Thalakos Sentry MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Thalakos Soldier
Abilities	Shadow
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	95
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Andrew Robinson

Key Takeaways

Thalakos Sentry’s tactical return saves mana and helps maintain a strong defense, indirectly leading to card advantage.
Instant speed return offers flexibility and protection against removal spells or combat damage in crucial moments.
Though the Sentry’s discard requirement can deplete hands, its defensive and evasive capabilities justify inclusion in certain decks.

Text of card

Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow)

"Ill luck and poor geography caught the Thalakos between us and the Dauthi." —Lyna, Soltari emissary

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thalakos Sentry offers a stealth tactical advantage. While it might not draw cards directly, its ability to return to hand offers repeatable defense, ensuring you always have a blocker available. This can indirectly lead to card advantage as it forces your opponent to find ways around it, often at the cost of their own resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card, while not directly accelerating resources, ensures that your mana isn’t tied up in a creature that could be easily removed. The Sentry’s ability can save mana in the long run, allowing you to allocate resources more efficiently throughout the game. Efficient resource distribution is crucial in building and maintaining a strong board presence.

Instant Speed: Thalakos Sentry can be returned to your hand at instant speed, making it a versatile tool. This allows you to wait until the last possible moment, potentially saving it from removal or combat damage. It also gives you the flexibility to decide whether to use your mana to save the Sentry or to play other instant-speed interactions, based on what your opponent does.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thalakos Sentry’s ability to become unblockable requires you to discard a card, which can potentially deplete your hand and leave you with fewer options on future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature has a necessity for both blue and white mana, sometimes making it tricky to cast in a multicolored deck that may not have the right mana available at the crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a common creature with a power of just one and only two toughness, Thalakos Sentry has a relatively steep combined mana cost of three. This could be a setback when there are other creatures or spells that could provide a greater impact on the game board for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Thalakos Sentry in Your Collection

Versatility: Thalakos Sentry offers a unique blend of defensive capabilities and evasion, making it a fitting addition to blue and white decks seeking to strengthen their control over the board while protecting life totals.

Combo Potential: With its shadow ability, Thalakos Sentry can often bypass opponent’s creatures, serving as an excellent enabler for strategies that capitalize on dealing combat damage to a player, such as those involving cipher or saboteur effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where ground stalls are common, Thalakos Sentry’s ability to consistently swing through for damage or defend against elusive threats can give it a pivotal role, ensuring that you maintain momentum against a variety of popular deck types.

How to beat

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Thalakos Sentry is pivotal for players aiming to counter this creature effectively in Magic: The Gathering. Thalakos Sentry, notable for its shadow ability, can only be blocked by creatures with shadow. This unique trait allows it to bypass most defenders and apply pressure to your opponent unimpeded.

To gain the upper hand against Thalakos Sentry, consider using removal spells that don’t rely on blocking, such as “Doom Blade” or “Path to Exile,” to eliminate it outright. Another strategy involves spells like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” which can clear the board irrespective of abilities or combat status. You can also take advantage of Thalakos Sentry’s low toughness with damage spells like “Shock” or “Lightning Bolt,” efficiently dispatching the Sentry without excessive resource allocation.

When adapting your deck, incorporating versatile removal or damage spells will ensure you’re prepared not only for Thalakos Sentry but any creature that skirts conventional defenses. A well-rounded approach will bolster your gameplay, allowing you to maintain control and momentum, ultimately leading to victory.

Cards like Thalakos Sentry

Thalakos Sentry stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering creatures due to its blend of characteristics. It shares the shadow ability with cards like Thalakos Seer, ensuring it can only be blocked by creatures with shadow. Thalakos Sentry, however, leans more towards defense, courtesy of its vigilance, allowing it to remain untapped after attacking. The Seer lacks this defensive perk but offers card advantage by allowing you to draw a card upon leaving the battlefield.

Comparative to creatures like Soltari Monk and Soltari Priest, Thalakos Sentry has a slightly lower power level, as both Soltari creatures have protection from specific colors in addition to shadow. This color protection can sometimes be more advantageous than vigilance depending on the game situation. Nevertheless, Thalakos Sentry finds its niche with players who appreciate the added value of being able to attack without sacrificing the ability to block in the next turn.

In the context of utility and versatility in deck building, Thalakos Sentry may not be the most powerful shadow creature, but its inclusion can offer a balanced approach for players seeking to maintain a defensive stance while slowly chipping away at an opponent’s life total.

Cards similar to Thalakos Sentry by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thalakos Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Thalakos Sentry and other MTG cards: