Sentinel Tower MTG Card


Sentinel Tower - Battlebond
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Released2018-06-08
Set symbol
Set nameBattlebond
Set codeBBD
Number79
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJung Park

Key Takeaways

  1. Increases card access by revealing cards with each instant or sorcery cast, leading to greater hand size.
  2. Boosts resource efficiency by dealing damage without extra mana, scaling with spell casts.
  3. Enhances flexibility with instant-speed operation, permitting reactionary plays on an opponent’s turn.

Text of card

Whenever an instant or sorcery spell is cast during your turn, Sentinel Tower deals damage to any target equal to 1 plus the number of instant and sorcery spells cast before that spell this turn.

The built-in obstacles force competitors to think three moves ahead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sentinel Tower shines by potentially providing significant card advantage every turn. Each instant or sorcery you cast triggers the Tower, pinging an opponent or creature and unveiling the top card of your deck, ultimately translating into more cards in your hand over time.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact can become an engine for resource acceleration in the right deck. With each spell cast, you’re essentially adding an extra damage without spending additional mana. This incremental value can add up quickly, giving you a resource advantage that can be the difference between winning and losing.

Instant Speed: Sentinel Tower’s ability operates at instant speed, allowing you to interact on your opponent’s turn. Whether it’s casting spells during their end phase for an unexpected snipe or simply using your instants and sorceries to trigger the tower at the most opportune moment, this versatility is a formidable tool in any player’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sentinel Tower’s triggered ability can be less advantageous if it necessitates discarding valuable cards. This could be especially taxing when hand size is critical for maintaining strategic options during gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost of Sentinel Tower requires a mix of generic and blue mana. This specificity might restrain its integration into decks that don’t run blue mana or those that have a tight mana base focused on other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires four mana, Sentinel Tower occupies a mana slot where players could potentially deploy more impactful spells or game-changing permanents. Its cost-to-benefit ratio may not always align with a deck’s needs compared to other four-mana alternatives available to deckbuilders.


Reasons to Include Sentinel Tower in Your Collection

Versatility: Sentinel Tower offers dynamic play options, integrating seamlessly into spell-slinger decks that cast multiple spells each turn. Its ability to deal damage scaled to the number of spells cast makes it adaptable to various playstyles and formats.

Combo Potential: This card can be the linchpin in a combo, particularly in decks that aim to chain numerous spells in a single turn. It synergizes well with cards that untap lands or allow for extra draws, turning spell casts into a barrage of damage.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where non-creature strategies are prevalent, Sentinel Tower gains value as a repeatable source of damage. It’s especially useful in spell-heavy metas, where it can be both a deterrent and a means to finish games.


How to Beat

Sentinel Tower is an intriguing artifact in Magic the Gathering, becoming a force to be reckoned with as you cast multiple spells in a single turn. Its ability to deal damage equivalent to the number of spells cast can quickly spiral out of control, especially in decks designed to churn out numerous spells rapidly. To effectively counter this dynamic card, players should focus on removal options that don’t allow it to accrue value over time.

One strategy is deploying artifact destruction spells as soon as Sentinel Tower appears on the battlefield. Cards like Abrade or Nature’s Claim offer cost-effective solutions to dismantle this threat immediately. Alternatively, countering the spells that fuel Sentinel Tower’s power can also diminish its potential. Disruptive elements like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prevent the accumulation of spells necessary to empower the tower. In summary, prioritizing swift removal or a stout defense against the sequencing of spells can neutralize Sentinel Tower’s menacing presence in any match.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve been captivated by the strategic depth Sentinel Tower brings to the table, our insights don’t end there. Dive deeper into deck-building strategies and discover ways to maximize this card’s potential in your lineup. Enhance your gameplay and outmaneuver opponents by leveraging the Tower’s strengths and learning to mitigate its weaknesses. With our resources, you can refine your MTG arsenal, ensuring that each match showcases your skill and cunning. Are you ready to ascend to new heights of MTG mastery? Explore further with us and make Sentinel Tower a cornerstone of your winning strategy. Learn more today.


Cards like Sentinel Tower

Sentinel Tower is a unique artifact that shines in decks aimed at casting numerous spells each turn. Like Aetherflux Reservoir, it rewards players for playing spells, albeit with a different outcome. With Aetherflux Reservoir, life is gained, setting up for a potential one-shot victory. Sentinel Tower, in contrast, aims at dealing incremental damage which can add up quickly in a spell-heavy deck.

Another analogue is the card Sphinx-Bone Wand, which also accumulates damage potential with each spell cast. However, Sentinel Tower demands less of a mana investment upfront and can potentially deal damage earlier in the game. Each has strategic merits depending on the structure of your deck and goals during gameplay. Pyromancer’s Goggles is another related card, doubling red instants and sorceries, which indirectly increases damage output much like Sentinel Tower does directly.

Evaluating these options, Sentinel Tower can be highly effective in the right strategy. It may not provide Sphinx-Bone Wand’s massive damage potential in a single cast or Aetherflux Reservoir’s life-gain utility, but its lower cost and immediate board influence make it a compelling choice for players looking to maintain constant pressure on opponents.

Aetherflux Reservoir - MTG Card versions
Sphinx-Bone Wand - MTG Card versions
Pyromancer's Goggles - MTG Card versions
Aetherflux Reservoir - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)
Sphinx-Bone Wand - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Pyromancer's Goggles - Magic Origins (ORI)

Cards similar to Sentinel Tower by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Jade Monolith - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions
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Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Rackling - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Lich's Tomb - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Synod Centurion - MTG Card versions
Jade Idol - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Jade Monolith - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Jade Statue - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Mightstone - Antiquities (ATQ)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Rackling - Nemesis (NEM)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lich's Tomb - Darksteel (DST)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Synod Centurion - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Jade Idol - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sentinel Tower MTG card by a specific set like Battlebond, 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 Sentinel Tower and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sentinel Tower has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sentinel Tower card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2018-06-08 For example, the first instant or sorcery spell cast during your turn causes Sentinel Tower to deal 1 damage; the second causes it to deal 2 damage, and so on.
2018-06-08 Sentinel Tower’s ability counts all instant and sorcery spells cast in the turn before the spell that caused it to trigger, even if those spells are still on the stack or have been countered.
2018-06-08 Sentinel Tower’s ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2018-06-08 You choose the target for Sentinel Tower’s ability, regardless of who cast the spell that caused it to trigger.

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