Guardian Seraph MTG Card


Guardian Seraph’s passive ability serves as a deterrent, reducing combat and effect damage each turn. Indirectly aids in resource conservation by lessening the need for defensive plays. Enhances strategic flexibility without additional mana expenditure once on the field.
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Angel
Abilities Flying
Released2009-07-17
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2010
Set codeM10
Power 3
Toughness 4
Number13
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byPaul Bonner

Text of card

Flying If a source an opponent controls would deal damage to you, prevent 1 of that damage.

Her gaze prevents the petty sins and her sword punishes the rest.


Cards like Guardian Seraph

Guardian Seraph presents a unique take on creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, but it can be closely paralleled with other angelic protectors such as Baneslayer Angel. Both are high-powered fliers with significant impact on the board. Guardian Seraph stands out with its ability to reduce damage from sources, offering a form of indirect life gain. Baneslayer Angel, however, is more offensive with lifelink and protection from demons and dragons.

Another counterpart worth mentioning is Lyra Dawnbringer which not only provides life gain with lifelink but also buffs other angels. Guardian Seraph doesn’t have this anthem effect but compensates with its constant protective shield. Then there’s Archangel of Thune, which also promotes survival through lifelink and has the capability to grow your army by placing +1/+1 counters whenever you gain life. The Seraph’s damage mitigation contrasts with Thune’s offensive strategy of continuous growth.

In essence, the tactical advantage of the Guardian Seraph lies in its defensive utility, reducing the potency of opponents’ attacks, which can prove invaluable in games where sustaining your life total is crucial.

Baneslayer Angel - MTG Card versions
Lyra Dawnbringer - MTG Card versions
Archangel of Thune - MTG Card versions
Baneslayer Angel - MTG Card versions
Lyra Dawnbringer - MTG Card versions
Archangel of Thune - MTG Card versions

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Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Teroh's Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Leonin Abunas - MTG Card versions
Kami of Old Stone - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Blinking Spirit - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Guardian Seraph. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024
DecklistDecklist Free formSet Roulette Spring 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Guardian Seraph provides consistent benefits each turn it remains on the battlefield, contributing to the long-term accumulation of advantage which is crucial in outmaneuvering opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct form of ramping, Guardian Seraph can lead to effective resource acceleration by preserving life points and discouraging attacks, allowing players to divert resources that would be spent on defense towards advancing their board state instead. This indirect preservation of resources can be pivotal in the mid to late game.

Instant Speed: While Guardian Seraph itself isn’t an instant, its passive ability can be seen as having an ‘instant speed’ impact on the game. It has the potential to alter the results of combat and other damage-dealing effects on the fly, without requiring any mana investment or pre-planning when it’s already on the field, thereby allowing strategic flexibility in other plays during each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Guardian Seraph might necessitate sacrificing other cards to harness its full potential, which could put you at a disadvantage when your hand size diminishes.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands a strict color commitment to white mana, which can restrict its integration into multi-colored decks or those with a more diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher side, Guardian Seraph competes with other creatures that may provide more immediate impact or value for the same or lower investment.


Reasons to Include Guardian Seraph in Your Collection

Versatility: Guardian Seraph offers a unique dynamic to your decks with its ability to potentially reduce the damage done to you. It can fit nicely into various builds, acting as both a defender and a subtle form of life gain.

Combo Potential: This card can work well in combos that capitalize on life variations. For instance, in decks that thrive on maintaining a high life total or triggering effects when life is gained or preserved, Guardian Seraph could be a linchpin.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having a flying creature that curbs damage can give you the upper hand. Its relevance grows as it can often serve as a bulwark against many common threats found in competitive play.


How to beat

Guardian Seraph presents a challenge on the battlefield with its ability to reduce damage from sources an opponent controls, setting up a defensive bulwark in the skies. Facing this celestial protector demands a tactical shift, as direct damage strategies may falter against its damage mitigation. To overcome this, the key lies in leveraging removal spells that can bypass Guardian Seraph’s protective aura. Spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile are ideal as they can target and remove the Seraph without triggering its damage reduction ability.

Another approach is increasing aggression with creatures that offer alternative routes to deal damage, such as those with trample or infect. These abilities can help push damage through the Seraph’s defenses or accumulate alternative win conditions. Edict effects, which force a player to sacrifice a creature, can also be effective by not targeting the Seraph directly and thus sidestepping its damage reducing effect. Utilizing these strategies can shift the tide of battle and help claim victory over the Guardian Seraph’s imposing presence in MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guardian Seraph MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010, 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 Guardian Seraph and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guardian Seraph has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-10-01 Spells and permanents have controllers, but cards that aren’t on the stack or the battlefield don’t. If a source without a controller (such as a cycled Jund Sojourners, for example) would deal damage to you, 1 of that damage is prevented if an opponent owns that source.
2009-10-01 The effects from multiple Guardian Seraphs are cumulative.
2009-10-01 This ability prevents 1 damage from each source an opponent controls each time that source would deal damage to you. It prevents 1 of any damage, not just combat damage.