Loxodon Sergeant MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elephant Soldier |
| Abilities | Vigilance |
| Released | 2019-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | War of the Spark |
| Set code | WAR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 21 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jesper Ejsing |
Key Takeaways
- Vigilance ability aids in maintaining a strong defense while mounting an offense.
- Cost-effective 4/4 body enhances board presence, beneficial for resourcing.
- Continuous vigilance offers sustained advantage without relying on instant speed.
Text of card
Vigilance When Loxodon Sergeant enters the battlefield, other creatures you control gain vigilance until end of turn.
His voice is both war horn and rallying cry, a trumpeting call that stirs even the faintest heart.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Loxodon Sergeant doesn’t directly grant card advantage, but its ability to add vigilance to other creatures can effectively protect your assets on the board. Access to a vigilance army means you keep a strong defense while still being aggressive on your turn, potentially saving cards in your hand that might otherwise be used for defensive measures.
Resource Acceleration: While Loxodon Sergeant doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in the form of mana, it does offer a cost-effective 4/4 body. The efficient use of mana to deploy a sizeable creature can indirectly accelerate your board presence, giving you an advantage in developing your resources on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: The key feature of Loxodon Sergeant is its static ability that grants other creatures you control vigilance as long as it’s on the battlefield. Although not at instant speed, this ability is persistently active, offering sustained strategic value and contributing to your board state in a continuous manner.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not applicable to the Loxodon Sergeant itself, running heavy hitters like this card means you might need to employ other cards with discard mechanisms to make room for optimal mana curve in your deck, potentially depleting your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Loxodon Sergeant demands a specific mana alignment, with a casting cost that includes white mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks or without ample mana-fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s four-mana cost for its 3/3 body and abilities could be considered steep when compared to other options in the four-mana slot, especially in formats where board presence and tempo define the success of a deck.
Reasons to Include Loxodon Sergeant in Your Collection
Versatility: Loxodon Sergeant serves as a reliable creature within various deck builds, offering a balance of muscle and utility. Its Vigilance ability ensures it remains a stalwart defender even after attacking, fitting seamlessly into both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to grant Vigilance to other creatures opens up possibilities for combos, especially in decks that capitalize on tapping and untapping creatures for value or ones that seek to maintain a ready defense while still pressuring opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with aggressive starts, Loxodon Sergeant stands out as a card capable of slowing the pace. As a 4-cost creature with a respectable 3/3 body and an ability that can impact the board immediately, it’s a solid consideration in a meta that favors control and midrange decks.
How to beat
Loxodon Sergeant is a formidable creature card that brings a strategic advantage to the battlefield with its vigilance ability and the capacity to grant it to other creatures temporarily. As a white card, it aligns well with creature-focused and control decks where maintaining a defensive stance while still being able to attack is crucial. It is not only a standalone threat but also a team player, boosting other units in combat scenarios.
When up against the Loxodon Sergeant, it’s essential to consider removal options. Since the card has a moderate toughness, direct damage spells or destruction spells that don’t rely on power levels can be effectively used to remove it from the field before its ability becomes relevant. Consider using instant-speed removal to react to its vigilance being activated, disrupting the opponent’s combat plans.
Timing is crucial in handling the Loxodon Sergeant. Engage it when the ability to grant vigilance is of minimal consequence, or when your opponent is less likely to benefit from it. Furthermore, managing the board by limiting the number of creatures it can affect, either through board wipes or selective removal, can also dampen its utility, easing your path towards victory.
Cards like Loxodon Sergeant
The Loxodon Sergeant stands as a sturdy player on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Similar formidable creatures, like Gallant Cavalry, echo its proactive presence by generating a 2/2 Knight creature with vigilance. However, the Loxodon Sergeant holds an edge with its vigilance to stay on guard even after attacking, and it bolsters your forces by granting vigilance to another target creature until the end of the turn.
Another card worth comparing is Trusted Pegasus. Trusted Pegasus takes to the skies, offering a flight path for another attacking creature, massively boosting your offensive options. While it doesn’t offer vigilance or boost the team, its flying support is unique. Stepping up the vigilance game, the imposing Sentinel’s Eyes enchantment comes into play. Although not a creature itself, it provides a similar vigilant advantage, with the bonus of escaping from the graveyard for continued strategic depth.
To encapsulate, Loxodon Sergeant touts an advantageous role among its counterparts, courtesy of its robust stats and the tactical advantage of its vigilance-granting ability. It exemplifies a card that adeptly balances immediate impact with ongoing battlefield presence.
Cards similar to Loxodon Sergeant by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Loxodon Sergeant MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Loxodon Sergeant and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Loxodon Sergeant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Loxodon Sergeant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | Gaining vigilance any time after the moment you choose to attack with a creature won’t cause it to become untapped. |
| 2019-05-03 | Loxodon Sergeant’s triggered ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t gain vigilance. |
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.