She gets Baneslayer's coffee... after spitting in the pot xD
Seriously though, i'm glad that they made SOME attempt to bring some balance... but with things like Visions of Beyond & Sundial of the Infinite around, I'm afraid that, IMHO, R&D dropped the ball (again).
She won me some games in the pre-release event. Vigilance on that great of a body that flies is just right.
sarroth
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(6 votes)
Just to correct the mistaken beliefs I keep reading in these comments: Yes, Baneslayer Angel is better. People keep getting low ratings on their comments for saying this apparently, but it's true. Serra Angel is iconic and, dare I say it, cooler, but not a strictly better card. Baneslayer Angel is still a she. Almost all Angels in Magic are shes, with only two exceptions: Malach of the Dawn and Gabriel Angelfire. And Visions of Beyond is so far from being broken. So far.
I love Serra Angel. She's the iconic angel. And to think she almost didn't get her name. Thanks to her, Serra exists, one of my favorite Magic characters.
Mid_Squad
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(8 votes)
Her flavor text should read: "Follow the light. In its absence, follow Baneslayer Angel. In her absence, follow her."
But yay! Overpowered BS Angel is gone! Not really overpowered, but just "Oh, lets make a powerful creature without it being special."
Edit: Apparently, Baneslayer Angel is a girl... No wonder she wasted all of your money lololol.
Paleopaladin
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Playability: 4/5 - always happy to pull her in limited. Barring removal, game is a 3-5 turn clock after she lands. Even faster if she's got some good equipment on her or you've got combat tricks ready to help her out with.
Art: 5/5 - anyone who disagrees is probably trolling
Coolness Factor: 5/5 for being iconic and timeless
Final rating 4/5 since, duh, I only rate cards on their playability. Same reason that I didn't hate-rate baneslayer or Jace 2. Also same reason that I downrate certain Timmy-oriented fatties that are card-disadvantage machines.
CJM2
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(10 votes)
Oh hey there Serra Angel, it's been two core sets since we noticed you. Why is everyone rating you so low? I think you deserve a solid 4 stars for being iconic and, yes I dare say, even reasonably powerful. Nevermind what the haters say; Magic still loves you.
Axelle
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(8 votes)
Serra Angel is overrated. Now bring on the 0.5/5 rates.
yyukichigai
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
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.
Bulhakas
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(5 votes)
@ Axelle
Yo moma's overrated.
TherealphatMatt
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Flameblast Dragon. Because the only thing better than Serra Angel is your opponent's Serra Angel, on fire.
JFM2796
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I like how M12 has a big creature at uncommon for each color. This for white, Belltower Sphinx for blue, Sengir Vampire for black, Volcanic Dragon for red, and I'm not sure abot green. Cudgel Troll or Carnage Wurm, maybe? This Angel has seen better days. From what I heard, she was the win condition of the infamous Stasis deck. I'd love to open one of these in limited.
Kitty_the_Kat
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Bye bye Baneslayer~!
tcollins
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
You had me at 4/4 Flying/Viglance for {3}{W}{W}.Vigilance combined with Flying is just so good in any format. 'Nuff said.
NeoKoda
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
One of the few angels in the game (recently) that doesn't freak me out. The angels of Mirrodin have fallen to Phyrexia, and the Angels of Alara and Zendikar are distant, detached and alien to the plane's "real" creatures. Also, the flavor text is brilliant. If taken as coming from a priest, it means the angel. If coming from the angel, however, it's saying you should follow Serra. Her death is debatable, due to Karona's journey.
Simont73
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card! It's SO awesome! Best white flying around! And that's saying something!
Elthan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Won me many games in a M12 draft. It was even better than the Frost Titan I had at times. They had trouble answering to a 4/4 flyer with vigilance. Great card.
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I love this card. I has pretty high power and toughness, two great abilities, is very iconic and BALANCED!!! People seem to forget that being good doesn't mean overpowered and necessary to play a playset in every deck of it's color. This makes a fine beater, and is right where the power level should be (unlike Walletslayer Angel). I enjoy using this card more than using Walletslayer, if only because it still gives everyone else a chance, and makes for a fair, fun fight (try saying that five times fast)!
The game was so much better when this was rare and so was Righteousness. I feel like dropping a Sera Angel and making a comeback with it is so much more fun than dropping something huge (see Superllama's links) and completely shunting their hopes for a comeback unless they have the removal. Anyone remember when a two-power one-drop no-drawbacks was something special? Notanymore. And it's not just the one dropsthat are getting too powerful. Multiple cards are consigned to "strictlybetter" or have absurdabilities for their p/t and cmc (I'm looking at you BS Angel). It makes me sad :(
I once heard someone describe Baneslayer Angel as dumbing down the game because "All you need to know is how to turn the card sideways" Congratulations! Now you don't even need to know how to do that!
SkaerKrow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's impressive how well that this card has aged over the years. This is also some of the most elegant and evocative flavor text that I've ever seen on a Magic card.
Shannnnoonn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card wins games with weenies...
troji2
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Still good and playable.
Zoltantf
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
She is making a comeback. Baneslayer angel is rotated out, and got so much hate for slaying this iconic card, that wizards probably caught on, and adjusted the game, so that she would be far more relevant. 5/5 for nostalgic value, 4/5 in overall use.
I love playing this card in my control deck in today's environment. I win allot of games, and do so on the back of this hardy creature.
busdriverdan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
that flavor text has to be the best text ive ever seen on a card ever. just saying it makes you feel so powerful and like your a soldier being lead by angels into battle against evil. 5/5
Zokorad
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Common in my Custom Core Set!
Kirbster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
All right, I have a confession. Recently I had been thinking a little less of Serra Angel. They made her an uncommon again, and there are a few cards that are "strictly superior ashkay u guise," the worst offender being Bankslayer, of course. Anyways, I had it in my head she was an okay mid-sized creature, but with all the new, fancy angels why would you bother?
Long story short, I saw her again in a recent game. Geez, did she make a mess of me.
You forget how big 4/4 is and how evasive flying can be! Attacking every turn unhidered, able to block freely to eliminate any hope of outracing her, and able to suck up a lightning bolt without any outside help. She's too big for most damage spells, meaning pretty much any kill spell that can affect her will nail Baneslayer Angel as well. Yes, I managed to trade smaller-creature-and-a-bolt for her... but the second angel soon followed. The damage piled up too fast and her being in white, the colour of the most efficient creatures and being able to deal with anything on the board, certainly helpd. I was put back in my place.
This fair lady can soar to triumph just as easily now as she ever could.
psychichobo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I ran one just for retro value in my flying white blue deck.
She saved me against VAMPIRES, man.
I've seen Akroma and Gisela tear apart the house, but this lady just becomes a massive problem for an opponent in any situation even without the crazy stuff other flyers have.
Kura-san
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Eternally beautiful.
docstorm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My feeling is that this card is as good as a 5 mana angel should be. Baneslayer Angel aka. Bankslayer was a complete money grab by wizards. I can understand why they did this, but it does make the game less fun, especially when it steps on the toes of such an iconic card.
Aside from the rant, this is a great card, and was in my very first deck. I think it is a great baseline for 5 mana angels and should always be solid enough to see constructed play in my opinion. 5/5
Comments (39)
Baneslayer Angel isn't.
I know who I love more.
<3 Serra Angel forever.
Seriously though, i'm glad that they made SOME attempt to bring some balance... but with things like Visions of Beyond & Sundial of the Infinite around, I'm afraid that, IMHO, R&D dropped the ball (again).
I love Serra Angel. She's the iconic angel. And to think she almost didn't get her name. Thanks to her, Serra exists, one of my favorite Magic characters.
But yay! Overpowered BS Angel is gone! Not really overpowered, but just "Oh, lets make a powerful creature without it being special."
Edit: Apparently, Baneslayer Angel is a girl... No wonder she wasted all of your money lololol.
Art: 5/5 - anyone who disagrees is probably trolling
Coolness Factor: 5/5 for being iconic and timeless
Final rating 4/5 since, duh, I only rate cards on their playability. Same reason that I didn't hate-rate baneslayer or Jace 2. Also same reason that I downrate certain Timmy-oriented fatties that are card-disadvantage machines.
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.
Yo moma's overrated.
This Angel has seen better days. From what I heard, she was the win condition of the infamous Stasis deck. I'd love to open one of these in limited.
Serra Angel, we love you.
Congratulations! Now you don't even need to know how to do that!
Empyrial Archangel
Baneslayer Angel
Archangel of Strife
Long story short, I saw her again in a recent game. Geez, did she make a mess of me.
You forget how big 4/4 is and how evasive flying can be! Attacking every turn unhidered, able to block freely to eliminate any hope of outracing her, and able to suck up a lightning bolt without any outside help. She's too big for most damage spells, meaning pretty much any kill spell that can affect her will nail Baneslayer Angel as well. Yes, I managed to trade smaller-creature-and-a-bolt for her... but the second angel soon followed. The damage piled up too fast and her being in white, the colour of the most efficient creatures and being able to deal with anything on the board, certainly helpd. I was put back in my place.
This fair lady can soar to triumph just as easily now as she ever could.
She saved me against VAMPIRES, man.
I've seen Akroma and Gisela tear apart the house, but this lady just becomes a massive problem for an opponent in any situation even without the crazy stuff other flyers have.
Aside from the rant, this is a great card, and was in my very first deck. I think it is a great baseline for 5 mana angels and should always be solid enough to see constructed play in my opinion. 5/5