Sliptide Serpent MTG Card


Sliptide Serpent excels in creating card advantage and unexpected battlefield presence through graveyard interactions. The creature’s demand for specific mana and the discard requirement present strategic deckbuilding challenges. Its late-game potential and synergy with blue strategies make it a compelling addition to various deck types.
Sliptide Serpent - Nemesis
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Serpent
Released2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set nameNemesis
Set codeNEM
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number43
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDaren Bader

Text of card

o3oo U Return Sliptide Serpent to its owner's hand.

It's futile to fight something you can see only in the corner of your eye.


Cards like Sliptide Serpent

Sliptide Serpent introduces an intriguing synergy within blue creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It bears similarities to other creatures like Serpent of Yawning Depths, which also makes sea monsters unblockable. However, Sliptide Serpent goes a step further by granting this ability to itself when you control eight or more lands, which can turn the tides in a game focused on heavy hitters.

In contrast, we have Aether Tunnel, an enchantment that offers a similar unblockable ability, but it’s limited to the enchanted creature. The difference here is Sliptide Serpent’s flexibility and the potential to affect multiple creatures as the game progresses. Additionally, there’s Inkwell Leviathan, a sea giant that’s inherently unblockable—yet without the scalable advantage that Sliptide Serpent could provide in the long run.

Comparing these options, Sliptide Serpent offers a strategic value for late-game scenarios where its passive ability can consistently tip the battlefield in your favor. This positions it as a unique card choice for players who prefer a build-up style of play to unleash devastating turns in Magic: The Gathering.

Serpent of Yawning Depths - MTG Card versions
Aether Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Inkwell Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Serpent of Yawning Depths - MTG Card versions
Aether Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Inkwell Leviathan - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sliptide Serpent by color, type and mana cost

Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Sibilant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Drifting Djinn - MTG Card versions
King Crab - MTG Card versions
Sea Monster - MTG Card versions
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions
Mahamoti Djinn - MTG Card versions
Deepfathom Skulker - MTG Card versions
Shoreline Ranger - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Dismisser - MTG Card versions
Novijen Sages - MTG Card versions
Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Navigator - MTG Card versions
Harbor Serpent - MTG Card versions
Skyline Predator - MTG Card versions
Isperia's Skywatch - MTG Card versions
Sphinx of the Chimes - MTG Card versions
Sapphire Drake - MTG Card versions
Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Sibilant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Drifting Djinn - MTG Card versions
King Crab - MTG Card versions
Sea Monster - MTG Card versions
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions
Mahamoti Djinn - MTG Card versions
Deepfathom Skulker - MTG Card versions
Shoreline Ranger - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Dismisser - MTG Card versions
Novijen Sages - MTG Card versions
Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Navigator - MTG Card versions
Harbor Serpent - MTG Card versions
Skyline Predator - MTG Card versions
Isperia's Skywatch - MTG Card versions
Sphinx of the Chimes - MTG Card versions
Sapphire Drake - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sliptide Serpent can help you secure a commanding position on the battlefield. When you cast this creature, you immediately benefit from its lurking potential. It hugs the shadows of your library until a land hits your graveyard, making it an unforeseen threat. This sea monster’s entrance isn’t just foreboding for its size; its presence hints at a deeper card strategy, leveraging graveyard synergy to generate in-game benefits.

Resource Acceleration: One of the noteworthy characteristics of this creature is its innate ability to streamline your resource management. By manipulating the graveyard as a resource, Sliptide Serpent can expedite the movements of your deck, ensuring you’re not starved for options as the match unfolds. It’s a creature that rewards thoughtful play and graveyard interactions, giving the tactical player an acceleration in their game tempo.

Instant Speed: While the serpent itself may not be fast, it plays well with elements of your deck that operate at instant speed. By incorporating this creature into a strategy that emphasizes responsiveness—one that utilizes instants and flash abilities—you can maximize the potential of both Sliptide Serpent and your reactive plays. It’s a creature that complements a strategist who values adaptability and the capability to seize the moment when the game’s tide turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sliptide Serpent demands the player to discard a card to leverage some of its key abilities. This prerequisite can be restrictive, especially when you’re managing a tight grip and strategic resources need to be conserved. Discarding not only thins your hand but could potentially force you to forfeit crucial plays later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Sliptide Serpent’s casting cost necessitates a commitment to both blue and green mana. For decks not focused on a Simic (green-blue) combination or those that have a less consistent mana base, the serpent’s specific mana needs could prove to be obstructive, hampering the fluidity of a multi-colored deck’s play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that sums up to seven, including one green and one blue, Sliptide Serpent lies on the higher end of the mana curve. For this investment, players might find comparable creatures or spells that offer similar or enhanced effects with less mana strain or that fit better within their deck’s synergy and strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sliptide Serpent offers flexibility in deckbuilding owing to its self-returning mechanic and can be a persistent threat in blue-focused control or midrange decks.

Combo Potential: This serpentine creature pairs well with cards that manipulate the graveyard, setting up potential combos with reanimation strategies or enablers of bouncing effects to optimize its reusability.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where longer games are prevalent, the Sliptide Serpent can shine by recurring itself, making it a resilient piece against removal-heavy decks.


How to beat

Sliptide Serpent presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This creature becomes virtually unblockable as long as it’s the turn it has come into play, tempting players to go all-in on one massive, sneaky strike. To counter this slippery foe, clever timing and the right cards are essential. The first tactic is to control the combat phase; employ spells that can tap the Serpent before combat or, even better, remove it from the field with an exile effect before the attack can even begin.

Counterspells also play a pivotal role. By keeping mana open, you can preemptively stop the Serpent from slithering onto the battlefield. Alternatively, creature-based strategies may involve blockers with reach or flyers that can act as supplementary defenses if the Serpent’s unblockable condition hasn’t been met. Lastly, keep an eye out for opportunities to thwart its entry. Graveyard disruption can be incredibly effective against strategies that might return the Sliptide Serpent from the graveyard for another surprise attack. Understanding and anticipating this creature’s cyclical play pattern is the key to besting the Serpent’s aquatic ambush.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sliptide Serpent MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Sliptide Serpent and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sliptide Serpent has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal