Serra Angel

Serra Angel first appeared in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, designed by Richard Garfield as a quintessential white creature. It was conceived as a high-cost, high-reward flyer that offered both offensive and defensive utility through the vigilance keyword, long before that term was formally codified. As one of the most recognizable icons of the game's early years, its artwork—originally by Douglas Shuler—became a benchmark for fantasy illustration within the trading card medium.

This specific iteration from the 2008 'From the Vault: Angels' collection was created to celebrate the history of angelic cards in the game. It features new, premium art by Greg Staples, who sought to capture a more grounded and formidable aesthetic compared to the ethereal nature of earlier versions. The release was well-received by collectors for its reflective foiling process and its curated selection of historically significant cards, marking it as a deliberate archival piece rather than a standard play-focused release.