Serum Sovereign MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 5 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Phyrexian Sphinx |
Abilities | Flying,Scry |
Power | 4 |
Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put an oil counter on Serum Sovereign. , Remove an oil counter from Serum Sovereign: Draw a card, then scry 2.
Cards like Serum Sovereign
Serum Sovereign promises to carve its niche within the pantheon of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. As players assess its value, comparisons emerge with the familiar face of Snapcaster Mage, a renowned card for its ability to flash back an instant or sorcery from the graveyard. While Serum Sovereign doesn’t offer direct access to past spells, it compensates with lifelink, posing a dual threat on the battlefield as it bolsters life while dishing out damage.
Another akin creature brimming with potential is Torrential Gearhulk, which similarly plays with the graveyard but with a focus on instants and with the added benefit of bulkier stats. Serum Sovereign shines in its unique combination of offering lifelink and a streamlined mana cost, making for early playability and consistent battlefield presence. Then, comparing it to the likes of Spell Queller brings about a discussion on versatility—Spell Queller has the upper hand in disruption, but Serum Sovereign holds the frontline with its robust life-linked strikes.
Overall, while it may not replicate the exact functions of its peers, Serum Sovereign holds its ground as a formidable asset, offering strategic depth and vitality to any deck lucky enough to wield it.
Cards similar to Serum Sovereign by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Serum Sovereign enables you to filter your draws efficiently by scrying, aligning your tactics with the right resources and maximizing your deck’s potential with each draw.
Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with decks aiming for an accelerative playstyle, often providing a substantial boost by unlocking additional mana sources or enabling combo plays ahead of time.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Serum Sovereign offers strategic flexibility, allowing you to surprise opponents by altering the course of the game during their turn or at the end of their cycle for optimal impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Serum Sovereign demands that you discard a card, which might strain your hand, especially in games where card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: With its particular mana requirements, incorporating Serum Sovereign into your deck demands commitment to its colors, potentially limiting its versatility across different strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a substantial amount of mana to cast, Serum Sovereign may lag behind in terms of efficiency when compared to other options available in the game that could be tapped for a similar, or even better, impact at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Serum Sovereign offers a unique blend of abilities that can enrich a variety of blue-focused strategies. Its ability to control the flow of the game by potentially countering spells or saving key creatures adds significant flexibility to your deck design.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with decks that thrive on spell casting and manipulation. It can become a linchpin in combos that aim to exploit the number of spells cast or to utilize abilities that counter opponents’ actions, setting up opportunities for critical plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that emphasizes control or combo decks, Serum Sovereign can play a crucial role. Its potential to swing tempo in your favor or disrupt your opponent’s plans keeps it timely and advantageous against a variety of popular deck archetypes.
How to Beat Serum Sovereign
Confronting Serum Sovereign in a game of Magic: The Gathering requires strategic deliberation due to its prowess in altering creature dynamics on the battlefield. This card can be particularly daunting when it boosts fellow artifacts, strengthening their presence during play. To effectively neutralize the advantages Serum Sovereign offers, players should consider using removal spells that can target and eliminate this key artifact creature.
Direct destruction spells like ‘Path to Exile’ and ‘Fatal Push’ for lower-cost creatures, or ‘Vindicate’ for a more versatile option, are excellent tools for dealing with Serum Sovereign before its influence escalates. Alternatively, countering it upon casting with a ‘Counterspell’ or ‘Negate’ can ensure it never impacts the game to begin with. Moreover, employing artifact removal such as ‘Abrade’ or ‘Nature’s Claim’ can disrupt the synergy it aims to build by targeting Serum Sovereign or the artifacts drawn to its power.
Understanding the meta and preparing your deck with the appropriate answers to cards like Serum Sovereign can greatly increase your chance of maintaining control of the game. With the right strategy and responses in place, players can overcome the challenge posed by Serum Sovereign and secure victory.
BurnMana Recommendations
Exploring the strategic depths of MTG brings us face to face with cards like Serum Sovereign, a keystone in blue-centric decks, which provides both a tactical advantage and potential game-changing abilities. Whether you’re honing a control deck or crafting a strategy around life gain and combat, having insight into cards such as Serum Sovereign could be the pivotal move that edges you closer to dominance in your playgroup or competitive scene. Grasp the nuances of when to play, how to synergize, and ways to counter cards of this caliber. Deepen your understanding and stay ahead of the competition by learning more with us.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Serum Sovereign MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One and Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Serum Sovereign and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana 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 Serum Sovereign Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 410 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis | |
2 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ONE | 405 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Serum Sovereign 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 |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Serum Sovereign card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2023-02-04 | Removing an oil counter is part of the cost to activate Serum Sovereign's last ability. Players can't respond with a spell or ability that removes counters to prevent you from drawing a card and scrying 2. |