Synod Centurion MTG Card

Fifth Dawn (5DN)
2004-06-04 - Number 161

Archenemy (ARC)
2010-06-18 - Number 119

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Synod Centurion offers card filtering, turning redundant artifacts into valuable draws, enhancing hand quality.
Artifact synergies and versatile gameplay are its strong suits, enabling dynamic and resourceful strategies.
While powerful, the Centurion’s discard cost and specific mana needs may limit its applicability in diverse decks.

Text of card

When you control no other artifacts, sacrifice Synod Centurion.

"We order them to stand, they stand. We order them to wait, they wait. We order them to die, they die." —Pontifex, elder researcher

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Synod Centurion enables efficient card filtering through its ability to swap one artifact card in your hand for a fresh card from your library. This trade-off can be particularly powerful when you have redundant or low-impact artifacts, as it essentially refreshes your hand, potentially drawing you into more valuable cards and keeping up the momentum.

Resource Acceleration: As an artifact creature, the Synod Centurion can contribute to strategies that capitalize on artifact synergies. It may not directly produce mana or treasure, but its presence can enhance the effects of other cards and interactions, such as those that reduce artifact costs or convert artifacts into other forms of resources, thereby accelerating your overall resource development.

Instant Speed: While the Synod Centurion itself may not function at instant speed, its artifact-swapping ability can be utilized in conjunction with other instant-speed interactions. It allows you to hold up resources for instant-speed responses while still having the option to refine your hand if no immediate action is required, making your game play more flexible and resilient against opponents.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Synod Centurion necessitates discarding another artifact you control as part of its activation cost. This can lead to a depletion of your board presence, making it challenging if you’re trying to maintain artifact synergy or a strong defensive line of creatures and other permanents.

Specific Mana Cost: Needing both colorless and blue mana to play, this card requires a dedicated slot in mana sources, which can affect the deck’s consistency. Given its specific cost, piloting the Centurion in a multi-colored deck could be less than optimal, as you may face occasions where you don’t have the required blue sources available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Synod Centurion comes at a price point where players expect significant impact on the game. While its 4/4 stats are decent, its ability cost and the necessity to control other artifacts may not compare favorably with other creatures or artifacts that could provide immediate value or more powerful effects for the same or lower cost.

Reasons to Include Synod Centurion in Your Collection

Versatility: The Synod Centurion offers solid defense and offense capabilities, making it a dependable choice for artifact-centric decks. Its adaptable nature allows for it to be included in both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination scenarios, notably in decks that capitalize on artifact synergies. With the right setup, Synod Centurion can become an integral part of a powerful combo that can turn the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment continuously evolves, having a card like Synod Centurion, that has enduring interactions with widely used artifacts, maintains its relevance. It holds its own in a variety of meta scenarios, providing lasting value to your collection.

How to beat Synod Centurion

Synod Centurion may seem like a tough nut to crack on the battlefield, with its resilience and synergy in artifact-centric decks. This imposing artifact creature can become quite the obstacle if left unchecked. To dismantle its defenses effectively, consider including artifact removal spells in your deck. Cards like Naturalize or Abrade offer straightforward solutions, eliminating the Centurion before it can leverage its full potential.

Another strategy involves using control spells to neutralize its impact. Countermagic, such as Negate or Essence Scatter, can prevent Synod Centurion from even entering the fray. If it does manage to settle on the battlefield, bounce spells like Unsummon can temporarily clear the path and disrupt your opponent’s board presence.

Finally, don’t overlook the power of combat tricks. Boosting your creatures’ power or using deathtouch to your advantage allows you to tackle Synod Centurion head-on. With the right approach, what once seemed like an impenetrable force can be reduced to mere scrap metal, paving your way to victory.

Cards like Synod Centurion

Synod Centurion often gets compared to its mechanical cousins across the expansive landscape of Magic: The Gathering. Its role is reflective of cards like Myr Enforcer, which shares the affinity for artifacts, reducing its casting cost by the number of artifacts you control. While Myr Enforcer can land on the battlefield quite early, Synod Centurion stands apart with its ability to protect other artifacts you have in play.

Another card worth mentioning is the Darksteel Sentinel. Both feature the coveted indestructible trait, ensuring they remain a persistent presence. However, Synod Centurion brings an additional layer of utility with its protective aura for your other artifacts. Comparatively, Darksteel Sentinel offers flash, allowing surprise blocking tactics, which the Centurion does not.

Analyzing the versatility and strategic depth these cards provide in Magic: The Gathering, Synod Centurion secures a unique position. It’s not just a resilient creature; it’s a guardian for your arsenal of artifacts, bolstering your defenses and ensuring your key pieces withstand your opponents’ attempts to dismantle your strategy.

Cards similar to Synod Centurion by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Synod Centurion MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Archenemy, 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 Synod Centurion and other MTG cards: