Zariel, Archduke of Avernus MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 172
2021-07-23 - Number 172p
2021-07-23 - Number 172s
2021-07-23 - Number 172a
2021-07-23 - Number 285
2002-06-24 - Number 92726
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Zariel |
| Loyalty | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Zariel’s abilities offer card advantage by creating devil tokens and boosting offensive tactics with haste.
- Resource acceleration is key, as Zariel’s haste for creatures changes the game’s pace significantly.
- While Zariel is a mana-intensive play, her synergy with instant speed spells enhances board control.
Text of card
+1: Creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain haste until end of turn.
0: Create a 1/1 red Devil creature token with "When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target."
-6: You get an emblem with "At the end of the first combat phase on your turn, untap target creature you control. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you summon Zariel, Archduke of Avernus, her abilities provide a formidable advantage by populating the battlefield with a steady flow of devil creature tokens each turn. This helps to maintain pressure against your opponent and ensures that you’re never short on attackers or potential blockers.
Resource Acceleration: Zariel’s ability to give creatures haste not only speeds up your army’s offensive capabilities but also can rapidly change the pace of the game. By enhancing the swiftness of your creature deployment, you effectively accelerate your resource utilization, getting the most out of each creature the turn it’s played.
Instant Speed: Although Zariel herself doesn’t act at instant speed, she synergizes well with cards that do. This synergy becomes apparent as you control the pace of the game, playing spells at instant speed to disrupt opponents during their turn, then unleashing hasted creatures during your own turn for a rapid assault.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Zariel, Archduke of Avernus often means adhering to a specific deck-building strategy that makes room for a discard mechanic, which can lead to a depletion of valuable hand resources, resulting in potential disadvantage in the game’s later stages.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for summoning Zariel comprises an exact combination of energy types, which necessitates a dedicated mana base. This could complicate inclusion in multi-coloured or splash decks, potentially limiting its adaptability across various playstyles.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Zariel packs a significant punch, its mana value might be on the higher end when compared to other cards with similar or swifter board impact. Players are often looking for the most efficient plays, and as such, they might opt for alternatives that offer a quicker return on investment.
Reasons to Include Zariel, Archduke of Avernus in Your Collection
Versatility: Zariel, Archduke of Avernus is a flexible planeswalker that can adapt to a multitude of deck styles. Whether you’re powering up creatures in an aggressive strategy or controlling the board in a midrange deck, Zariel’s abilities will back you up.
Combo Potential: With the capability to both create devil tokens and grant them haste, this card can synergize with strategies that capitalize on numerous creatures or those looking to benefit from sacrifice mechanics for additional value.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggro decks are prominent, Zariel’s prowess in enabling a quick offense can tip the scales in your favor. Additionally, her ability to accrue loyalty quickly and her ultimate can turn the tide in more prolonged matches, making her a solid pick for diverse play environments.
How to beat
Zariel, Archduke of Avernus is a powerful force in MTG that can dominate the battlefield with its ability to grant both creatures and planeswalkers haste. Facing Zariel can be daunting, but there are strategic ways to turn the tide in your favor. One approach is to use instant-speed removal spells that can address the threat before it gets a chance to swing for considerable damage or pile up loyalty counters. Cards like Murderous Rider or Heartless Act are solid choices, allowing you to respond in a pinch.
Another tactic is to apply pressure early in the game. Aggressive decks can often force Zariel’s controller to play defensively, which may lead to suboptimal plays. Finally, cards that can neutralize activated abilities, such as Pithing Needle or Sorcerous Spyglass, can severely hinder Zariel’s ability to affect the game. By keeping in mind these strategies and deploying them skillfully, you can temper the threat of Zariel and keep the battlefield under your control.
In summary, while Zariel poses a substantial challenge, strategic play involving instant-speed removal, early aggression, and disabling key abilities will help you gain the upper hand in your MTG matches against this formidable planeswalker.
Cards like Zariel, Archduke of Avernus
Zariel, Archduke of Avernus, carves a distinctive niche within the pantheon of powerful planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering. A natural comparison can be drawn to Chandra, Torch of Defiance, both for her damage-dealing capabilities and her potential to add significant mana. However, Zariel stands out with abilities that are more synergistic with creature-focused strategies, especially with those involving Devils.
Another planeswalker worth contrasting with Zariel is Sarkhan the Masterless, who similarly transforms all planeswalkers into creatures, in this case Dragons. Both Zariel and Sarkhan encourage a strategy that benefits from having a multitude of creatures, yet Zariel is uniquely attuned to creating and enhancing Devil tokens. Lastly, Angrath, the Flame-Chained offers a different avenue for a red planeswalker, focusing more on disrupting the opponent’s hand and board, which contrasts with Zariel’s focus on bolstering your own creature’s presence and attacking capabilities.
When we evaluate the abilities and their alignment with different deck strategies, Zariel provides a formidable option for players looking to wage an aggressive campaign with an ever-growing army of Deviled troops on the fantastical battlegrounds of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Zariel, Archduke of Avernus by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Zariel, Archduke of Avernus MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and 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 Zariel, Archduke of Avernus 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
Printings
The Zariel, Archduke of Avernus Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 92726 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | ||
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 172 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 172p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 4 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 172s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 5 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 172a | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heonhwa Choe | |
| 6 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 285 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Scott M. Fischer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Zariel, Archduke of Avernus has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Zariel, Archduke of Avernus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | If the target of the emblem's ability becomes an illegal target by the time the ability tries to resolve, the ability won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't get an additional combat phase. |
| 2021-07-23 | If you have more than one of Zariel's emblem, the abilities will each trigger at the end of the first combat phase on your turn. You can choose the same creature as the target of each ability. Those targets will untap before any additional combats. No creatures will untap between the first additional combat and the second additional combat (or between the second and third, and so on, and wow, how long was Zariel under your control?!) |
| 2021-07-23 | The ability of the emblem can target any creature you control, not just one that's tapped. |
| 2021-07-23 | There is no main phase between the combat phases. You move from the first combat phase directly into the second combat phase. |
