Serrated Arrows MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 110
1996-05-02 - Number mj110sb
1996-05-02 - Number ll110
1996-05-02 - Number et110sb
1996-05-02 - Number ll110sb
1996-05-02 - Number pp110sb
1996-05-02 - Number ml110sb
1996-05-02 - Number gb110sb
1997-08-13 - Number pm110sb
2006-10-06 - Number 114
2014-12-05 - Number 20
2019-11-07 - Number 1626
2002-06-24 - Number 35116
2020-09-26 - Number DDD-20
| Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
When Serrated Arrows comes into play, put three arrowhead counters on it. During your upkeep, bury Serrated Arrows if there are no arrowhead counters on it. oc T: Remove an arrowhead counter from Serrated Arrows to put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Cards like Serrated Arrows
Serrated Arrows is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, valued for its ability to place depletion counters on creatures, essentially weakening them over time. It stands out among other MTG cards that manipulate counters due to its recurring nature until exhausted. Cards like Engineered Plague offer a continuous effect that debilitates certain creature types without the need for counters. Whereas Festering Mummy provides a one-time use counter when it dies, not offering the same control over multiple turns like Serrated Arrows.
Another card worthy of comparison is Thraben Purebloods, which also taps to weaken creatures, but it does so without using counters and requires a creature card itself. Then we look to Incremental Blight, which distributes a trio of -1/-1 counters among creatures when it’s played. However, it lacks the staying power Serrated Arrows boasts, as it’s a single-use sorcery. By evaluating these different aspects, it’s clear that Serrated Arrows holds a special place within its category for the persistent and strategic control it can exert across multiple turns.
Cards similar to Serrated Arrows by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Serrated Arrows offers a unique form of card advantage by allowing you to distribute three arrowhead counters that can gradually weaken or eliminate multiple creatures on the battlefield. This can effectively deal with a group of small threats or diminish the effectiveness of larger creatures over time without having to spend additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: While Serrated Arrows doesn’t directly accelerate resources like mana ramp cards, its ability to control the board can save resources that would otherwise be spent on removal spells. By conserving spells and mana, you maintain more options and versatility in hand, which is a strategic form of resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: Although Serrated Arrows itself is not played at instant speed, its activated ability can be used at any time you could cast an instant. This permits reactive play during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn, ensuring you’re always making the most informed decisions with your arrowhead counters.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Serrated Arrows does not entail a discard per se, but it does come with the downside of becoming obsolete once its counters are used up. This can lead to a disadvantage as it effectively becomes a card that no longer influences the board state, which can be likened to a form of resource loss, particularly in longer games where every card’s impact is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: While Serrated Arrows doesn’t require a specific color of mana, its total casting cost of four generic mana may restrict its early game playability. This means it can’t always be played on curve, which could be detrimental in formats where tempo plays a significant role.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating removal options, Serrated Arrows may not always come out on top due to its relatively high mana cost for its effect. In competitive play, where efficiency is key, there are alternative cards that remove creatures for less mana or offer additional utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Serrated Arrows brings flexibility to the table with its ability to distribute -1/-1 counters across multiple creatures. This feature allows it to serve as a utility card in various deck types, making it a competent choice for those that need to manage the board and weaken opposition.
Combo Potential: While seemingly straightforward, these arrows can be a linchpin in a combo-centric setup. When paired with cards that refresh or multiply counters, Serrated Arrows can become a recurring threat to your opponent’s creatures, getting more mileage out of your counters.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where small, utility creatures dominate, Serrated Arrows shines by being able to remove or diminish the efficacy of multiple threats. This card holds its ground, maintaining relevancy against decks that rely on creature-based strategies for victory.
How to Beat
Serrated Arrows is known for its gradual depletion of creatures on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering, thanks to its deceptively simple ability to place -1/-1 counters on them. Your typical approach against such a persistent artifact might start with cards like Naturalize or Disenchant, neutralizing artifacts and enchantments with ease. Deploying such responses when Serrated Arrows begins to threaten valuable creatures, or preemptively to prevent its use, is a strategic move.
Players also find utility in counter spells, such as Counterspell or Negate, which can prevent the arrows from ever seeing play if timed correctly. Alternatively, cards that provide hexproof or shroud to your creatures can be instrumental, shielding them from the reach of Serrated Arrows’ effect. A classic example is Swiftfoot Boots, which not only confers hexproof but also grants haste, potentially countering the slowdown caused by the arrows.
Considering its cumulative upkeep cost, you might also opt to let Serrated Arrows exhaust itself. Patience backed by creature redundancy or those with ETB (enter the battlefield) effects can exhaust the artifact and turn its presence from a threat into a negligible factor on the board.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Serrated Arrows MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Serrated Arrows 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 Serrated Arrows Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 110 | 1993 | Normal | Black | David A. Cherry | |
| 2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | mj110sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 3 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ll110 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 4 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | et110sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 5 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ll110sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 6 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | pp110sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 7 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ml110sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 8 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | gb110sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 9 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | pm110sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | David A. Cherry | |
| 10 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35116 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | ||
| 11 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 114 | 1997 | Normal | Black | David A. Cherry | |
| 12 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 13 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1626 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 14 | The List | PLST | DDD-20 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Serrated Arrows has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Serrated Arrows card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | The upkeep trigger checks the number of counters at the start of upkeep, and only goes on the stack if there are no arrowhead counters at that time. It will check again on resolution, and will do nothing if you’ve somehow manage to get a new arrowhead counter on the Arrows. |