Grandmother Sengir MTG Card


Provides card advantage, fostering a strategic edge through enhanced hand access in prolonged games. Her skill accelerates resource availability, paving the way for quicker access to critical spells. Demands strategic mana investment, posing challenges in multi-colored decks requiring flexibility.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Wizard
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

o1o B, oc T: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

"Rarely have power and madness been so delightfully wed as they have in our dear Grandmother." —Baron Sengir


Cards like Grandmother Sengir

Grandmother Sengir is an intriguing member of the vast tableau of creatures in MTG. It enters the realm alongside formidable peers like Royal Assassin. While both cards allow the control of the board by eliminating threats, Grandmother Sengir offers this with a twist: regenerating any creature at a considerable activation cost. Royal Assassin, by contrast, stands out with its ability to destroy any tapped creature without any cost.

Sanguine Guard is another creature that shares a kinship with Grandmother Sengir through its regeneration ability. However, Sanguine Guard’s higher power and the phenomenal ability to be unblockable if there are no untapped lands give it an interesting edge. In contrast, Grandmother Sengir’s lower casting cost makes her a more accessible option early in the game.

In the shadowy corners of MTG, several creatures mimic the utility and strategic depth of Grandmother Sengir. Each card has its own pros and cons, but they all share a common thread in providing players with an opportunity to maintain presence on the board. Thus, within the rich ecosystem of creatures that convey resilience, Grandmother Sengir still manages to carve out its unique niche.

Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Sanguine Guard - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Sanguine Guard - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Grandmother Sengir by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
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Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grandmother Sengir is compelling due to her ability to grant access to more cards in your hand. Especially in longer games, her unique skill provides a strategic edge by potentially drawing out more powerful or situational cards that can turn the tide in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While she doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration, Grandmother Sengir helps accelerate your resource pool by effectively allowing you to skip drawing less useful cards. This selective approach can enable you to reach key spells faster, ensuring a steady pace in the game’s progression.

Instant Speed: Her abilities may not be at instant speed, but Grandmother Sengir’s presence on the battlefield has an immediate effect on deck dynamics, commanding attention from opponents. She influences the flow of play, dictating more urgent reactions and thus, impacting the overall tempo of the match at any given moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Grandmother Sengir requires you to relinquish another card from your hand to harness her ability. This could be a steep price to pay, especially in matches where maintaining card advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Grandmother Sengir demands a very particular mana investment; one black and two others are non-negotiable, potentially complicating her inclusion in multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for her power and synergistic capabilities, Grandmother Sengir might seem overcosted when compared to other creatures. Savvy players will weigh her utility against other cards that present more aggressive board presence or strategic value for the same or lower cost.


Reasons to Include Grandmother Sengir in Your Collection

Versatility: Grandmother Sengir is not just a flavor win for those who appreciate the deep lore of MTG; it also offers varied utility across numerous deck types. With the ability to regenerate other Sengir vampires, this card serves as a robust support for tribal strategies within your collection.

Combo Potential: Apart from her thematic fit with vampire decks, Grandmother Sengir can be a keystone for intriguing combos. Her ability to return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand when paired with creatures that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects or sacrifice synergies, enhances overall deck strategy.

Meta-Relevance: While she may not be a staple in the ever-changing competitive meta, Grandmother Sengir holds a place in casual and Commander formats where quirky and thematic decks can shine. Her presence in your deck reinforces themes and offers utility that could tip the scales in longer, more politically driven games.


How to beat

Grandmother Sengir may not headline many top-tier decks in MTG, but underestimating this card could be a grave mistake. This iconic piece from the Homelands set is a creature that can prove resilient and troublesome for opponents due to her ability to regenerate other Sengir vampires. She might be a touch slow and costly at five mana for a 3/3 body, but in a deck themed around Sengir vampires, she becomes an enigma that demands an answer.

One effective strategy to overcome Grandmother Sengir lies in preventing her from taking center stage. Utilize removal spells that bypass regeneration, like exile or sacrifice effects, to permanently deal with her. If she’s already established her reign on the battlefield, focusing on direct player strategies or applying pressure with aggressive creatures can outpace the value she might otherwise provide. Moreover, crippling her support network of vampires through board-clearing cards will make it much harder for your opponent to capitalize on her abilities, tilting the game in your favor.

Always remember, in MTG, understanding and countering your opponent’s strategy is just as crucial as executing your own game plan. With precise play and tactical foresight, you can turn the tide against Grandmother Sengir and maintain the upper hand.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grandmother Sengir MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition II, 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 Grandmother Sengir and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grandmother Sengir Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-10-01HomelandsHML 501993NormalBlackPete Venters
22008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 931997NormalBlackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grandmother Sengir has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal