Serra Paladin MTG Card

Homelands (HML)
1995-10-01 - Number 17

Fifth Edition (5ED)
1997-03-24 - Number 61

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Knight
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Serra Paladin’s card draw can swing games by providing critical resources at pivotal moments.
Its ability to act at instant speed gives players a tactical edge during matches.
The card’s flexibility makes it a formidable addition to many strategic deck builds.

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.

Text of card

oc T: Prevent 1 damage to any creature or player. o1o Wo W, oc T: Attacking does not cause target creature to tap this turn.

"Would that I could be a Paladin again, but the dead hold no place among their ranks." —Ihsan's Shade

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Serra Paladin can be a key component in maintaining card parity with your opponent. Equipped with the ability to bolster your hand, Serra Paladin allows for tactical draws that can lead to significant turning points in the game, especially when you’re in need of essential resources or answers to threats on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This card also assists in advancing your resource development on the board. While not directly producing additional mana, Serra Paladin can enable quicker access to your more potent spells, either by reducing costs or through synergistic interactions with other cards, thus accelerating your overall game plan and putting you ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: The true strength of Serra Paladin emerges with its instant speed abilities. This flexibility allows you to adapt seamlessly to the evolving game state, making calculated moves during critical phases or in response to your opponent’s actions. Being able to act at instant speed adds layers of strategic depth to every match, ensuring that Serra Paladin is not just a threat, but also a versatile tool in your MTG arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Serra Paladin’s abilities may come at the cost of discarding other valuable cards from your hand, potentially depleting your resources and strategic options during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirements for Serra Paladin include white mana, which makes it exclusive to decks running this color or those with a mana base versatile enough to accommodate such specific needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Necessitating a relatively substantial amount of mana to bring Serra Paladin onto the battlefield could slow down your gameplay, especially when there are other creatures or spells in the same mana range that could provide a more immediate impact on the board-state.

Reasons to Include Serra Paladin in Your Collection

Versatility: Serra Paladin shines in its ability to adapt. It can be played both offensively and defensively, providing buffs to your creatures or acting as a deterrent for opponents’ attacks.

Combo Potential: With its activated abilities, Serra Paladin could be pivotal in various combos, strengthening life-gain tactics or reacting swiftly to your opponent’s moves due to its vigilance attribute.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Serra Paladin’s capabilities to provide life and bolster your field can be crucial. It’s a card that can tip the scales in a match when timed correctly and paired with the right deck style.

How to beat Serra Paladin

Serra Paladin poses a unique challenge on the battlefield with its blend of offensive prowess and defensive capabilities. To effectively combat this card, it’s crucial to understand its strengths and weaknesses. First and foremost, Serra Paladin’s ability to gain life makes it a persistent threat that can prolong the game in your opponent’s favor.

A proactive strategy involves using removal spells to eliminate Serra Paladin before its life gain ability can be leveraged. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade offer a direct answer to bypass Paladin’s protections. Considering this strategy, it’s also wise to manage your resources carefully and keep removal readily available in your hand for when Serra Paladin enters the fray.

In essence, success relies on staying one step ahead and ensuring that you have the right answers at the right time. Removing Serra Paladin promptly can disrupt your opponent’s game plan and swing the tide of battle in your favor, allowing you to maintain control of the board and eventually emerge victorious.

Cards like Serra Paladin

Serra Paladin finds its niche within the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering that offer both offensive and defensive attributes. Serra Paladin echoes the versatility of cards like Samite Healer, which allows players to prevent damage to creatures or players. However, Serra Paladin extends this utility with the additional ability to tap attacking creatures, a handy tool for controlling the pace of combat.

Another card that parallels the Paladin’s protective ability is Cho-Manno’s Blessing. While it doesn’t offer tapping ability, it provides a memorable form of protection by preventing all damage to a creature. This makes Serra Paladin stand out as a creature that not only shields but also helps to establish board authority by neutrally engaging potential threats. Knight of Meadowgrain is also worth noting; it grants lifelink in addition to its solid stats, offering a different kind of sustain in the form of health gain, rather than direct damage prevention.

In sum, Serra Paladin holds a valuable place in strategic MTG decks for those who favor a combination of delay tactics and protective measures. Its unique abilities make it an interesting choice when crafting a deck centered on manipulation and defense.

Cho-Manno's Blessing - MTG Card versions

Knight of Meadowgrain - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Serra Paladin by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Serra Paladin MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Fifth Edition, 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 Serra Paladin and other MTG cards: