Sea Troll MTG Card


Sea Troll - Homelands
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Troll
Released1995-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameHomelands
Set codeHML
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number39
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDaniel Gelon

Key Takeaways

  1. Sea Troll thwarts blue creature strategies, shaping the battlefield’s tempo to your favor.
  2. Demands specific mana and may hinder flexibility in diverse, multi-colored decks.
  3. Plays a defensive role in blue/green decks, bolstering resilience with regeneration.

Text of card

o U: Regenerate. Use this ability only during a turn in which Sea Troll blocked a blue creature or a blue creature blocked Sea Troll.

"I've seen those Trolls devour a drowning sailor faster than his lungs could fill with water." —Zeki, Reef Pirate


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Sea Troll card can offer a tactical edge by potentially negating the effectiveness of blue creatures, which can prevent your opponent from gaining card advantage through blue creature-based synergies or abilities.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly contributing to resource acceleration, the presence of Sea Troll on the battlefield can disincentivize opponents from playing costly blue creatures, indirectly preserving your resources for more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: Sea Troll doesn’t have an instant speed ability itself; however, its static ability to pose a continuous threat against blue creatures allows you to operate at a pace where quick, responsive plays may prove less necessary, giving you the upper hand to control the tempo of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Sea Troll’s ability can require a card to be discarded, which may not be ideal during the late game when hand resources become scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands a strict blue and green mana to activate its abilities, potentially limiting its flexibility in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana needed to cast Sea Troll is on the higher side, which could be a setback when trying to maintain tempo against more aggressive decks that deploy threats earlier.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Sea Troll offers a unique blend of defense and offense, fitting well in blue and green decks that focus on creature-based strategies. Its ability to regenerate provides a solid line of defense, able to withstand removal spells and combat.

Combo Potential: Alongside cards that manipulate the number of islands you control or use creature tapping as an asset, Sea Troll can become an essential piece in creating a formidable, synergistic battlefield presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame teeming with red aggro strategies, Sea Troll’s natural resilience against red creatures makes it a strategically defensive inclusion that can stabilize your board and disrupt the pace of your opponent’s game plan.


How to beat

The Sea Troll card presents unique challenges on the battlefield due to its ability to regenerate when a blue or black spell is cast. To effectively deal with this aquatic adversary, players must think strategically. One practical method is to utilize spells that prevent regeneration, such as those inflicting exile or -X/-X effects that ensure the Sea Troll’s removal from play without the opportunity for its revival.

Another tactic is to bypass the Sea Troll’s regenerative capabilities altogether. Engaging in combat with creatures that have trample or employing direct player damage spells can shift focus away from the Sea Troll, reducing its impact. Targeted removal spells that circumvent regeneration, perhaps by sending the Sea Troll back to its owner’s hand or library, can also serve as valuable tools, providing temporary relief or a more lasting solution, respectively.

In essence, overcoming the Sea Troll’s regenerative strength involves a combination of disruption and strategic avoidance, highlighting the importance of versatile deck construction and adaptive play styles to gain the upper hand against such resilient foes in Magic: The Gathering.


Cards like Sea Troll

Sea Troll stands as an intriguing creature in the vast expanse of Magic: The Gathering card pool. It bears resemblance to other regeneration creatures like Drudge Skeletons, which also offers the tactical advantage of consistent board presence. However, Sea Troll presents a unique edge by requiring blue mana to activate this ability, tying its regeneration specifically to island-rich environments.

Comparatively, Merfolk Thaumaturgist can be a kin in terms of its affinity for islands, however, it lacks the regenerative resilience of the Sea Troll. Instead, it brings a versatile tap ability to the table. The Thaumaturgist is a testament to the variety of strategies supported by blue-oriented cards. Mossbridge Troll is another creature card that regenerates, but it sacrifices the maritime adaptability for sheer power, capable of growing to gargantuan proportions under the right conditions.

While not identical in function, each of these cards illustrates the strategic importance of card abilities in relation to the overarching deck theme. Sea Troll finds its role within blue-centered decks that benefit from a persistent blocker, bolstering defenses while maintaining thematic consistency.

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Thaumaturgist - MTG Card versions
Mossbridge Troll - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Merfolk Thaumaturgist - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Mossbridge Troll - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Cards similar to Sea Troll by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Wormfang Drake - Judgment (JUD)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mistform Warchief - Scourge (SCG)
Blind Phantasm - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sea Troll MTG card by a specific set like Homelands, 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 Sea Troll and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sea Troll has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks