6/6 flyer for {W}. But then you gotta factor in the mana and card advantage lost on the life gain cards used. BUT you DO also gain that extra life sooo...
It'll be interesting to see what happens with this card...
UNBAN_SHAHRAZAD
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(8 votes)
They're really pushing Lifegain.dec right now.
Giant_Caterpillar
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Yeah white lifegain looks actually playable in this set.
Revelation666
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(7 votes)
I'm sorry but the idea of making a "lifegain" deck sounds incredibly boring. I'll never take it seriously.
bluelaser
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(5 votes)
This card is amazing. you can have 30+ by turn 3 easy. Not only that but its a freaking one drop. I already built my life gain deck with 4 of these in it. 5/5
TheMoustacheCame
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(12 votes)
ye, why not, a 6/6 lifelink and fly for 1 mana the 99% of the time in the kinda deck it was ment to, wizards its just making broken cards so if u wanna continue playing u HAVE TO buy new expansions, after invasion block, the game went straight down with a lil comeback in timespiral, this kind of card is a big fu you to the players who play extended, due standart mean change your deck all the time, and vintage means playing against decks that can win the game in turn 1 or even 0 wich i dont see interesting in a game. And now they put name to every freaking ability and make 1000 cards with it due their lack of creativity.... just go to the beloved dominaria card and art style and start doing things right again
magog360
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(5 votes)
pulled this in the prerelease and played 2HG. it went like this turn 1: plains...and oh look, I have a 6/6 lifelink flyer on the 1st turn.
chinkeeyong
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Banned in casual everywhere.
OutlawD1
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
This is your ground troops (until they start flying) for a Felidar Sovereign deck
WeAreTheFury
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
@ catmurderer: in the situation you described serra ascendant would live. lifelink is a static ability that gives you life at the same time that damage is dealt, so by the time state based actions are checked the ascendant is already 6/6
@TheMoustacheCame: outside of maybe edh this card does nothing, it's 1/1 with lifelink... when are u ever at 30 life and when has lifegain ever been a viable strategy in any format? this card is far far far away from being broken
also, why does this urban legend that vintage games end turn 0 or 1 still persist? vintage games are virtually never won turn 1, even full-blown combo decks like TPS are geared towards resilience rather than maximum speed, because that would be too fragile and if you want to play an eternal format but don't like vintage ther's still legacy
flipsyalec
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(9 votes)
i think just a 1/1 lifelinker for 1 is darn efficient.
who here remembers when nip gwillion was in standard?
lifelink is a textbox ability which is still efficient on a 2 mana cost critter.
the 30 or more life ability ensures top decking this mid to late game will be a lot more useful.
loses .5 stars cause wizards should know by now of the many formats where we begin with over 20 life.
4.5 stars
Catmurderer
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(6 votes)
My favorite combo with this card so far is
t1: land, Martyr of Sands t2: land, Sac Martyr and show a bunch of white cards gaining +10 life, then play Serra Ascendant for a t2 6/6 flying, lifelink crazy-train.
Accordingly this card works well with Ranger of Eos and Proc of Rebirth.
=========== Freak out about this in Two Headed Giant/EDH, because of a recent rule change.
"810.9a If a cost or effect needs to know the value of an individual player's life total, that cost or effect uses the team's life total instead. Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 17 life is targeted by Beacon of Immortality, which reads, in part, "Double target player's life total." That player gains 17 life, so the team winds up at 34 life. Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player controls Test of Endurance, an enchantment that reads, "At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 50 or more life, you win the game." At the beginning of that player's upkeep, the player's team wins the game if his or her team's life total is 50 or more. Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 11 life controls Lurking Evil, an enchantment that reads, "Pay half your life, rounded up: Lurking Evil becomes a 4/4 Horror creature with flying." To activate the ability, that player must pay 6 life. The team winds up at 5 life."
(This ruling saddens me...) -------- How does damage and lifelink work? SA is blocked by 1/1 and you have 29 life. Does SA die or does it become a 6/6 and live?
A3Kitsune
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Archenemy is great, and I love Felidar Sovereign. Put those two facts together, and it should be obvious I love this lady like I've loved no other monk since Azusa, Lost but Seeking.
sarroth
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(7 votes)
@Tenkaze: Serra Angel isn't Serra as an angel, but an Angel of Serra, so this follows the same manner of describing the allegiance there. Though my roommate last year thought for the longest time that Serra Angel was indeed Serra herself, until I corrected him, so you're right, it can be confusing for some.
I'm waiting to see if they change the ruling for cards like this in EDH or Two-Headed Giant; either that or outright ban it. Too powerful in games like that.
daZissou
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I play 2HG with my friends constantly and we had to change from the new rules to play with this guy ... first turn 6/6 flying lifelink ... 2nd turn he attacks and the life difference is 12!
rillaan
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(5 votes)
You are *** kidding me. This is the most broken card I have seen in a long time. This card will be abused to amazing potential. White decks went from a control deck to a deck based around this card.
Situationally strong card, but it suffers a bit of "win-more" syndrome. Powerful in a lifegain deck, but clearly not a game changer if the chips are down already.
That having been said, a strong 1-drop, obviously.
4/5
Heitah
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I've consistently won tournament matches with this deck. Thoughts welcome. Weakness against All of Dust - I'm still working on that matchup. Gideon, Baneslayer, and Ajani all help with the white v white matchup. Against red/black you sideboard those out for the Celestial Purges.
Lifegain deck by Heitah (Steven Pope)
2 Felidar Sovereign 1 Ajani Goldmane 3 Plains 4 Plains 4 Wall of Omens 4 Soul's Attendant 2 Plains 2 Journey to Nowhere 2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin 4 Serra Ascendant 3 Plains 2 Plains 1 Baneslayer Angel 1 Ajani Goldmane 1 Plains 1 Gideon Jura 4 Soul Warden 1 Plains 4 Path to Exile 4 Knight of the White Orchid 1 Ajani's Pridemate 3 Ajani's Pridemate 2 Oblivion Ring 3 Plains 1 Plains
Sideboard 4 Celestial Purge 3 Leyline of Sanctity 4 Kor Firewalker 2 Devout Lightcaster 2 Oblivion Ring
VoidedNote
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Two Headed Giant or EDH, either way its probably the best one drop of all time in those formats.
cdela12345
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(8 votes)
This card is so broken in 2HG. Why'd they have to change the rules from your life being half of your team's total, rounded up? Breaks a lot of cards, really. So stupid.
dragonking987
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
first turn you play a plains and play Serra Ascendant secant turn you play rest for the weary you are at 28 third turn you play Kabira Crossroads and you swing with your 6/6 flying lifelink :)
Shell_shockkun
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Again with the broken claims? C'mon this card doesn't make you win, it only punishes slower decks... You can't win the game with lifegain, it just helps to widen the margin Yes, a 3/3 with lifelink is the equivalent of a 6 point swing when it hits the opponent, but in reality they're still only 3 points closer losing And who thinks 30 is easy to get to? An aggressive deck will never let you get to 30+ and a combo/control usually doesn't care about your life total unless it's infinite and on top of that, if you're spending all you're time trying to get to 30+ life, you're probably not doing anything to your opponent, so you're no closer to actually winning the game Lifegain needs cards like this and Ajani's Pridemate as finishers, as a way to even attempt to win the game
So basically, this card only helps you win, when you are already winning (not saying it's not an awesome niche card, but seriously, nowhere near broken)
i suppose i don't understand why people say something is broken or unbalanced and -then- go on to say they must have one. then again, it's clearly to these people that such cards are catering. personally, if i see a card that is obviously overpowered i don't use it--i prefer to keep a modic-um of dignity when i lay down cards. i don't need to cast a 1 mana card and know the only reason i've won is because of power creep or dare i say, the size of my wallet.
as i speak, on mtgo there are no less than 6 games that list 'no serra ascendant' under their des-criptions. i know this can't be healthy for any multi-player format. the question is--will wotc do anything about it?
/say no to power creep /rant over.. but for how long?
Radagast
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Silliness in EDH - Turn 1 6/6 Flier with Lifelink.
lordofthekithkins
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is good even when it isn't in 2hg
wickedragon
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
playing EDH frequently against someone who uses this card. If he's out in round 1 I'm boned. I can just quit.
Dragon23
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(5 votes)
In 2hg it's automatically a 6/6 on turn 1 with the new rules. I've seen many a player borrow these when they find that out.
kaitenx
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Turn 1 play this.
turn 2 play martyr of sands, sacrifice martyr, swing for 6, gain 6 more life.
seems good :)
proc-ing back 6/6s seems good to :)
JWalks82
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
One Rest for the Weary and you're almost there. Soul's Attendant is another standard white that helps you get there. Great card. Life gain decks everywhere should run a playset.
Great_North
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
I just wish I could have gotten in on the Soul Sisters deck while it was still standard legal (Soul's Attendant + Soul Warden + this + some other life-gaining stuff)
Garfunculus
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This + Cradle of Vitality + Celestial Mantle = WTF-level sheer madness. Just don't forget to add Shroud for safety.
Kryplixx
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Even in non 2HG games... this card is still crazy good. 4.5 easy
tenkaze
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(6 votes)
But, but... that's not Serra in the art. That name is misleading. But I guess it'd be hard to work in some kind of word that implies a follower of Serra without making the name too long... Ascendant Monk of Serra? Serran Acolyte Ascendant? not really working. As much as I love the inclusion of more cards with her name on it, what I really want to see is more Serra herself. And yes, I know she's maybe canonically dead, but the Scourge novel, dubious as it is, gives me a sliver of hope.
Edit: Yes, sarroth, I am aware that Serra Angel does not depict Serra herself. The difference between Serra Angel and Serra Ascendant is that the word "angel" is a noun while "ascendant" is an adjective - that's where I feel the name doesn't fit. The name "Serra Ascendant" feels to me a lot like a name like Karn Liberated - a name with an adjective describing that person. Since that's not Serra, the name does not fit, hence my attempts above to try to come up with a new version that succinctly conveys what the art does.
Kamahl_FoK
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Broken in EDH / THG. What are you thinking Wizards, stop being stupid. Decent otherwise, stupidly potent in soul sisters.
jfre81
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So some say pinging someone and gaining life early doesn't mean anything? Serra Ascendant challenges these ideas.
Somebody played this in EDH and I immediately found a use for Vapor Snag that bounced it and took 1 life, putting them at 29. :)
Arachibutyrophobia
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
yes...umm...edh?
if they're going to ban emrakul, the aeons torn in edh why don't they ban this guy. he costs 14 less mana!!
sonorhC
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
@scumbling1: A turn 1 ascendant only takes 7 turns to kill if that's the only thing you do for those 7 turns. If you've got anything else at all to try to damage your opponents with, this will make those other things work much faster. While also making you that much harder to take down, of course. A one-drop doesn't have to win the game single-handedly to be broken.
On the other hand, EDH is inherently supposed to be a casual format, so there's no reason at all your playgroup shouldn't set some houserules. Personally, I'd rule that effects like this that trigger on life total should scale up with starting life total. So Ascendant would only get big if you're above 60 life, and Felidar Sovereign wouldn't win until 80 life, and so on. Sure, it's not the official rule, but if everyone at your table doesn't care, you don't have to either.
RexManningDay
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@Tenkaze: "Ascendant" is actually both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, it means either "a state or position of dominant power or position". It can also refer to the part of the zodiac that is rising above the horizon at any given time.
Mike-C
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Ruling should be changed to "Once you've gained +10 life than what you started with..."
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Lifegain deck's little threshhold ability.
Brufff
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@WeAreTheFury
Tell that to the Modern Mono White Martyr decks which make use of this, Martyr of Sands, Proclamation of Rebirth, Ranger of Eos, and various one mana weenies and a removal/protection suite. Grand Prix Turin.. an aggressive version of the deck that ran the sisters and Pridemates took SECOND. With proper sideboarding: Firewalkers for RDW and Storm( and even then, if you get your Martyr out early enough.. usually neither just can't do enough damage), Ghostly Prison to slow down Affinity, Jund, and Faeries and you've got a more than viable tier 1 deck. I've had ridiculous amounts of success with it on MTGO.
rogelio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When I first saw the art, I thought that the ascendant had some funky headgear on, as if he stole the Juggernaut's helmet and blessed it with the power of white mana or something.
BorosGeneral
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@jfre81 Uh he should of been at 39 dude, EDH everyone has 40 life. That's why that Felidar Sovereign can be so annoying in EDH.
imsully2
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I've never met anyone who plays EDH who allows this card as it is, some people say ok 50 life and some say banned but no one who says "yeah a turn one 6/6 lifelink flyer is ok" although in a large group it could be more fair since someone'll remove it and then everyone will decide to beat your face in for using it, lol, that being said it's a really good card, early game decent card and not a dead draw late game
YellowWalker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What a wonderful card. A shame it's basically broken in other modes. Not the end of the world, but it feels unfair to everyone involved. I suppose they weren't taking into account other modes of play, or was it the rule change that ended up breaking these cards? Not sure which came first.
Either way, these types of cards should definitely read something like "x more life than starting total." I'm not sure how this was overlooked..
Decent Art, strong in two-player magic, broken in EDH and 2HG. Any group playing with them should not feel at all bad about imposing a limit of some sort.
Hua9801
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Epic in 2 Headed Giant, where you start with 30 life.
"6/6 1-drop with flying and lifelink on turn 1"
Sootoo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Actually a really nice card, but sadly, it´s almost as broken as Sorin Markov in EDH.
A turn 1 - 6/6 Flyer + Lifelink... yea suuurrreeee...
The most astonishing about this card imo, is still, that those people who play such a card are not even ashamed of using it, in contrary, these clowns even think they are smart, when they hit you with this on turn 2! lol
0,5/5 ´cause he made me reply.
Continue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I think this should have worked more like Chalice of Life. As it is, the 30 life guideline makes it a 6/6 lifelink flyer turn 1 in EDH and Two-Headed Giant. Having it be 10 life above your starting point would have balanced it. Still, alongside Felidar Sovereign, this is a lifegain win condition. 5/5
Dannyman658
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I didn't actually notice until now, but it actually comes with the lifelink even before 30 life.
I wonder what the ruling is for her surviving combat if during combat lifelink brings your life up to 30 or more life, since lifelink happens at the same time as the combat damage, and whatever she blocked or was blocked by might not be doing 6 damage at the time...
Cyklown
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh... get over it. 2HG, sure, maybe he's a beating. It's a funky format that I'm not an expert on but supposedly benefits control or combo, etc.
EDH? Honestly, the knowledge that folks hate on it is just mindbogglingly tragic. Sure, it's a casual format which means if people don't like your idea of what the game should be you should just find a new playgroup, but... it's a multiplayer game. Dealing 92 damage isn't that much harder than dealing 80, and dealing 144 damage is REALLY not that much harder than dealing 120. Boardwipes happen, everyone should run removal, and taking an early lead just means people expend some resources taking you down a notch while still trying to jockey for position things themselves.
If somehow people are playing EDH duels then yes, he's stupid, but he's not playable in Vendilion Clique and that deck will make a mockery of anyone who thinks that EDH duels work as anything other than a bizare sideshow where Ascendant is a funny god hand scoop and some more shuffling.
He's in all of my white EDH decks. So is Condemn, STP, and path. Next you'll be telling me that I shouldn't play skullclamp, Command Tower, Ostone or any of the OTHER staples in all of my decks.
MTimao
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm playing a 2HG in Magic 2013 and this one now says "As long as you have at least 10 life more than your starting life total..."
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
They fixed the wording to be less retarded in DOTP2013, but they didn't errata the card itself. Interesting.
PlanesMoyza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@TheWrathofShane
I'm not. But I can not say the same for some people with whom I usually play ...
Antsache
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Dannyman658
No special ruling needed: since the lifelink happens simultaneously, it becomes a 6/6 simultaneously as well. Nobody gets priority until all combat damage has been dealt, which means state based effects are not checked until then as well. Since creatures die from damage as a state-based effect, the damage (and thus, lifegain) happens first. Thus, damage can't kill her until after your life has increased, at which point she is 6/6. She still deals damage as a 1/1 in that case, of course.
Wormfang
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm and EDH player and play against this regularly (my GF plays an orzhov drain deck) we play it as written and when it comes out turn 1 I know I need to draw an exile effect in the first 3 turns or I lose. Yes i moan when it happens and changing the rules for it has been discussed but in all honesty it can be dealt withn it's just a pain to do so. Yes I feel this card should probably be banned in the format but until it is I'll play it as it is and just take me beats when they happen. errataing the card is extreme considering it's a modern card and thus it's rules text complies with the appropriate magic terminology and printing a new version with the updated clause just means you can run them as a 4 of in your LG deck which I'm sure "everyone" wants.
Interestingly on DOTP 2013 it has a when you have +10 life from starting value clause instead of a flat 30.
sweetgab
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@strider24seven Yeah it dies to removal. Yet it still creates a very significant advantage in formats where you start with 30 life. You could try to sound like an elitist and tell people they have bad decks all day, but not recognizing the fact that a 6/6 flying lifelink for one mana is a problem is a pretty ridiculous oversight.
patronofthesound
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Dear wizards...EDH BAN PLEASE! I have this played against me daily!!
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Strider2seven.
If you can prove that they had 40 health formats in mind when they printed this, then I will agree with you 100%
So you are free to allow careless mistakes from the developers to dominate the game, me I say f*ck no, house rules or no deal.
Chiky911
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
this MUST be ilegal in commander -.- seriously? a 6/6 lifelink in turn 1? not fair at all...
TheDouce
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I wouldn't care about this card if it had only happened once in EDH, but it seems that everyone I play with that uses this card gets out on turn 1 EVERY GAME. Are the cheating or just the luckiest D-bags on the planet I don't know, but there should be generalized EDH ruling that any card that has an effect based on gaining life in a 60-card deck should require a proportional amount of life gain in an EDH. It should be 50 to trigger her, Felidar Sovereign should require 60 to trigger it and so on.
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Absolutely tableflipworthy in EDH or 2HG.
Fictionarious
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Remember folks, if you're at 29, and you send this guy in, they'll have to deal 6 to it to kill it once combat damage happens. Damage step will put you at 30, at which point he's officially a 6/6, meaning he'll survive combat with a 5/5.
Like a scene out of a movie where this guy is giving it his all, getting thrashed around like a rag-doll by some supervillian monster. Then right when the bad guy pauses to deliver his "any last words?" speech, Serra Ascenedent's life flashes before his eyes and he goes super saiyan. The bad guy tries punching him in the chest repeatedly, but Serra Ascendent just stands there giving no ****s and then walks away like a boss.
LordTron
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone the can deal with this in EDH is not playing the format correctly.
Ligerman30
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
After playing this and against this in multi-player commander a lot, this isn't the greatest to be honest, you generally get 1 swing and then it gets killed by shriekmaws terminates doom blades even chainer's edicts and Oblivion Rings, hell I've even had it geth's verdicted. When you draw it after you are below 30 or when your opponents have access to more mana, this is just a dead card, worse then a land even. A good early-game is all about mana development and not aggressively attacking life totals; You want your late game to do the talking rather then busting out of the gates hard and fast. You generally can't win if you are targeted by all 3 opponents on turn 1.
In single-player, this is even too much for a hyper-aggro deck like Krenko, Mob Boss to outrace due to the lifegain, a 12 point life swing every turn is very hard to come back from and ultimately, you just lose to it. If you're packing tons of 1 for 1 removal spells to deal with it rather then playing more high impact cards that pressure an opponent or net you mass card advantage, you may have a hard time keeping up with other more powerful strategies. I'd just scoop most times; T1 serra ascendant is a god hand in 1v1 and unless you draw an answer in the first 3 turns they will be too far ahead in life total for you to come back.
As for soul sisters this and Ajani's Pridemate are the two popular finishers for the deck. Combos well with T2 martyr of sands. This card definitely has a home in that style of deck, but no other decks should dare touch it.
In the end, it's a good card, but I don't recommend it for multi-player commander. It'll make you a target for everyone at the table. Where this shines is in 1v1 where the games are much shorter, you don't care about drawing attention to yourself, and it's less likely to be killed on the spot. I think the people who are clamoring for this to be banned need to build their decks better and stop whining; this card isn't that big of a deal.
3/5 Multi-Player EDH and Modern 4/5 1v1 EHD and 2HG
ChosenOfKhaine
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Interestingly, in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013, this has slightly different text, and reads "As long has you have 10 more life than your starting life total, Serra Ascendant gets +5/+5 and has flying."
I thought it was interesting, and even more so that no one mentioned it.
kruggiero
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
WotC needs to do its job here and ban this in EDH format. Yes it's a casual format, but every playgroup has that one nitwit who thinks he/she is "entitled" to play this card... would be easier if WotC just protected the integrity of the format and the game and fixed this thing officially.
TheGigiBeast
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wow in EDH a 6/6 flyer with lifelink on turn 1?!?
toXicus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@kruggiero fun fact! Wizards of the Coast doesn't actually determine the banned list for EDH. They defer all responsibilities for the format (rules, bans, etc) to the original creators of EDH. Take your rage up with them, not WotC.
Moxxy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In DoTP 2013 they actually errata'd this card to say 10 more than your starting life. It was dominating the EDH format where one deck could have multiple copies of this card.
AnnoyingFogGuy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Does Wizards listen to petitions for EDH bans?
RetroGamer3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Card text should say "Play this creature in Commander and get blocked on Magic Online"
strider24seven
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Edit: @TheWrathofShane Whether or not they had 40 starting life in mind when designing the card is immaterial - Serra Ascendant is a different animal in EDH/2HG than in normal 60-card. It's not a careless mistake on the developer's part - it's just a card behaving differently in different formats. Perhaps you should learn to adapt your playstyle and build better decks, rather than mindlessly complain about a strong card that is easily dealt with in such a format. I don't mean to sound condescending, but if your deck is not equipped to handle a single non-shrouded, destructible, non-self-recursive creature that only attacks or blocks, then your deck is inferior and needs some serious reworking.
@sweetgab In my playgroup, a T1 6/6 flying lifelink for 1 mana is not a problem. I am not saying that it is not a powerful play - just that it dictates the opening few turns. However, it's far from the game-warping catastrophe that everyone makes it out to be - a T1 Serra Ascendant can't even swing until T2, by which time has had a chance to respond with Daze, Force of Will (yet to see anyone waste a FoW on Serra though), or Mental Misstep, Unsummon or Chain of Vapor and has had a chance to respond with Snuff Out or Innocent Blood, and has had a chance to Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares. And so on. Serra doesn't win games - it's just a really good card to eat removal or force an opponent to dig for an answer to a 7-turn clock.
Call it elitism if you want, but it's still the opinion of someone who plays with and against the card on a (usually) daily basis.
Original Comment:
It's a good card. So good it got banned in the French Duel Commander rules. I have a lot of qualms with the French rules, but that's neither here nor there. Just throwing the info out there.
In terms of multiplayer EDH - it's nice removal bait. It eats an early Doom Blade or Swords to Plowshares or Snuff Out, and it might even gain you 6-12 life in the process. But it's not really game-changing or part of an auto-win hand, certainly not moreseo than a Tooth and Nail or Jace, the Mind Sculptor or an early Terastodon. Overall, solid card and 5/5.
TL;DR: Running removal in EDH/2HG is non-negotiable. Serra Ascendant dies to Doom Blade.
hypa_dude
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Almost unplayably bad in single-player. Broken in multiplayer and commander. Very annoying to play against for that reason alone.
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@strider24seven Even if a 6/6 flying lifelink for (w) can be beat, it doesn't make it fair. Sure, you can kill it, but now their 1-drop has eaten your removal very early in the game. On top of that, you have to not be using something like lightning bolt to kill it. It is stupid to think the card is fine. If they go and print a 6/6 flying lifelink in standard but there is sufficient removal that it will most likely die in the first 2 turns (getting 1 swing on a lucky day), it would still be stupid.
Imagine a modern zoo deck with 4 of these guys (assuming they have the bonuses right off the bat). Sure, you can kill them, but it makes their deck WAAYY to deadly for it to be fair. Imagine 2HG with 2 zoo decks each running 4 of these in place of their loam lions. Good luck winning that.
Lazrbeams
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In EDH this is one of the best first turn plays, up there with sol ring. A 6/6 beater is a threat at nearly any point in the game, it's one hell of a threat turn one.
Comments (80)
It'll be interesting to see what happens with this card...
turn 1: plains...and oh look, I have a 6/6 lifelink flyer on the 1st turn.
@TheMoustacheCame: outside of maybe edh this card does nothing, it's 1/1 with lifelink... when are u ever at 30 life and when has lifegain ever been a viable strategy in any format? this card is far far far away from being broken
also, why does this urban legend that vintage games end turn 0 or 1 still persist? vintage games are virtually never won turn 1, even full-blown combo decks like TPS are geared towards resilience rather than maximum speed, because that would be too fragile
and if you want to play an eternal format but don't like vintage ther's still legacy
who here remembers when nip gwillion was in standard?
lifelink is a textbox ability which is still efficient on a 2 mana cost critter.
the 30 or more life ability ensures top decking this mid to late game will be a lot more useful.
loses .5 stars cause wizards should know by now of the many formats where we begin with over 20 life.
4.5 stars
t1: land, Martyr of Sands
t2: land, Sac Martyr and show a bunch of white cards gaining +10 life, then play Serra Ascendant for a t2 6/6 flying, lifelink crazy-train.
Accordingly this card works well with Ranger of Eos and Proc of Rebirth.
===========
Freak out about this in Two Headed Giant/EDH, because of a recent rule change.
"810.9a If a cost or effect needs to know the value of an individual player's life total, that cost or effect uses the team's life total instead.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 17 life is targeted by Beacon of Immortality, which reads, in part, "Double target player's life total." That player gains 17 life, so the team winds up at 34 life.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player controls Test of Endurance, an enchantment that reads, "At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 50 or more life, you win the game." At the beginning of that player's upkeep, the player's team wins the game if his or her team's life total is 50 or more.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 11 life controls Lurking Evil, an enchantment that reads, "Pay half your life, rounded up: Lurking Evil becomes a 4/4 Horror creature with flying." To activate the ability, that player must pay 6 life. The team winds up at 5 life."
(This ruling saddens me...)
--------
How does damage and lifelink work?
SA is blocked by 1/1 and you have 29 life. Does SA die or does it become a 6/6 and live?
I'm waiting to see if they change the ruling for cards like this in EDH or Two-Headed Giant; either that or outright ban it. Too powerful in games like that.
I really wish it was a 2 manna 1/1 with flying that get's +5/+5
That having been said, a strong 1-drop, obviously.
4/5
Lifegain deck by Heitah (Steven Pope)
2 Felidar Sovereign
1 Ajani Goldmane
3 Plains
4 Plains
4 Wall of Omens
4 Soul's Attendant
2 Plains
2 Journey to Nowhere
2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
4 Serra Ascendant
3 Plains
2 Plains
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Ajani Goldmane
1 Plains
1 Gideon Jura
4 Soul Warden
1 Plains
4 Path to Exile
4 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Ajani's Pridemate
3 Ajani's Pridemate
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Plains
1 Plains
Sideboard
4 Celestial Purge
3 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Kor Firewalker
2 Devout Lightcaster
2 Oblivion Ring
C'mon this card doesn't make you win, it only punishes slower decks...
You can't win the game with lifegain, it just helps to widen the margin
Yes, a 3/3 with lifelink is the equivalent of a 6 point swing when it hits the opponent, but in reality they're still only 3 points closer losing
And who thinks 30 is easy to get to?
An aggressive deck will never let you get to 30+
and a combo/control usually doesn't care about your life total unless it's infinite
and on top of that, if you're spending all you're time trying to get to 30+ life, you're probably not doing anything to your opponent, so you're no closer to actually winning the game
Lifegain needs cards like this and Ajani's Pridemate as finishers, as a way to even attempt to win the game
So basically, this card only helps you win, when you are already winning
(not saying it's not an awesome niche card, but seriously, nowhere near broken)
as i speak, on mtgo there are no less than 6 games that list 'no serra ascendant' under their des-criptions. i know this can't be healthy for any multi-player format. the question is--will wotc do anything about it?
/say no to power creep
/rant over.. but for how long?
turn 2 play martyr of sands, sacrifice martyr, swing for 6, gain 6 more life.
seems good :)
proc-ing back 6/6s seems good to :)
Ascendant Monk of Serra? Serran Acolyte Ascendant? not really working.
As much as I love the inclusion of more cards with her name on it, what I really want to see is more Serra herself. And yes, I know she's maybe canonically dead, but the Scourge novel, dubious as it is, gives me a sliver of hope.
Edit: Yes, sarroth, I am aware that Serra Angel does not depict Serra herself. The difference between Serra Angel and Serra Ascendant is that the word "angel" is a noun while "ascendant" is an adjective - that's where I feel the name doesn't fit. The name "Serra Ascendant" feels to me a lot like a name like Karn Liberated - a name with an adjective describing that person. Since that's not Serra, the name does not fit, hence my attempts above to try to come up with a new version that succinctly conveys what the art does.
Somebody played this in EDH and I immediately found a use for Vapor Snag that bounced it and took 1 life, putting them at 29. :)
if they're going to ban emrakul, the aeons torn in edh why don't they ban this guy. he costs 14 less mana!!
On the other hand, EDH is inherently supposed to be a casual format, so there's no reason at all your playgroup shouldn't set some houserules. Personally, I'd rule that effects like this that trigger on life total should scale up with starting life total. So Ascendant would only get big if you're above 60 life, and Felidar Sovereign wouldn't win until 80 life, and so on. Sure, it's not the official rule, but if everyone at your table doesn't care, you don't have to either.
Tell that to the Modern Mono White Martyr decks which make use of this, Martyr of Sands, Proclamation of Rebirth, Ranger of Eos, and various one mana weenies and a removal/protection suite. Grand Prix Turin.. an aggressive version of the deck that ran the sisters and Pridemates took SECOND. With proper sideboarding: Firewalkers for RDW and Storm( and even then, if you get your Martyr out early enough.. usually neither just can't do enough damage), Ghostly Prison to slow down Affinity, Jund, and Faeries and you've got a more than viable tier 1 deck. I've had ridiculous amounts of success with it on MTGO.
Either way, these types of cards should definitely read something like "x more life than starting total." I'm not sure how this was overlooked..
Decent Art, strong in two-player magic, broken in EDH and 2HG. Any group playing with them should not feel at all bad about imposing a limit of some sort.
"6/6 1-drop with flying and lifelink on turn 1"
A turn 1 - 6/6 Flyer + Lifelink... yea suuurrreeee...
The most astonishing about this card imo, is still, that those people who play such a card are not even ashamed of using it, in contrary, these clowns even think they are smart, when they hit you with this on turn 2! lol
0,5/5 ´cause he made me reply.
I wonder what the ruling is for her surviving combat if during combat lifelink brings your life up to 30 or more life, since lifelink happens at the same time as the combat damage, and whatever she blocked or was blocked by might not be doing 6 damage at the time...
EDH? Honestly, the knowledge that folks hate on it is just mindbogglingly tragic. Sure, it's a casual format which means if people don't like your idea of what the game should be you should just find a new playgroup, but... it's a multiplayer game. Dealing 92 damage isn't that much harder than dealing 80, and dealing 144 damage is REALLY not that much harder than dealing 120. Boardwipes happen, everyone should run removal, and taking an early lead just means people expend some resources taking you down a notch while still trying to jockey for position things themselves.
If somehow people are playing EDH duels then yes, he's stupid, but he's not playable in Vendilion Clique and that deck will make a mockery of anyone who thinks that EDH duels work as anything other than a bizare sideshow where Ascendant is a funny god hand scoop and some more shuffling.
He's in all of my white EDH decks. So is Condemn, STP, and path. Next you'll be telling me that I shouldn't play skullclamp, Command Tower, Ostone or any of the OTHER staples in all of my decks.
I'm not. But I can not say the same for some people with whom I usually play ...
No special ruling needed: since the lifelink happens simultaneously, it becomes a 6/6 simultaneously as well. Nobody gets priority until all combat damage has been dealt, which means state based effects are not checked until then as well. Since creatures die from damage as a state-based effect, the damage (and thus, lifegain) happens first. Thus, damage can't kill her until after your life has increased, at which point she is 6/6. She still deals damage as a 1/1 in that case, of course.
Interestingly on DOTP 2013 it has a when you have +10 life from starting value clause instead of a flat 30.
If you can prove that they had 40 health formats in mind when they printed this, then I will agree with you 100%
YOU CANT! BECAUSE THEY ADMIT THEY DIDNT!!
Which is why you see chalice of life's wording.
So you are free to allow careless mistakes from the developers to dominate the game, me I say f*ck no, house rules or no deal.
Like a scene out of a movie where this guy is giving it his all, getting thrashed around like a rag-doll by some supervillian monster. Then right when the bad guy pauses to deliver his "any last words?" speech, Serra Ascenedent's life flashes before his eyes and he goes super saiyan. The bad guy tries punching him in the chest repeatedly, but Serra Ascendent just stands there giving no ****s and then walks away like a boss.
In single-player, this is even too much for a hyper-aggro deck like Krenko, Mob Boss to outrace due to the lifegain, a 12 point life swing every turn is very hard to come back from and ultimately, you just lose to it. If you're packing tons of 1 for 1 removal spells to deal with it rather then playing more high impact cards that pressure an opponent or net you mass card advantage, you may have a hard time keeping up with other more powerful strategies. I'd just scoop most times; T1 serra ascendant is a god hand in 1v1 and unless you draw an answer in the first 3 turns they will be too far ahead in life total for you to come back.
As for soul sisters this and Ajani's Pridemate are the two popular finishers for the deck. Combos well with T2 martyr of sands. This card definitely has a home in that style of deck, but no other decks should dare touch it.
In the end, it's a good card, but I don't recommend it for multi-player commander. It'll make you a target for everyone at the table. Where this shines is in 1v1 where the games are much shorter, you don't care about drawing attention to yourself, and it's less likely to be killed on the spot. I think the people who are clamoring for this to be banned need to build their decks better and stop whining; this card isn't that big of a deal.
3/5 Multi-Player EDH and Modern
4/5 1v1 EHD and 2HG
I thought it was interesting, and even more so that no one mentioned it.
@TheWrathofShane
Whether or not they had 40 starting life in mind when designing the card is immaterial - Serra Ascendant is a different animal in EDH/2HG than in normal 60-card. It's not a careless mistake on the developer's part - it's just a card behaving differently in different formats. Perhaps you should learn to adapt your playstyle and build better decks, rather than mindlessly complain about a strong card that is easily dealt with in such a format. I don't mean to sound condescending, but if your deck is not equipped to handle a single non-shrouded, destructible, non-self-recursive creature that only attacks or blocks, then your deck is inferior and needs some serious reworking.
@sweetgab
In my playgroup, a T1 6/6 flying lifelink for 1 mana is not a problem. I am not saying that it is not a powerful play - just that it dictates the opening few turns. However, it's far from the game-warping catastrophe that everyone makes it out to be - a T1 Serra Ascendant can't even swing until T2, by which time
Compare to Goblin Lackey, Mother of Runes, Sol Ring, Land Tax, Aether Vial, Entomb
And in Duel Commander: Fastbond, Lotus Cobra
Call it elitism if you want, but it's still the opinion of someone who plays with and against the card on a (usually) daily basis.
Original Comment:
It's a good card. So good it got banned in the French Duel Commander rules. I have a lot of qualms with the French rules, but that's neither here nor there. Just throwing the info out there.
In terms of multiplayer EDH - it's nice removal bait. It eats an early Doom Blade or Swords to Plowshares or Snuff Out, and it might even gain you 6-12 life in the process. But it's not really game-changing or part of an auto-win hand, certainly not moreseo than a Tooth and Nail or Jace, the Mind Sculptor or an early Terastodon. Overall, solid card and 5/5.
Some constructive advice on how to deal with a Turn 1 Serra Avenger:
If you are running
You can Counterspell or Cancel it.
If you are
In EDH you have the life total to work up to a Damnation, Black Sun's Zenith, Evacuation, Wrath of God, Wash Out, Blasphemous Act, etc.
If you prefer creature-based removal, a Fleshbag Marauder works wonders, and if you are playing EDH, an Avatar of Woe.
Or, if you prefer indirect removal, you can pack deathtouch creatures with flying or reach, such as Baleful Strix or Deadly Recluse.
Or, you can prevent its only way of dealing damage to you barring other cards by preventing it from attacking you with spells like Ghostly Prison or Ensnaring Bridge.
Or, you can ignore the Serra Ascendant and just kill the offending player. Rest in Peace + Helm of Obedience ignores life totals and kills anyone without a Laboratory Maniac or Platinum Angel or Necropotence or similar draw-skipping/replacement mechanic on their next draw step.
TL;DR:
Running removal in EDH/2HG is non-negotiable.
Serra Ascendant dies to Doom Blade.
Even if a 6/6 flying lifelink for (w) can be beat, it doesn't make it fair. Sure, you can kill it, but now their 1-drop has eaten your removal very early in the game. On top of that, you have to not be using something like lightning bolt to kill it. It is stupid to think the card is fine. If they go and print a 6/6 flying lifelink in standard but there is sufficient removal that it will most likely die in the first 2 turns (getting 1 swing on a lucky day), it would still be stupid.
Imagine a modern zoo deck with 4 of these guys (assuming they have the bonuses right off the bat). Sure, you can kill them, but it makes their deck WAAYY to deadly for it to be fair. Imagine 2HG with 2 zoo decks each running 4 of these in place of their loam lions. Good luck winning that.