but can also provide offensive pressure to redirect your opponent’s strategy. Moreover, enchantment removal spells such as Naturalize help strip away any buffs that Serra Disciple may gather from other cards, reducing its impact on the game.
Moreover, board wipes like Wrath of God can effortlessly clear Serra Disciple along with any other creatures on the board, leveling the playing field without needing to engage the Disciple directly. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Serra Disciple, players can adapt their deck strategies to effectively counter it during matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Serra Disciple MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Mystery Booster, 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 Disciple 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 Serra Disciple Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Victor Adame Minguez.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 224 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DOM-34 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Serra Disciple has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Serra Disciple card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-27 | A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn’t make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn’t. |
| 2018-04-27 | An ability that triggers “whenever you cast a historic spell” doesn’t trigger if a historic card is put onto the battlefield without being cast. |
| 2018-04-27 | Lands are never cast, so abilities that trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell” won’t trigger if you play a legendary land. They also won’t trigger if a card on the battlefield transforms into a legendary land, as the Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan double-faced cards do. |
| 2018-04-27 | Some abilities trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell.” Such an ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |