ahhh, god hand- this, 4 dark ritual, and swamp... him on turn 1:P
he is a bit over cost, but +2\+2? flying? solid body? 5\5
yojimbojones
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(7 votes)
The king of vamps, really not that great. Especialy compared to newer cards. I think if he had a 2 black: regenrate target vamp (including himself) this card might be worth it's massive 8 mana cost. Still, I have one from back in the day, and reminice about the time I got him up to 11/11 in a multiplayer game.
spoonish
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(9 votes)
considering when sengir came into print, this vampire is on the epic side.. there arnt that many creatures in the homelands expansion that are bigger than 5/5.. compared to new cards, almost all old creatures are useless.. maybe except kird ape
Volcre
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(10 votes)
+2/+2 counters ftw...
red-baron
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(6 votes)
still the coolest vamp so far
doolydooly
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
this past summer i opened 3 packs of homelands and got 2 baron sengirs
probably the best possible homelands pulls in history right there
SylarSengir
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(7 votes)
i like to think he's holding the moon!!! i have this card in a sengir deck. still works to this day. of course its gone through many incarnatioins. but the version that works the best is sengirs only and all black. to prevent being trapped by creatures with protection from black i use a distorting lens
Doolb
☆☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(14 votes)
Ridiculous, A perfect example of a card from the second worst set ever printed. I'm very glad I had quit magic for the first time before this set came out so I never bought a single pack. Just terrible, you don't even need to compare it to newer cards to see how bad it was. Just look at Sengir vampire! for a B and 2 he gets what? The vunerabilty of Legendary status and an additional +1/+1 on the ability that sees so little use it may as well be Island of wak wak walk. If i pay 8 for a creature with no other abilities it had better read "tap: Win target game" not "Tap: You are a moron for paying 8 for what has to be a wall in order to use this ability. It can't even save itself!?!?! And compared to newer stuff? Tell me the Baron doesn't look the other way when a Nocturnus walks into the room, That would make for some awkwardly hilarious conversation. I would not play this crap pile if he costed 6, Not even if it was legal today, NOT EVEN IN A VAMPIRE DECK!!
nammertime
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(7 votes)
I always thought he was flying... NOW I see the railing.
Sironos
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Comparing these old cars directly with the cards of today is like comparing classic cars with modern cars, the power/cost ratio is simply different, so don't compare them. When taken into account that this is one of the old cards, this one rocks.
...i think ^^
getz19
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Ah, the Baron. My favourite Legend in MTG alongside Ihsan's Shade and Com. Greven il-Vec. I had a fight with my friend when he stole my Baron from me 13 years ago. I still have 2 copies of him and I still want 2 pieces more.
Whatever his cost, I was able to ring him on the table with some Dark Ritual and/or Ashnod's Altar. I'd still play him today if I get a chance to build a vampire deck.
Definitely one of the best looking vampires (if not the best looking legend).
Rulings: 10/4/2004 The Baron's ability will only regenerate creatures with type "Vampire," regardless of whether the creature has "Vampire" in its name.
Sorry Vampire Bats.
Vampire96
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
5/5 Simply because he's my favorite card.
@Hand_Bannana take a look at icy manipulator; i think that is it. someone pls correct me if i'm wrong.
Test-Subject_217601
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Couldn't they have errata'd it to being two +1/+1 counters instead of a +2/+2 counter?
Nagoragama
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(7 votes)
Wizards, bring back Baron Sengir! Not on that card, give him a new card, and make it awesome.
I'd like to see a set that returns to Ulgrotha (the plane Baron lives on) that doesn't suck like Homelands did.
TheHGW
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Still one of the most iconic cards in the game. Homelands wasn't a bad set, it was a small set and had the same percentage of good cards as larger sets. Since most people only remember the few good cards, they dismiss the entire set. Baron was abusive with all the black reanimation tricks, along with the ubiquitous dark ritual. You ask a person to name one card from Homelands, the good Baron is usually first on their lips. I'd love to see him brought back, even in just a versus deck.
dark_hero
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Ooh, I just thought. The Proliferate mechanic works well with him. Not anything to build a deck around, just something to mull over.
ROBRAM89
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Remember when Magic's biggest villain could reasonably be printed as a creature? And at 5/5?
Hand_Bannana
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
wtf is he holding?!
@vampire96 it could be but i dont know. icy manipulator wasnt in that set. and icy manipulator was like a blue color...
Aburaishi
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Actually, I could see him being very useful today with the Proliferate mechanism. He's the only card I've seen that gets +2/+2 counters; just get him to kill someone, proliferate twice (Contagion Engine), and you've got a brand spankin' new 11/11 flyer.
dragonking987
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
TheHGW homelands may have only had 115 cards in it but not one of them is more then decent this guy is quiet powerful but cards that coast that much should pretty much win you the game. Aysen Crusaderagain is not bad but soldiers have much better options then that like Benalish CommanderAn-Zerrin Ruins is probably the best card from the set but again there are several better versions of it like Extinction.
ThisisSakon
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
@Jsttu: I like your theory, but to me that looks more like Liliana. Which would make sense, since Sorin's replacing her in m12. But since Sorin's a vamp too, you could be right. Idk...
yyukichigai
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The least useless member of the Sengir family, and he's actually pretty decent. I always took that casting cost as a joke though, because in an environment with Animate Dead and Dance of the Dead available there was no reason to hard-cast him. Wait until turn 8? How about I play nothing on my first turn, discard the Baron, then second turn use a Dark Ritual and get a 4/5 growing flyer for {1}{B} (and one life, this being the days of mana burn)?
I agree with Nagoragama: I'd really like to see him reprinted, ideally in some sort of set where black has a bunch of Vampire-typed creatures.
BlackFlameAshura
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Instant 5/5, if only for the history factor. I remember back when it was Classic, not Legacy, and when my friend used his brother's Vampire deck around the time of Invasion and absolutely annihilated me. Ever since, the ol' Baron's had a special place in my heart, even if his power is diminished by modern standards.
mtgdjs
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wouldn't this card be great with proliferate? Considering he gets +2/+2 counters.
NoobOfLore
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Aaauughgh +2/+2 counters
does not compute
Shadoflaam
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
"All that I have seen, Standing on the edge The foot of precipice Floating in the sea, Past the king of swords Quickly to the shore; The Last Baron, The Last Baron! Will he Save Me..."
Nerrzull
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I wander what wizards have cooked!?
But I sure it will be bombastic!
Ok ... look at it like this ... grandmother Sengir is planeswalker! ---> Liliana was old hag that got rejuvenated by demons! Coincidence ... I think not!
Baron Sengir ---> gone to unknown! ---> oh my Sorin is planeswalker + vampire ---> Coincidence ... I think not!
Has anyone noticed big jewel on Sorin's and baron Sengir's chest?!
If Sorin and baron are not same person ---> hell they are brothers! I bet on it!
Look people ---> http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/761 ---> Coincidence ... I think not!
Liliana after all could be grandmother Sengir and could have killed Baron. Look at the picture (behind Liliana on the floor) ---> http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/666
People this will me exciting time ... at least in story!
@Hand_Banana I actually think he has an open palm, and that's a full moon behind him. The artist just put the moon in an odd spot. That, or maybe its a delicious orange. Mmm, oranges are full of vitamin C! Sengirs must remember to not boil their fruit juices. I cannot stress this enough.
Arachobia
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The crazy speculations on Innistrad before it came out based on a picture on this thread amuse me...
Also, is D00lb old enough to have quit magic more than once?
grandpraetor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think that the breast plate of Baron is pretty like this one...
http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/761
coincidence?
Or maybe my dreams of see the great Baron back in a better and most playable card are confusing me...
jsttu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
In the image released with the name of the next block Innnistrad, it looks like Irini Sengir is on a throne gloating while this guy is seriously hurt on the floor to the left. Combine the picture, the tagline 'Horror lurks within', and the fact that we have had cards such as barony vampire and vampire aristocrat that specifically talk about Baron sengirs realm, I would say we are returning to the homelands plotline. Now that vampire is black's tribal, we should see a lot of interactions there as the Sengirs finally lead their armies out of the dwarven portal to who knows where. I'm curious if Wizards can make up for what is popularly considered one of the worst blocks ever, even worse than kamigawa. I certainly hope so, this will be interesting.
A link for those who are curious: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/666
EDIT: well, i guess not, but there's always the future, although not anytime soon I bet.
DarthParallax
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Seriously....why wasn't he printed in From the Vault: Legends? Seems like he would have been quite a popular card, actually. As the most memorable card from Homelands set, and the only one (among those) that had lots of Homelands flavor, it really could have been 'the only Homelands Mythic Rare'. That would have been a really neat accomplishment.
Sharu
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I love this guy. One of my first Legends, still one of my favourites. Double old vampire, and a nice little tribal ability (admittedily, vampire wasn't really tribal 'til recently).
And check out that outfit. Now that is what vampire legends should look like.
As it has been noted, his drawback, 8cmc, is really just a suggestion, one very rarely followed, except as a laugh.
I love him, as should everyone (though I think it will take some convincing to get Ihsan to do so...)
4.5/5
Salient
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Baron Sengir would have fit in well in the current block, thematically speaking. Revisiting Ulgrotha would be pretty cool, but not until long after Innistrad.
TheWrathofShane
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Weak creature by todays standards, but this was boss in homelands.
shotoku64
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Mono black vampire decks usually don't have room for 8 drops. Cool general for EDH vampires though, plus it's from Homelands so it's not that expensive of a card to get a hold of
Arachnos
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Not too shabby even by modern standards. He's a 5/5 black flyer and can grow enormous if the opponent chump-blocks him. Would have been cooler if his regeneration ability didn't force him to tap.
Aquillion
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Interestingly, they were originally going to make this guy CMC6 (with only +1/+1 counters for kills). That would have made him much more playable at the time and slightly playable even today.
More details here. It's a bit sad how hopeful they were about Homelands -- and how much time they wasted on unimportant things like exactly how it fit into continuity with Antiquities. Another interesting point: They thought that Legends was overpowered, as a set, and deliberately aimed below there because they wanted weaker cards that people would have to be more strategic about using. (Obviously, in retrospect even Legends was underpowered.)
They also wanted to avoid complex cards, which they thought confused players; this would explain why Homelands was so boring.
As a final interesting note, Homelands was originally supposed to come after The Dark and before Fallen Empires. The reason it has almost no Ice Age block flavor is because it wasn't originally meant to be part of the Ice Age block (in fact, there wasn't any concept of blocks when they started working on it.)
Phelplan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@graey24601 Perfect! How about with "Pay three life when Baron Sengir enters play under your control" as a casting cost? (I only go this low in cmc because he suffers the legend drawback.)
graey24601
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Phelplan Yeah paying some life in the mix is fitting for a "boss" black creature. Especially a vampire would want a taste of blood for his services.
Regarding what's in his hand: Take a look at the art on Castle Sengir (drawn by the same artist). It's probably not the moon, as it appears the moon is the source of that glow in the upper right corner of this card. If you compare the art of both, it places him on the battlements of the castle's back corner. Anyone can be forgiven for not being overly familiar with the art of such a sub-par land.
Anyway, I'd say it's probably an Icy or else just your standard crystal ball used for gazing into while you stand around outside the castle. Ya know, like ya do. Or if you're a fan of The Dark Tower series you can say it's one of the bends 'o the rainbow heh-heh.
jfre81
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Powercreeped, but I still have my old Baron in my vampire deck because oldschool. Sometimes I power him out with Dark Rituals like nature intended, or I discard him and then cheat him out of the graveyard.
Like Nicol Bolas, the Baron should be reborn as a planeswalker. If we revisit the Innistrad world in a future block, perhaps...
Baron Sengir, Planeswalker Loyalty 3
+2: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature -2: Search your library for a vampire card with converted mana cost five or less and put it onto the battlefield. -9: You get an emblem "all vampires you control have indestructible and 'when another creature dies the same turn this creature damages it, put two +1/+1 counters on this creature."
LunarAvenger
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He should be more powerful even for HOMELANDS, btw he is holding an Icy Manipulator.
Comments (43)
he is a bit over cost, but +2\+2? flying? solid body?
5\5
compared to new cards, almost all old creatures are useless.. maybe except kird ape
probably the best possible homelands pulls in history right there
...i think ^^
I had a fight with my friend when he stole my Baron from me 13 years ago. I still have 2 copies of him and I still want 2 pieces more.
Whatever his cost, I was able to ring him on the table with some Dark Ritual and/or Ashnod's Altar.
I'd still play him today if I get a chance to build a vampire deck.
Definitely one of the best looking vampires (if not the best looking legend).
Rulings:
10/4/2004 The Baron's ability will only regenerate creatures with type "Vampire," regardless of whether the creature has "Vampire" in its name.
Sorry Vampire Bats.
@Hand_Bannana
take a look at icy manipulator; i think that is it. someone pls correct me if i'm wrong.
I'd like to see a set that returns to Ulgrotha (the plane Baron lives on) that doesn't suck like Homelands did.
@vampire96 it could be but i dont know. icy manipulator wasnt in that set. and icy manipulator was like a blue color...
I agree with Nagoragama: I'd really like to see him reprinted, ideally in some sort of set where black has a bunch of Vampire-typed creatures.
+2/+2 counters
does not compute
Standing on the edge
The foot of precipice
Floating in the sea,
Past the king of swords
Quickly to the shore;
The Last Baron,
The Last Baron!
Will he
Save
Me..."
But I sure it will be bombastic!
Ok ... look at it like this ... grandmother Sengir is planeswalker! ---> Liliana was old hag that got rejuvenated by demons! Coincidence ... I think not!
Baron Sengir ---> gone to unknown! ---> oh my Sorin is planeswalker + vampire ---> Coincidence ... I think not!
Has anyone noticed big jewel on Sorin's and baron Sengir's chest?!
If Sorin and baron are not same person ---> hell they are brothers! I bet on it!
Look people ---> http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/761 ---> Coincidence ... I think not!
Liliana after all could be grandmother Sengir and could have killed Baron. Look at the picture (behind Liliana on the floor) ---> http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/666
People this will me exciting time ... at least in story!
Poor Ihsan's Shade
I actually think he has an open palm, and that's a full moon behind him. The artist just put the moon in an odd spot.
That, or maybe its a delicious orange. Mmm, oranges are full of vitamin C! Sengirs must remember to not boil their fruit juices. I cannot stress this enough.
Also, is D00lb old enough to have quit magic more than once?
http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/761
coincidence?
Or maybe my dreams of see the great Baron back in a better and most playable card are confusing me...
A link for those who are curious: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/666
EDIT: well, i guess not, but there's always the future, although not anytime soon I bet.
That would have been a really neat accomplishment.
One of my first Legends, still one of my favourites.
Double old vampire, and a nice little tribal ability (admittedily, vampire wasn't really tribal 'til recently).
And check out that outfit. Now that is what vampire legends should look like.
As it has been noted, his drawback, 8cmc, is really just a suggestion, one very rarely followed, except as a laugh.
I love him, as should everyone (though I think it will take some convincing to get Ihsan to do so...)
4.5/5
Cool general for EDH vampires though, plus it's from Homelands so it's not that expensive of a card to get a hold of
More details here. It's a bit sad how hopeful they were about Homelands -- and how much time they wasted on unimportant things like exactly how it fit into continuity with Antiquities. Another interesting point: They thought that Legends was overpowered, as a set, and deliberately aimed below there because they wanted weaker cards that people would have to be more strategic about using. (Obviously, in retrospect even Legends was underpowered.)
They also wanted to avoid complex cards, which they thought confused players; this would explain why Homelands was so boring.
As a final interesting note, Homelands was originally supposed to come after The Dark and before Fallen Empires. The reason it has almost no Ice Age block flavor is because it wasn't originally meant to be part of the Ice Age block (in fact, there wasn't any concept of blocks when they started working on it.)
Regarding what's in his hand: Take a look at the art on Castle Sengir (drawn by the same artist). It's probably not the moon, as it appears the moon is the source of that glow in the upper right corner of this card. If you compare the art of both, it places him on the battlements of the castle's back corner. Anyone can be forgiven for not being overly familiar with the art of such a sub-par land.
Anyway, I'd say it's probably an Icy or else just your standard crystal ball used for gazing into while you stand around outside the castle. Ya know, like ya do. Or if you're a fan of The Dark Tower series you can say it's one of the bends 'o the rainbow heh-heh.
Like Nicol Bolas, the Baron should be reborn as a planeswalker. If we revisit the Innistrad world in a future block, perhaps...
Baron Sengir, Planeswalker
Loyalty 3
+2: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature
-2: Search your library for a vampire card with converted mana cost five or less and put it onto the battlefield.
-9: You get an emblem "all vampires you control have indestructible and 'when another creature dies the same turn this creature damages it, put two +1/+1 counters on this creature."