Scaleguard Sentinels MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Scaleguard Sentinels enhance early gameplay presence through cost-effective creature deployment tactics.
  2. They support resource allocation by reducing casting cost in the presence of dragons.
  3. Instant-speed synergies allow optimized play, aligning with dragon-themed deck strategies.

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Scaleguard Sentinels, you may reveal a Dragon card from your hand. Scaleguard Sentinels enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if you revealed a Dragon card or controlled a Dragon as you cast Scaleguard Sentinels.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scaleguard Sentinels grant a strategic edge by potentially allowing a player to deploy multiple creatures early in the game. This can lead to pressure on the opponent and card advantage through battlefield presence.

Resource Acceleration: Thanks to their cost reduction mechanic based on controlling a Dragon, the Sentinels can accelerate your board development, enabling you to allocate resources elsewhere while still advancing your creature base.

Instant Speed: While Scaleguard Sentinels themselves aren’t an instant, they synergize well with instant-speed Dragon spells that can be played on the opponent’s turn, effectively reducing their casting cost and optimizing your resource management.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Scaleguard Sentinels can be a tactical misstep if you are forced to discard another dragon card to activate its abilities. Sacrificing valuable hand assets can sometimes be more detrimental than advantageous, leaving you at a resource disadvantage in prolonged gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Scaleguard Sentinels’ reliance on green mana can pose constraints, especially in multi-color decks where mana base consistency is key. Its casting cost necessitates green mana availability, potentially causing delays or even making it uncastable in color-scarce situations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost efficiency of Scaleguard Sentinels is a concern when you consider the card’s overall impact on the game state. Requiring two mana might be acceptable for its base stats, but in the context of fast-paced matches or decks focused on efficient mana usage, there are other options that could better serve the same role without the stringent conditions.


Reasons to Include Scaleguard Sentinels in Your Collection

Versatility: Scaleguard Sentinels offer flexibility in deck-building, seamlessly fitting into decks that are dragon-themed or simply value strong early-game board presence. Their capability to be a two-mana 2/3 makes them solid in defensive and aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: With their ability to synergize with dragon-type creatures, Scaleguard Sentinels can play a vital role in combos that benefit from having a high number of dragons on the battlefield or dragon-specific synergies that enhance your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where dragons or formidable green creatures play a significant role, Scaleguard Sentinels can serve as an essential component. Their presence bolsters your defenses early on, and if dragons are prevalent in your deck, their cost-effectiveness increases, making them a timely and relevant addition.


How to beat

Confronting Scaleguard Sentinels on the battlefield can be an interesting challenge for many MTG players. Experienced players know, this card’s strength lies in its synergy with other creatures that bolster its defense. To successfully navigate past these vigilant defenders, one must consider strategies that diminish their cooperative advantage. Removal spells that can bypass the boosted defense of Scaleguard Sentinels, such as those that don’t target or those that don’t take the defense value into account, can be particularly effective. Board wipes also prove invaluable by clearing multiple threats simultaneously, undermining the collective power that these Sentinels rely upon.

Additionally, understanding timing can play a crucial role. Playing your impactful spells during your turn, when Scaleguard Sentinels’ formidable defense isn’t at its peak can help maintain momentum. Also, leveraging flying creatures can serve as a continuous threat, given Scaleguard Sentinels’ lack of reach. Overall, while these Sentinels can form a strong line of defense, adept players will find that with the right removal options and strategic plays, overcoming them is more than within reach.


Cards like Scaleguard Sentinels

Scaleguard Sentinels is an interesting card that stands out in the Defender category within Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with other Defender creatures like Wall of Omens, which also provides an additional effect when it enters the battlefield, in this case drawing a card. The Sentinels, with their dependence on having a Dragon in hand to reduce their casting cost, offer a unique synergy with Dragon-themed decks, setting them apart from the simplicity of Wall of Omens.

Another card that draws parallels to Scaleguard Sentinels is Dragon Hunter. Although Dragon Hunter does not reduce its mana cost, it offers protection from Dragons and can block them, providing significant value in Dragon-heavy metagames. Unlike the Sentinels, the Hunter is always ready to play for a consistent low cost, regardless of the player’s hand contents.

In essence, Scaleguard Sentinels are a specialized option for players running Dragon synergies. Comparatively, they offer conditional cost advantages and contribute to the board presence, positioning themselves as a strategic element in decks that leverage the might of Dragons.

Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Dragon Hunter - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Dragon Hunter - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scaleguard Sentinels MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Scaleguard Sentinels and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Scaleguard Sentinels Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2015-03-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 558822015normalblackDavid Gaillet
22015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 2012015normalblackMatt Stewart
32015-03-28Dragons of Tarkir PromosPDTK 2012015normalblackDavid Gaillet

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scaleguard Sentinels has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-02-25 If one of these spells is copied, the controller of the copy will get the “Dragon bonus” only if a Dragon card was revealed as an additional cost. The copy wasn’t cast, so whether you controlled a Dragon won’t matter.
2015-02-25 If you don’t reveal a Dragon card from your hand, you must control a Dragon as you are finished casting the spell to get the bonus. For example, if you lose control of your only Dragon while casting the spell (because, for example, you sacrificed it to activate a mana ability), you won’t get the bonus.
2015-02-25 You can’t reveal more than one Dragon card to multiply the bonus. There is also no additional benefit for both revealing a Dragon card as an additional cost and controlling a Dragon as you cast the spell.

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