Sedraxis Specter MTG Card


Sedraxis Specter can provide card advantage by forcing opponent discards while being a flying threat. Unearth ability at instant speed offers strategic flexibility and surprise board re-entry. Mana-specific and discard-driven, it thrives in dedicated decks but might limit broader use.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Specter
Abilities Flying,Unearth
Power 3
Toughness 2

Text of card

Flying Whenever Sedraxis Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)


Cards like Sedraxis Specter

Sedraxis Specter joins the ranks of multicolored specters in Magic the Gathering, evoking a blend of terror and strategy upon the battlefield. This card echoes the essence of other specter creatures, such as Blazing Specter and Hypnotic Specter, which also pose a dual threat of damage and card disruption. While Sedraxis Specter requires an assault to instigate its discard effect, Hypnotic Specter, rooted in MTG’s earlier sets, mandates a discard with each successful hit without necessitating unearth.

Examining Guul Draz Specter reveals similar specter kinship, with a tentative discard effect that strengthens as the opponent’s hand diminishes. Unlike Guul Draz Specter’s variable potency, Sedraxis Specter brings consistency with a guaranteed discard, further amplified by its unearth ability, ensuring one final aerial assault even from the graveyard. Bloodhusk Ritualist, though not a flier, presents an alternative discard strategy where the volume of cards purged scales with mana investment, tailored for larger, more decisive hand disruption.

These comparisons place Sedraxis Specter as a versatile choice within MTG’s rogues’ gallery of specters. Its balance of evasion, persistent discard, and unearth for board presence cements its role for players seeking to meld aerial threats with hand attack tactics.

Blazing Specter - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Guul Draz Specter - MTG Card versions
Bloodhusk Ritualist - MTG Card versions
Blazing Specter - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Guul Draz Specter - MTG Card versions
Bloodhusk Ritualist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sedraxis Specter by color, type and mana cost

Tetsuo Umezawa - MTG Card versions
Morgue Toad - MTG Card versions
Nightscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions
Grixis Battlemage - MTG Card versions
Kederekt Creeper - MTG Card versions
Maestros Diabolist - MTG Card versions
Corpse Appraiser - MTG Card versions
Anhelo, the Painter - MTG Card versions
Maestros Initiate - MTG Card versions
Spelldrain Assassin - MTG Card versions
Tetsuo, Imperial Champion - MTG Card versions
Goro-Goro and Satoru - MTG Card versions
Tetsuo Umezawa - MTG Card versions
Morgue Toad - MTG Card versions
Nightscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions
Grixis Battlemage - MTG Card versions
Kederekt Creeper - MTG Card versions
Maestros Diabolist - MTG Card versions
Corpse Appraiser - MTG Card versions
Anhelo, the Painter - MTG Card versions
Maestros Initiate - MTG Card versions
Spelldrain Assassin - MTG Card versions
Tetsuo, Imperial Champion - MTG Card versions
Goro-Goro and Satoru - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sedraxis Specter enables you to potentially discard one of your opponent’s cards while presenting a threat on the board. This disrupts their hand while you maintain presence, effectively shifting the balance of power in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: As a three-mana cost creature, Sedraxis Specter allows for a quick deployment, often hitting the battlefield by the third turn. It paves the way for higher-cost threats in your deck by demanding answers early in the game, thus accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: The unearth ability of Sedraxis Specter can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to bring it back during your opponent’s end step. This means you can apply pressure and force your opponent to deal with it all over again without using up your main phase resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Sedraxis Specter means you’ll need to ensure card advantage is maintained, as each attack necessitates a discard from your opponent. This can be a double-edged sword; if your opponent has a way to benefit from discarding cards, this aspect of Sedraxis Specter could inadvertently aid them.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a precise combination of black, blue, and red mana to cast. This tri-color requirement makes it less flexible and harder to fit into decks not dedicated to these colors, potentially limiting the specter’s playability across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: As a 3/2 flying creature for three mana, Sedraxis Specter’s cost effectiveness may be scrutinized. Given that there are creatures with similar or better stats that can impact the board immediately or have lower mana costs, some players might opt for more economical alternatives in their deck constructions.


Reasons to Include Sedraxis Specter in Your Collection

Versatility: Sedraxis Specter’s flexibility as a flying threat makes it a solid fit in a variety of decks, particularly those that emphasize discard mechanics or need a reliable three-drop creature.

Combo Potential: Its synergy with cards that benefit from opponents discarding enhances its combo potential. Unleashing its unearth ability ensures it makes an impact both in life and after death, enriching graveyard strategies.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-fluctuating nature of the metagame where disruption can be key, Sedraxis Specter maintains relevance. Its ability to disrupt hand resources makes it a valuable asset in matches where keeping opponents off-balance is crucial.


How to beat

Sedraxis Specter is a resilient threat in MTG that commands attention as soon as it hits the battlefield. The combination of flying, haste, and its ability to force your opponent to discard a card whenever it deals combat damage makes it a triple threat. One way to mitigate the impact of Sedraxis Specter is through effective removal spells. Timing these spells before damage is dealt is crucial to prevent the discard effect.

Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push are excellent choices for dealing with Sedraxis Specter efficiently due to their low mana cost and the ability to bypass the Specter’s Unearth ability by removing it from the game entirely. Cards that can exile it while it’s on the stack, like Counterspell, can also be effective but require you to hold up mana for the right moment. Furthermore, creatures with the ‘reach’ ability or those that can block flying creatures serve as a good line of defense.

It ultimately comes down to maintaining strong board control and keeping removal or counterspells in hand to answer Sedraxis Specter on sight. Adequate preparation and strategy are essential in shutting down this evasive and disruptive creature.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG involves understanding not just the power of individual cards but also their synergies within your deck. Sedraxis Specter is a prime example of a card that offers both a direct threat and strategic depth to gameplay. Utilizing fast deployment and flexible unearth ability, Sedraxis Specter can be a game changer, especially when aligned with decks that capitalize on discard mechanics. Our insights reveal the nuances of incorporating this card into your collection and optimizing its potential. Curious about integrating Sedraxis Specter into your arsenal? Visit us for a deeper dive into building a strategy that keeps you ahead of the curve in MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sedraxis Specter MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Sedraxis Specter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sedraxis Specter Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Cole Eastburn.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 1922003NormalBlackCole Eastburn
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1812015NormalBlackCole Eastburn
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14822015NormalBlackCole Eastburn
42020-09-26The ListPLST MM3-1812015NormalBlackCole Eastburn
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2732015NormalBlackCole Eastburn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sedraxis Specter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-10-01 Activating a creature card’s unearth ability isn’t the same as casting the creature card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the creature card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle) will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul) will not.
2008-10-01 At the beginning of the end step, a creature returned to the battlefield with unearth is exiled. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects such as Stifle or Voidslime that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the creature will stay on the battlefield and the delayed trigger won’t trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still exile the creature when it eventually leaves the battlefield.
2008-10-01 If a creature returned to the battlefield with unearth would leave the battlefield for any reason, it’s exiled instead — unless the spell or ability that’s causing the creature to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it! In that case, it succeeds at exiling it. If it later returns the creature card to the battlefield (as Oblivion Ring or Flickerwisp might, for example), the creature card will return to the battlefield as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effect will no longer apply to it.
2008-10-01 If you activate a card’s unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will resolve and do nothing.
2008-10-01 Unearth grants haste to the creature that’s returned to the battlefield. However, neither of the “exile” abilities is granted to that creature. If that creature loses all its abilities, it will still be exiled at the beginning of the end step, and if it would leave the battlefield, it is still exiled instead.