Siren of the Fanged Coast MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Siren |
| Abilities | Flying,Tribute |
| Released | 2014-02-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Born of the Gods |
| Set code | BNG |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 50 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Michael C. Hayes |
Text of card
Flying Tribute 3 (As this creature enters the battlefield, an opponent of your choice may place three +1/+1 counters on it.) When Siren of the Fanged Coast enters the battlefield, if tribute wasn't paid, gain control of target creature.
Cards like Siren of the Fanged Coast
The Siren of the Fanged Coast offers intrigue within the realm of creature control in Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to Abduction, an enchantment that gains control of a targeted creature until it leaves the battlefield. However, where Abduction needs a direct enchantment on a creature, the Siren instead requires tribute from an opponent, potentially gifting you control of an opponent’s creature without targeting it directly, which can be a strategic boon against decks with heavy targeting defenses.
Moving along, there’s the Dominating Licid card, which similarly grants the controller power over another creature. Unlike the situational nature of the Siren’s tribute mechanic, Dominating Licid can attach as an aura to creatures for consistent control, given you can pay its activation cost. Finally, we have Control Magic, a classic aura that mirrors the Siren’s ability but lacks the conditional tribute mechanism and is also vulnerable to enchantment removal.
Assessing these comparisons highlights the unique position of Siren of the Fanged Coast in Magic: The Gathering, balancing conditional control with the potential to disrupt your opponent’s battlefield without the same vulnerabilities as enchantment-based control cards.
Cards similar to Siren of the Fanged Coast by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Siren of the Fanged Coast enhances strategic gameplay by offering a tribute mechanic that can lead to significant card advantage. If the tribute isn’t paid, you gain control of an opponent’s creature, affecting the board state in your favor without depleting your hand.
Resource Acceleration: By obtaining an opponent’s creature, you potentially accelerate your resource pool. This can equate to more creatures on your side than you would typically have at that stage of the game, setting you ahead of the curve in terms of both presence and power on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: While this particular MTG card is not an instant itself, the act of potentially stealing a creature when it enters the battlefield can disrupt your opponent’s strategies at a moment’s notice. This sudden swing can be as impactful as an instant-speed interaction, especially when timed right after your opponent has cast a valuable creature spell.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside to include Siren of the Fanged Coast in your deck is that it could potentially require discarding other valuable cards. This can be a severe setback, especially if your hand is already depleted, or the discarded card is crucial to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting Siren of the Fanged Coast can be challenging in multi-colored decks because it requires three islands to utilize its tribute mechanic efficiently. This specific mana cost can often complicate its addition to decks that aren’t mono-blue or don’t have the tools for consistent mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Siren of the Fanged Coast comes with a high investment for its effect. Many players consider this a significant drawback when faster, more cost-efficient creatures or spells could be played instead to control the battlefield or advance your board position earlier in the game.
Reasons to Include Siren of the Fanged Coast in Your Collection
Versatility: The Siren of the Fanged Coast offers flexibility to your blue-themed decks, providing both a flying threat and a potential way to gain control of an opponent’s creature. This means it can adapt to multiple game scenarios, whether you’re aiming for air superiority or looking to turn your opponent’s assets against them.
Combo Potential: The card’s Tribute mechanic allows for interesting interactions within your deck. For instance, players can utilize ways to ensure that the Tribute isn’t paid, allowing you to snatch an opponent’s key creature, or if it is paid, enhancing your battlefield presence with a powerful flyer. These options make it an intriguing choice for players keen on crafting intricate and synergistic plays.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, control strategies often stay relevant. Cards like Siren of the Fanged Coast that can swing the balance of creature control can be pivotal in games, making it a valuable asset in matches where tempo and control can decide the victor.
How to beat
Siren of the Fanged Coast presents a unique challenge for players in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This blue creature card has the potential to dramatically alter the board state with its tribute ability, rendering an opponent’s strategic planning moot if not addressed properly. It offers a tactical conundrum: pay the tribute and let your adversary have a sizeable flying creature, or refuse and potentially lose your most valuable creature to the Siren’s control.
The key to overcoming Siren of the Fanged Coast lies in managing your battlefield effectively. Having disposable creatures that you can afford to give up, or playing spells that can protect your most crucial assets, can mitigate the impact of the tribute decision. Furthermore, keeping instant-speed removal spells in hand ensures that you can respond to the Siren’s entrance regardless of your opponent’s choice. This way, even if the Siren takes control of a creature, you can immediately remove it from the battlefield before it causes much harm.
Navigating around Siren of the Fanged Coast’s ability requires careful planning and a good understanding of your deck’s resources. With the right strategies in place, the Siren’s song doesn’t have to lead to your defeat in a game of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Siren of the Fanged Coast MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Siren of the Fanged Coast 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Siren of the Fanged Coast has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Siren of the Fanged Coast card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-01 | If the opponent pays tribute, the creature will enter the battlefield with the specified number of +1/+1 counters on it. It won’t enter the battlefield and then have the +1/+1 counters placed on it. |
| 2014-02-01 | If the triggered ability has a target, that target will not be known while the creature spell with tribute is on the stack. |
| 2014-02-01 | Players can’t respond to the tribute decision before the creature enters the battlefield. That is, if the opponent doesn’t pay tribute, the triggered ability will trigger before any player has a chance to remove the creature. |
| 2014-02-01 | The choice of whether to pay tribute is made as the creature with tribute is entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late to respond to the creature spell. For example, in a multiplayer game, opponents won’t know whether tribute will be paid or which opponent will be chosen to pay tribute or not when deciding whether to counter the creature spell. |
| 2014-02-01 | The triggered ability will resolve even if the creature with tribute isn’t on the battlefield at that time. |
| 2017-04-18 | For effects that check which player put counters on the entering creature, the player chosen to pay tribute puts those counters on it, not the creature’s controller. |