A-Queza, Augur of Agonies MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Cephalid Advisor |
| Abilities | Vigilance |
| Released | 2022-04-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Streets of New Capenna |
| Set code | SNC |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | A-212 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Josh Hass |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage in multiplayer formats, significantly outpacing opponents in card resources.
- Enables faster plays by encouraging life point strategies, fitting well with synergistic decks.
- Its instant speed activation offers tactical plays, giving an edge in board control.
Text of card
Vigilance Whenever you draw a card, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: A-Queza, Augur of Agonies offers a significant benefit by allowing you to draw cards equal to the number of opponents you have. This built-in multiplier is especially valuable in multiplayer formats, ensuring that you won’t fall behind in hand resources.
Resource Acceleration: This card actively encourages deck-building around life payment mechanics, which synergize well with other formats, potentially accelerating your gameplay by unlocking powerful plays earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate A-Queza, Augur of Agonies at instant speed provides tactical flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponents’ moves or end-step actions for superior board position without compromising your turn sequence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When deploying A-Queza, Augur of Agonies, players must grapple with the prerequisite of discarding a card to capitalize on its abilities. This can pose a substantial setback, particularly if your hand is already stretched thin, stripping you of vital strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: Piloting A-Queza demands an adherence to its strict mana cost which involves both black and blue mana. This can prove restrictive, effectively pigeonholing it into decks that run these colors, and may prove cumbersome for those aiming to maintain a more flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: A-Queza, Augur of Agonies enters the battlefield with a demanding mana cost which includes two colorless, one black, and one blue mana. In competitive play, this cost can overshadow its utility relative to other cards in the format that might perform similar functions more efficiently or at a lower resource expense.
Reasons to Include A-Queza, Augur of Agonies in Your Collection
Versatility: A-Queza, Augur of Agonies effortlessly slides into various deck archetypes, particularly those seeking to bolster their control over the game through life total manipulation and card advantage.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergistic environments, setting up potent combinations with cards that care about life payment as a strategic resource for drawing cards or activating abilities.
Meta-Relevance: Given a format where the battlefield’s ebb and flow are dictated by incremental advantages, A-Queza’s ability to turn life points into tactical gains makes it a powerful contender, keeping your hand refreshed and your options open.
How to Beat A-Queza, Augur of Agonies
A-Queza, Augur of Agonies, brings an interesting dynamic to the table in Magic: The Gathering. This formidable card poses a real threat with its ability to potentially draw additional cards while inflicting life loss on an opponent. Facing this card, the key to success lies in disrupting an opponent’s hand and graveyard, which A-Queza relies on for its strength.
Strategy becomes crucial when countering such a card. Deploying graveyard hate cards that can exile cards from the graveyard can undercut A-Queza’s influence. Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void are good examples that can hinder its ability and protect your life points. Since it operates on having a high spell count, hand disruption spells like Thoughtseize or Duress can also be effective tools, removing pivotal cards that trigger A-Queza’s ability before they can be cast.
To diminish the impact of A-Queza, direct removal spells are also invaluable. Swiftly handling the threat it poses ensures that it spends minimal time on the battlefield, limiting the advantage it can provide. Overall, a combination of targeted discard, graveyard manipulation, and prompt removal gives players a solid game plan against A-Queza, Augur of Agonies.
Cards like A-Queza, Augur of Agonies
A-Queza, Augur of Agonies marks its place in Magic: The Gathering as a card that resonates with the dynamics of life loss-based draw spells. A comparable card in the same echelon is Dark Confidant, which also offers up a drawn card at the cost of life points according to the revealed card’s mana value. A-Queza, however, offers a predetermined loss of life, which can be advantageous for players seeking to stabilize their life points. Moreover, A-Queza allows for drawing cards each turn, not just your own, standing it apart from Dark Confidant’s limitation to your upkeep only.
While examining similar mechanisms, we come across Pain’s Reward. This card grants multiple players the opportunity to bid life in exchange for cards, fostering a more interactive play but with a potentially higher life cost. In contrast, A-Queza’s cost is static and predictable. Another card in this comparison is Underworld Connections, providing a more controlled draw by paying life and tapping a land each time you wish to draw. A-Queza offers a consistent engine without the need to tie up your lands.
Overall, A-Queza, Augur of Agonies is an innovative inclusion in the MTG world, appealing to players who favor consistency and control over their life total while still reaping the advantages of card draw mechanics.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-Queza, Augur of Agonies MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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-Queza, Augur of Agonies and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-Queza, Augur of Agonies has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.