Esper Sentinel

Artifact Creature — Human Soldier

Whenever an opponent casts their first noncreature spell each turn, draw a card unless that player pays {X}, where X is this creature's power.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (50)

DemonDragonJ on Which Card(s) Should Replace the …

2 days ago

I used to have copies of The Immortal Sun in most of my EDH decks, but I have been replacing those copies with cards that better suit the themes of those decks, so I wish to ask for advice for specific decks.

First, I am wondering about my Sen Triplets EDH deck; that deck is a very controlling deck, so one card that I am considering is Myrel, Shield of Argive, since she is a more powerful version of Grand Abolisher, although I certainly would be willing to hear other suggestions, as well. I was also considering replacing the sun with Esper Sentinel, but I am not certain if I actually need that card in that deck, with all the other sources of card advantage that that deck has.

Second, I am seeking a replacement for the sun in my Teneb, the Harvester EDH deck, but this shall be a more challenging replacement, as there are numerous cards that would work well with that deck. My first choice was Karador, Ghost Chieftain, as this is the only deck in which he would fit, and, with his inherent cost-reducing ability, he would usually cost less then 8 mana to summon, but, as good as he is, he is merely a 3/4 that allows me to cast a creature spell from my graveyard once per turn. I then considered Sepulchral Primordial, but I do not wish to raise the mana curve of this deck, and that creature is only a 5/4 for seven mana. I also am considering either Sun Titan or Angel of Indemnity, as they clearly work with the theme of this deck, but the restrictions on their abilities may limit their utility in this deck, although the encore ability of the angel is nice, as I can sacrifice the tokens that it generates before they sacrifice themselves. Then, I am considering Grave Titan, since it can easily send creatures to my opponents' graveyards, for me to steal, as well as generating tokens for me to sacrifice, so I have numerous options for that deck.

What does everyone else say about this? What cards should I use to replace The Immortal Sun in my decks?

Gleeock on Fuck it, late Outlaw of …

2 weeks ago

Obeka, Splitter of Seconds is intriguing, I will be curious to see what it looks like to optimize the fine line of running the most upkeep trigger items vs. boosting Obeka.

The "Joins up" enchantments pack a punch, & some of them may be nice low-cost singles to pick up. Annie Joins up is a particularly potent mix between kill spell & triggered ability doubler. My Atla burn deck (dmg doublers/triplers) will go bonkers with that.

Roxanne, Starfall Savant is indeed a "titan" in ability. I may actually consider her for my {RG} commander to helm a deck. I like the ability to take out hatebears, Esper Sentinel, and planeswalkers; all this while ramping is pretty slick. Though I am not much for artifacts or extra combats, which I'm guessing she will naturally lean toward in many decklists.

Rakdos, the Muscle is probably most my speed. But, not sure I have a home for him.

Barron Bertram Greywater Haha, that name. My goodness, I will probably just call him "Barron Taintjuice" ... Makes me wonder if that card designer actually knows what "Gray water" is.

None of the "Face" commanders really do it for me. It seems like they often have conceptual troubles settling on a wedge for an archetype... So, is Jund going to be the land/graveyard colors or is Naya going to be?

One little keyword on the cactusfolk token that changes the game for Yuma though is that reach that little additiion to those tokens is a bit of a game-changer.

kirbysan on [Primer] Helming the Host of Heaven *Update*

2 weeks ago

am3ience : Doesn't look like Guerric has been on in over a year so his list is a little outdated. He also made some budget choices. Depending on the power level of your pod you may want to look at stronger support. I've been playing Giada semi-regularly since release and my list has evolved over time:

https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/help-me-giada-youre-my-only-hope/

There a few notable angels in the year since this list:

Inspiring Overseer - while it released the same time as Giada, Guerric didn't include it. When you're going for a blink theme and Sword of Hearth and Home is out then you can essentially gain life and draw an extra card once per turn.

Guardian of Ghirapur - if you have any ETB effect angels then this one can help immensely. Or if you picked up Throne of Eldraine then you can reset it, leaving 4 white up on opponents turns which is typically the magic number for protection.

Metropolis Reformer - It's a cheap angel at 2W, has vigilance as a keyword, provides us hexproof from targeted spells and semi-lifegain from blocks or a Blasphemous Act

Firemane Commando - While it's a 4 drop it provides much needed draw off attacks which you should be doing every turn.

Roaming Throne - Not technically an angel but it doubles all the triggers. If you check my list I have categories of Angel Triggers. Anything with the keywords "At, When, or Whenever" will be doubled. Unfortunately it doesn't double Giada herself as that's a replacement effect but it can still get out of hand very quickly.

Wojek Investigator - Also a cheap angel at 2W with vigilance and usually a free clue every turn I'd consider it a strict upgrade over Angelic Sleuth. However, if you need more card draw support I'd personally pick Esper Sentinel, Archivist of Oghma or The One Ring.

I didn't add Aurelia's Vindicator or Merchant of Truth because their abilities don't justify the mana cost.

If you like Aurelia's Vindicator ability I'd recommend Angel of Serenity as the Disguise cost and ability is the same as Serenity but you don't have to jump through hoops of turning it face up. Also, you can target it with an Ephemerate or Teleportation Circle to get more than one usage out if it.

9-lives on Azorius Aggro-Control deck

1 month ago

wallisface Thanks for your advice and persistence!

Ohhh! Now I see where I went wrong in my thinking. I thought that Assemble the Players would give me a free cast for the card's presence. I literally read it as "Once each turn you can cast a creature spell with 2 mana or less" for free. Huge mistake on my part. Sorry. Nevertheless, I still would like to run it, considering how it will give me a heads up to what is next in the game.

Oppressive Rays I could get rid of for something else. Do you think Lawmage's Binding is much better? What card would you recommend?

I don't mind getting rid of Defiant Strike for something budget.

My budget is to just use cards that you know will be as low as below 3 dollars per card. Even if that is so, I don't want to spend 12 dollars for 4 cards.

I'm really trying to use budget cards for my deck, and I don't know what I should use for an aggro deck that is control. Do you think that I shouldn't run the artifact-creature stuff? I'm really putting my hope into Ethersworn Canonist, Esper Sentinel and Skrelv, Defector Mite. All of these cards are great for me.

9-lives on Azorius Aggro-Control deck

1 month ago

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Mystimechanics

Modern 9-lives

SCORE: 3 | 6 COMMENTS | 96 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS

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Artifact-creature deck that is aggro-control. I am also running this deck for the art it has in it; it's some of my favorite!

I know that I'm basically sacrificing ability to cast creatures quickly with the couterspells taking up so much mana.

I do like the control with Ethersworn Canonist. This can work in my favor, especially that this is an aggro deck, so that I will be able to cast as many artifact-creature spells with no problem, and keeping the opponent from casting other spells that aren't artifacts except for one. This magic number of one is that which I can easily counter each turn.

Mana-counter Control with Mana Leak with Esper Sentinel and Oppressive Rays and No More Lies and Spell Pierce.

If they pay the mana, fine, that's good because I am tying up their mana usage. If they don't pay the mana, that's good too, because it will remove it. The fact that it works out for them later in the game isn't a probem; i'll still tie up the mana in usage if they ever want to use it.

Also, Assemble the Players and Sorcerous Spyglass and Mishra's Bauble is really useful in this deck, with that and Peek working optimally to give me the heads up before anything occurs so that I know what to do with my mana if I need to use a counterspell or not.

Is it really worth it to have this hand-awareness?

Also, Peek and Mishra's Bauble and Defiant Strike all give me card draw not to mention their other abilities.

Assemble the Players is just as good as not having it, except for taking up deck space. This card is good if I cast two or more creatures with it, which will most likely happen, and if it only stays on the field for one turn, it will have nothing gained and nothing lost if it casts one 2 CMC creature.

Arcbound Javelineers are to remove creatures with 1 toughness or less while I am starting the game with them.

Skrelv, Defector Mite is useful for its protection from color as well as granting toxic 1. This for a 1 mana card is crazy good.

Pairing toxic with creature power plus Defiant Strike makes for a strong creature.

Tsukimi on Communism Was a Red Herring

2 months ago

Switched up the land base a touch to make room for Hall of Heliod's Generosity and Volatile Fault. Took out a few cards to make room for more/better ramp so now we have Thought Vessel, Gala Greeters, and Wood Elves. Found room for Esper Sentinel as we need more recurring card draw to enable effects like Minn, Wily Illusionist and Ethereal Investigator. We probably still want more ramp, but I'll see how it runs as is while I still look for a spot for Bronzebeak Foragers.

Coward_Token on Murders at Karlov Manor

2 months ago

neo!Massacre Girl: Any good non-symmetrical burn creatures that can take advantage of this in mono-black? (Stuff like Plague Spitter will wear down your own stuff)

Kylox, Visionary Inventor: Very expensive at 7 MV, but seems fun. Works well with token-making spell cards. (Any good Ball Lightning-type token creators?)

Case of the Ransacked Lab: Finally a mono-blue noncreature Goblin Electromancer at this mana value! It turning into a quasi-Archmage Emeritus later on is just the cherry on the top. I like Cases in general too, being obviously very similar to Classes.

Dog Walker: disguise flavor feels kinda weird here

Delney, Streetwise Lookout: AFAIK e.g. Welcoming Vampire doesn't work with stuff like this. At least Esper Sentinel is still good. Also, neat Spark Double imitation with commanders like Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff

orcopollo on Angels We Have Heard On High

3 months ago

Thanks for your suggestions and your interest in my deck, Hexapod! Those are all excellent cards, I even originally considered some of them (Esper Sentinel and Urza's Incubator above all), while I didn't think about the others. Unfortunately, as my budget is limited, these are a bit out of range for me, but maybe with time I will manage to get my hands on some of them! :) Also regarding lands, even though I agree that Kabira Crossroads can slow me down a bit in the early game, it can be quite useful to gain two extra life and trigger either some token producing effect or Dawn of Hope. The reason for Bant Panorama is that it's not a tap land and, if I need it, I can always replace it with a plains and get to shuffle my deck, which I found being quite useful if I'm getting horrible draws haha! Thank you again for engaging and if you have any other suggestions I would be happy to read them! Cheers!