Now that we have Planeswalker cards what I really hope for, at some point in the future, is an appearance in the game from Serra herself.
Digit
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Thing is she's still a very solid uncommon as she was before Wizards decided to adjust her rarity for her return in 7th. Try to find one uncommon white solid flying beatstick at the same price, I dare you.
Jake1991
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
A cost-effective alternative for the overpowered Baneslayer Angel.
zeyette
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(30 votes)
Strictly hotter than Baneslayer Angel.
Revelation666
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(6 votes)
Formerly one of the best creatures in Magic, now 10 cents in the common's and uncommon's box at your local hobby store!
TheSwarm
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
I mean.. Obviously Baneslayer Angel is better, but goshdarnit I like this card more. Just because it isnt as ridiculously overpowered, like a 5/5 flying first strike lifelink with protection from a large part of red and black? This just fits better.
BlameBot
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(6 votes)
@PhyrexianLobbiest Serra is probably reference to the rank of the angel, most likely a corruption of Seraphim, angels of the highest rank, and not a specific angel. Sorry.
Semptimilius
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
@BlameBot, Serra is (or was) a planeswalker who ruled "Serra's Realm" and fashioned various creatures within it, including Serra Angel.
I still think Vigiliance makes her really clutch, plus she fits the role of a good flying beater in both casual and limited where people never run four copies of Baneslayer (well, not necessarily in casual...but nobody I play with has the funds to run four). On top of that, Serra Angel is both hotter than Baneslayer, and a classic.
Laguz
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
I have to love serra angel as she absolutely dominated my magic playing for almost 7 years.
Saxophonist
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@PhyrexianLobbiest: There WAS a Serra card, she was just an oversized Vanguard card.
n00bmag1
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Iconic white angel.
It really does seem lackluster next to Baneslayer Angel sadly.
4/5 for totally biased non-mechanic related nostalgia.
thegatekeeper
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
not a game ender but a pretty good card and its uncommon now which makes it even better
Gishra
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(14 votes)
This was removed from the base set for a time because it was above the power curve that Wizards wanted for creatures at one point. Take awhile to soak that in and don't kill yourself laughing too hard.
Diachronos
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Significantly easier to get a hold of than Baneslayer, and just barely under her in terms of power. Lifelink and First Strike aren't that hard to get in White, which leaves only BS's protection from Dragons and Demons. And since Black and Red have been recently leaning a bit more towards non-Demons (Black seems more interested in the undead-themed Creature types) and non-Dragons, that ability isn't too much of a loss.
Considering you can turn Serra Angel into a Baneslayer with Vigilance for only a few more mana at the cost of pro Demons and pro Dragons - and on an Uncommon, no less - Serra Angel is pretty damn good.
dragonking987
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(7 votes)
I really dont like this card bad art and there is nothing cool about it a 4/4 with two of the most common abilitys in magic and people lie about it dominating magic until baneslayer came out every set other then homlands I have seen has a more powerful card then this.
iSlapTrees
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I imagine a serra angel planeswalker and I am loving it! :)
Demoncollecter
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
good card but not as good as most other angels
universe34
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
This angel is pretty solid, a workhorse in pretty much any white deck. But it's not spectacular. I do like the vigilance.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
@ Diachronos no, she really dosent compaire to baneslayer. You could give baneslayer vigalance more eaisly then giving serra FS//LL first off. Its about card tempo. Baneslayer has all those abilitys in one package. If they dont have an answer to her, she can gain 5 health and do 5 damage each turn. With that life gain you can attack her with no fear, and if you need to be defencive you still get the 5 life and take out a creature. First strike makes it very hard for someone to match her in the skys. shes also invulerable to most deathtouchers that can reach her. Can completly turn the game in any situation. They cost the same but baneslayer just dominates, and serra is just a presence.
1 body differnence is a big deal as 4 and 5 are magic numbers in MTG. with 4 dmg, it takes 5 turns to kill someone and with 5 it takes 4.
This was a staple tho back in the day. There was no "power creep" and 4/4 flying vigilance for 5 was extremely efficent back then. I understand why they made her an uncommon but its still hard to see.
pigknight
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I prefer this over bankslayer angel. For me at least, vigilance is harder to get than first strike. And I think this looks cooler.
Feralsymphony
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
Ah, Serra Angel. Wizards should stop printing Baneslayer Angel and keep printing you.
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I really wish Wizards would slow down the format so things that cost {5} would see a lot more play. This thing owns in casual and limited. The only reason Celestial Colonnade sees so much constructed action is that it turns into this at instant speed in addition to providing 2 colors of mana.
Tobolococo
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(7 votes)
Stricly Sexier than the walletslayer angel.
ho's with me to bring serra sphinx into next core set !
DysprosiumJudas
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Serra Angel: A great card long before Baneslayer Angel ever showed up, and a great card long after Baneslayer Angel rotates out and is never seen again. This is your darkest hour, Serra Angel, and my Magic binder shall keep you safe in these dangerous times.
desolation_masticore
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
At uncommon it seems like this had to have wrecked limited. I had to put up with Glint hawks and I was frustrated.
BonniePrinceCharlie
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
An absolute icon of the game. 5/5
Wulfsten
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This used to be an amazing card. You were excited about playing it. Now I wouldn't even include it in an angels tribal deck, since Wizards decided that they could make cards as powerful as they wanted as long as they made them Mythic rare.
This isn't why I stopped buying magic cards, but it's one of the reasons I'm not starting to again.
WateryMind
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
"Muhahaha! I cast Baneslayer on my turn after you cast Serra Angel! Whatcha gonna do now?!" "Well... *Jounry to Nowhere on the Baneslayer* Where's your $50 Mythic now? *plays Armored Ascension, bashes for at elast 9* " "eh?!... Ur deck sux! It has no rares!" "Still wooped your ass, though."
Ahhh... My dream. As it stands, if Serra Angel and Baneslayer popped up in the same pack in a draft, it would be VERY close.
Serra Angel is THE angel. I don't care what Baneslayer says. Baneslayer is a fat *** who needs to die. True story.
yyukichigai
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
God, how can I sum up how awesome this card is and continues to be? It has an evasion skill, can attack and block every single turn under normal circümstances, and is Lightning Bolt-proof.
Yeah, Walletslayer will net you life every time you attack/block with it usually, and is beefier, but you either have to use it offensively or defensively. Most times that isn't an issue, but when it is, Serra really comes through.
oblivion0110
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I run this card in every white deck I make. Staple card.
Paleopaladin
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
5/5 to comments noting how much hotter she is than Baneslayer Angel. I like both this and the old, old school art. This card's dark ages had to have been the 7th & 8th ed. art (bleh!).
Comments (34)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serra_%28Magic:_The_Gathering%29
It really does seem lackluster next to Baneslayer Angel sadly.
4/5 for totally biased non-mechanic related nostalgia.
Considering you can turn Serra Angel into a Baneslayer with Vigilance for only a few more mana at the cost of pro Demons and pro Dragons - and on an Uncommon, no less - Serra Angel is pretty damn good.
1 body differnence is a big deal as 4 and 5 are magic numbers in MTG. with 4 dmg, it takes 5 turns to kill someone and with 5 it takes 4.
This was a staple tho back in the day. There was no "power creep" and 4/4 flying vigilance for 5 was extremely efficent back then. I understand why they made her an uncommon but its still hard to see.
ho's with me to bring serra sphinx into next core set !
This isn't why I stopped buying magic cards, but it's one of the reasons I'm not starting to again.
"Well... *Jounry to Nowhere on the Baneslayer* Where's your $50 Mythic now? *plays Armored Ascension, bashes for at elast 9* "
"eh?!... Ur deck sux! It has no rares!"
"Still wooped your ass, though."
Ahhh... My dream. As it stands, if Serra Angel and Baneslayer popped up in the same pack in a draft, it would be VERY close.
Serra Angel is THE angel. I don't care what Baneslayer says. Baneslayer is a fat *** who needs to die. True story.
Yeah, Walletslayer will net you life every time you attack/block with it usually, and is beefier, but you either have to use it offensively or defensively. Most times that isn't an issue, but when it is, Serra really comes through.
A bad 5 mana angel -> Starlit Angel.
A good 5 mana angel -> Melesse Spirit, Angel of Light.
A very good 5 mana angel -> Serra Angel, Shepherd of the Lost, Angel of Flight Alabaster.
A too good 5 mana angel -> Baneslayer Angel, Angelic Overseer.