Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper MTG Card
Text of card
Flying, vigilance
"I was there when Phyrexia doomed Serra's realm with a single touch. I was there when Yawgmoth tried and failed to conquer Dominaria. And I will still be here when Elesh Norn lies dead."
Cards like Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper
Serra Faithkeeper is an intriguing entry in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. This card finds its kinship in terms of effect and utility with cards like Serra Angel, known for its vigilance and ability to be a flying threat without tapping. While Serra Angel is more formidable with higher attack and defense, Serra Faithkeeper brings its own charm to the battlefield with a lower casting cost and the lifelink ability, providing players with sustained resilience during the game.
Exploring other similar options, we encounter Bishop of Wings, a creature that shares the lifegain strategy but leans towards supporting Angel-type creatures exclusively. It also rewards players with a 1/1 white Spirit creature token when an Angel you control dies. Although not as directly impactful as Serra Faithkeeper in combat, it complements a broader Angel-themed strategy. Another card that often appears in discussions is Healer’s Hawk, an inexpensive creature with both lifelink and flying, offering early game advantages and consistent life gain over time even though it lacks the defensive presence of Serra Faithkeeper.
While each card serves a different strategic niche in Magic: The Gathering, Serra Faithkeeper stands out for its efficient cost-to-effect balance, making it a worthwhile consideration for decks aiming to capitalize on life gain and board presence simultaneously.
Cards similar to Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Serra Faithkeeper shines in its ability to potentially provide card advantage over the course of a game. Though it doesn’t directly draw cards, its recurring effect from the graveyard allows for repeated interactions that can outweigh a single card’s value.
Resource Acceleration: This card does not directly offer resource acceleration in the traditional sense of mana ramp. However, its low casting cost and reusability from the graveyard means it can be a persistent presence on the battlefield, effectively conserving hand resources.
Instant Speed: Serra Faithkeeper may not be an instant, but it does grant you the flexibility to manage your mana effectively. Its ability to return to the battlefield during your upkeep ensures you can leave mana open during your opponent’s turn and still contribute to your board state without sacrificing tempo.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Serra Faithkeeper poses the challenge of a discard condition, which can be a setback if your hand is already depleted or if you’re trying to maintain card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: The inclusion of white mana in its cost profile means that it’s tailored for mono-white or specific multicolor decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a variety of MTG deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that can be steep for its effects, Serra Faithkeeper competes with other cards which may provide more immediate board presence or impact at a lower cost threshold.
Reasons to Include Serra Faithkeeper in Your Collection
Versatility: Serra Faithkeeper is a well-rounded card that can integrate effortlessly into various deck builds. Its ability to benefit lifegain strategies as well as angel tribal decks makes it a versatile pick for players who enjoy adaptive gameplay.
Combo Potential: As a creature that can bolster your life total, Serra Faithkeeper works beautifully in combination with cards that thrive on high life points or those that activate abilities whenever you gain life. This creates a synergy that can turn the tide of a game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Given its affinity with popular deck archetypes and its role in counteracting aggressive strategies, Serra Faithkeeper remains a relevant choice in many meta scenarios. Its ability to affect life totals can make a significant impact against various decks circulating in the current competitive scene.
How to beat
Serra Faithkeeper is a card known for its ability to offer protection and resilience on the battlefield in the Magic: The Gathering universe. When faced with such a steadfast adversary, players must develop smart strategies to overcome its defensive capabilities. One effective tactic is employing removal spells that bypass its potential indestructible status. These could include cards that exile or force the owner to sacrifice the creature, sidestepping the protection it grants. Additionally, Serra Faithkeeper can be a linchpin in an opponent’s strategy; thus, direct counterspells or hand disruption techniques to prevent it from being played are equally viable counters.
Considering the metagame, control decks with access to versatile removal or decks that can outpace the Faithkeeper’s benefits with aggressive strategies could also minimize its impact. It’s crucial to balance your own field presence while keeping in check the advantages granted by Serra Faithkeeper. It’s about understanding the pace of your deck against that of your opponent and adjusting your plan to either race past or dismantle their defenses piece by piece.
Ultimately, when pilots come prepared with these countermeasures in their deck construction, Serra Faithkeeper becomes less of an insurmountable threat and more a piece of the puzzle to solve within the context of a dynamic and ever-evolving game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine Art Series, 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 Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Denys Tsiperko.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 21 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Denys Tsiperko | |
| 2 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 7 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Denys Tsiperko |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action. |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it. |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.” |
| 2023-04-14 | A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters. |
| 2023-04-14 | As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector. |
| 2023-04-14 | Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat. |
| 2023-04-14 | Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below). |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. |
| 2023-04-14 | In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal. |
| 2023-04-14 | Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it. |
| 2023-04-14 | Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.” |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.