Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Flying, vigilance, Exile Senu: You gain 2 life and scry 2. When a legendary creature you control attacks and isn't blocked, if this card is exiled, put it onto the battlefield attacking.
Complete guide
Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector is a versatile Bird Scout that provides scouting utility and a recursive threat from exile. This legendary creature excels at supporting other legends, ensuring that a tactical advantage is maintained even after it leaves the physical battlefield.
Eyes in the Sky
Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector features two primary modes of play. While on the battlefield, it is a 2/1 flyer with vigilance that can be tapped and exiled to gain 2 life and scry 2. Once it is in exile, it waits for an opening; whenever a legendary creature you control attacks and remains unblocked, Senu returns to the battlefield already attacking.
Returning from Exile
Senu’s return trigger occurs immediately after blockers are declared. For this to trigger, Senu must already be in the exile zone at that specific moment. When the ability resolves, you put Senu onto the battlefield attacking. You choose which player, planeswalker, or battle Senu is attacking; it does not have to target the same player as the original unblocked legendary creature.
Timing and Attack Triggers
Because Senu enters the battlefield 'attacking,' it was never declared as an attacker during the declare attackers step. This means abilities that check for a creature attacking will not trigger for Senu. Additionally, you cannot exile Senu during the declare blockers step to try and trigger its return immediately; it must be exiled before the declare blockers step begins to see the unblocked attacker.
When to Activate Senu
The best time to use Senu's exile ability is usually during an opponent's end step or in response to a removal spell. This preserves your life total, fixes your next draws via scry, and sets Senu up to jump back into the fray on your next combat phase when your legendary threats swing in.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf you have Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector and Ornithopter of Paradise on the field, you can use the Ornithopter to produce mana to cast other spells. If an opponent targets Senu with a removal spell, you can tap Senu in response to exile it, gaining 2 life and scrying 2. Senu is now safely in exile, ready to return when a legendary creature you control goes unblocked later.
Esper SentinelNote that Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector only returns when a 'legendary' creature is unblocked. If you attack with Esper Sentinel and it is not blocked, Senu's ability will not trigger because Esper Sentinel is not legendary. You must ensure you have a legendary creature, such as another copy of Senu or a different commander, to bring Senu back from exile.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Senu's last ability will trigger only if Senu is already exiled at the point immediately after blockers are declared and at least one legendary creature you control that attacked isn't blocked. It's not possible to exile Senu during the declare blockers step in time to have the ability trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Although Senu enters the battlefield attacking as a result of its last ability, it was never declared as an attacking creature. Abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks won't trigger when Senu enters the battlefield attacking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You choose which player, planeswalker, or battle Senu is attacking when you put it onto the battlefield attacking. It doesn't have to be the same one that the unblocked legendary creature you control is attacking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.