Loyal Sentry MTG Card


Loyal Sentry provides card advantage by eliminating attackers and protecting valuable cards without losing life points. Indirect resource acceleration enables strategic flexibility in mana allocation and overall smoother gameplay. Instant speed blocking tricks can create unexpected advantages, turning defensive plays into powerful removals.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Loyal Sentry blocks, destroy it and the creature it blocks. (Destroy both creatures before dealing damage.)


Cards like Loyal Sentry

Loyal Sentry is a unique creature card from Magic the Gathering that presents a one-on-one deterrent. Standing alongside Sentry is Elite Inquisitor, another one-mana cost creature but with offensive perks like first strike and vigilance. The key differentiator is Elite Inquisitor’s absence of the Sentry’s guard-like ability to destroy any creature it blocks or becomes blocked by.

Looking towards Typhoid Rat as a peer, we see a similar defense strategy with its deathtouch. Yet, the Rat lacks the immediate board impact of the Sentry, requiring the rat to deal damage to be effective. Additionally, Typhoid Rat misses the one-time defensive wall that is the Sentry, which isn’t limited to combat damage in its creature removal tactic.

Contrasts can also be drawn with the humble Kami of False Hope. It also offers a one-time creature protection effect, although it’s designed to prevent all combat damage for a turn rather than remove a specific threat. While Kami doesn’t guarantee the removal of a creature like Sentry does, it brings a broader defensive utility.

When we dive into the depth of Loyal Sentry’s uses in MTG, its role shines as a strategic single-use elimination tool, making it a valuable inclusion in decks geared towards control and board management.

Elite Inquisitor - MTG Card versions
Kami of False Hope - MTG Card versions
Elite Inquisitor - MTG Card versions
Kami of False Hope - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Loyal Sentry by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
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Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Bushi Tenderfoot // Kenzo the Hardhearted - MTG Card versions
Hada Freeblade - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Bushi Tenderfoot // Kenzo the Hardhearted - MTG Card versions
Hada Freeblade - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Loyal Sentry may seem unassuming, but its power lies in its ability to trade with any attacking creature, regardless of that creature’s power. This removal-on-legs setup can deter opponents from attacking, effectively offering card advantage by preserving your more valuable creatures or life total.

Resource Acceleration: Though Loyal Sentry doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its mere presence can indirectly influence how you use your mana. By knowing that you can halt a powerful enemy attack, you are often free to allocate mana to other strategies on your turn, effectively smoothing out your gameplay.

Instant Speed: This is where Loyal Sentry’s potential truly shines. Despite not having flash itself, its destructive ability triggers when it blocks, allowing you to turn any block into a removal spell. This can create an unexpected advantage, especially if you’re able to put Loyal Sentry onto the battlefield at instant speed through other card effects.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Loyal Sentry doesn’t require discard as a cost, its single-use effect means that it essentially functions as a discard once destroyed. That can be a disadvantage in games where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Loyal Sentry has a purely white mana cost for casting. This specificity means that it fits primarily in mono-white or two-color decks but may not be ideal for multicolor decks where the mana base can be more restrictive.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only one white mana might appear efficient, in a format where low-cost cards are expected to provide ongoing value or versatility, the single-use, defensive nature of Loyal Sentry can be seen as a lesser option compared to other creatures or spells within the same cost bracket.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Loyal Sentry offers strong defense in a variety of deck formats. Its ability to destroy any creature it blocks can deter opponents from attacking, making it a solid choice for decks that prioritize board control.

Combo Potential: Utilizing Loyal Sentry’s destructive blocking capability can be combined with card effects that negate or redirect damage, ensuring its survival and leading to repeatable removal of opponent’s creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies frequently dominate the play environment, having Loyal Sentry in your lineup can serve as an efficient counter, thwarting common aggressive decks and preserving your life total.


How to beat Loyal Sentry

Loyal Sentry offers a unique defensive capability among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to destroy any creature it blocks, it can deter opponents from attacking or serve as a strategic sacrifice to remove powerful threats from the board. To outmaneuver this card, there’s a need for tactics that don’t rely on combat. Utilizing spells or abilities that can bypass the battlefield is key. Direct removal spells such as Murder or Doom Blade can dispatch the Sentry without triggering its ability, preserving your creatures and maintaining your offensive strategy. Moreover, board wipes like Wrath of God can cleanly clear the field including the Sentry without its formidable ability posing any consequence.

Another strategy is to employ flying or unblockable creatures that can evade the Sentry entirely, pressuring your opponent while keeping the Sentry’s ability irrelevant. In any case, recognizing the Sentry’s potency as a blocker and planning around it is critical, ensuring your path to victory remains unhindered by this stalwart defender.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Loyal Sentry MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999 and Tenth 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 Loyal Sentry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Loyal Sentry Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1999-07-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-07-01Starter 1999S99 201997NormalWhiteRon Spears
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 272003NormalBlackMichael Sutfin
32018-03-16Masters 25A25 222015NormalBlackSara Winters
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 1682015NormalBlackSara Winters
52020-09-26The ListPLST A25-222015NormalBlackSara Winters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Loyal Sentry has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-03-16 Loyal Sentry and the creature it blocks are destroyed before combat damage is dealt. The blocked creature is destroyed even if Loyal Sentry leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves.