A-Acererak the Archlich MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Zombie Wizard |
| Abilities | Venture into the dungeon |
| Released | 2021-07-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms |
| Set code | AFR |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | A-87 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Andrey Kuzinskiy |
Text of card
When Acererak the Archlich enters the battlefield, if you haven't completed Tomb of Annihilation, return Acererak the Archlich to its owner's hand and venture into the dungeon. Whenever Acererak the Archlich attacks, create a number of 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens equal to the number of opponents you have.
Cards like A-Acererak the Archlich
Acererak the Archlich is an ominous presence on the battlefield, evoking memories of other formidable Legendary Creatures. Its color identity slots easily into decks alongside The Scarab God, which also revels in exploiting the graveyard, but Acererak offers an enticing venture into the dungeon mechanic. While The Scarab God reanimates creatures, Acererak potentially bypasses summoning costs through dungeon completion.
Gonti, Lord of Luxury is another card that shares the theme of using opponents’ cards. Both Acererak and Gonti disrupt opponents’ strategies, but Gonti provides immediate card advantage by exiling cards from an opponent’s library. Meanwhile, Acererak promises continued value through dungeon delving, albeit with a setup that requires careful deck construction to optimize.
Lastly, we consider Sedris, the Traitor King, who also dredges power from the graveyard. Unlike Acererak, which proffers a ‘use it or lose it’ mechanic with the dungeons, Sedris allows unearthed creatures to stick around for a whole turn, offering a wider window for their abilities or combat prowess. Choosing between these cards hinges on the preferred tempo and the existent synergies within your deck construction.
Cards similar to A-Acererak the Archlich by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: A-Acererak the Archlich is a powerhouse when it comes to generating card advantage. Each time it’s played from the graveyard, using the encore ability can draw you into more options and potentially lead you to the cards you need to seal the game.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable lich is not just about drawing cards but also about efficiently utilizing your mana. Playing it from your graveyard for its encore cost can be a significant play, accelerating your resource management and giving you a substantial presence on the board.
Instant Speed: While A-Acererak the Archlich itself is not an instant, its ability to enter from the graveyard provides an uninterrupted opportunity for action. It effectively allows you to pass the turn with mana open, keeping your opponents guessing and only committing to casting A-Acererak when the most advantageous moment arises.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Acererak the Archlich prompts a significant setback by necessitating the discard of another card when you’re strategizing to extract its venture into the dungeon advantage. This demand can strain your hand, especially in situations where maintaining a variety of options is paramount.
Specific Mana Cost: With its definitive color identity, Acererak the Archlich requires a precise combination of black mana. This specificity restricts deck-building flexibility, confining it predominantly to mono-black or color-splashed black decks, potentially excluding it from a broader range of archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value that is hefty for its effects, Acererak the Archlich challenges players to assess its opportunity cost against other cards in the same mana slot. While its dungeon delve is enticing, the associated mana investment demands careful consideration, as other options could advance your board presence with greater immediacy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Acererak the Archlich offers flexibility to deck builders, as it can serve as a powerful one-card win condition or value generator in decks that can reliably complete the Dungeon mechanic.
Combo Potential: This card possesses immense potential when paired with cards that allow you to repeatedly complete dungeons, enabling infinite combos that can end games on the spot.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment that values resilience and adaptability, Acererak the Archlich can shine by offering consistent late-game threats that require opponents to have an answer or face defeat.
How to Beat Acererak the Archlich
Diving into the depths of Magic: The Gathering’s dungeon-themed cards, Acererak the Archlich emerges as a formidable opponent. Packed with an ability that combos with venturing into the dungeon, this card rewards players with a potential cast from the graveyard without paying its mana cost. Conquering this lich requires a robust strategy – grave disruption is key. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt offer a cost-effective option to exile cards from the opponent’s graveyard, hindering Acererak’s reanimation tactic.
Similarly, employing countermagic such as Negate or Dovin’s Veto can be exceptional in preventing Acererak from hitting the battlefield in the first place. For those preferring a proactive approach, creature removal spells become indispensable, ensuring the Archlich does not linger on the board to exploit its powerful abilities. Creatures with deathtouch or that can exile upon dealing damage, like Skyclave Apparition, can be an answer to Acererak’s enduring presence.
In essence, dealing with Acererak the Archlich boils down to anticipating its arrival and having answers ready. Disrupting graveyard mechanics, consistent creature control, and crafty use of counterspells are the cornerstones of thwarting this undead adversary in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-Acererak the Archlich MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the A-Acererak the Archlich and other MTG cards:
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-Acererak the Archlich has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |