Ajani, Strength of the Pride MTG Card
2019-07-12 - Number 2
2022-12-02 - Number 141
2020-09-26 - Number M20-2
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Ajani |
| Loyalty | 5 |
Text of card
+1: You gain life equal to the number of creatures you control plus the number of planeswalkers you control. −2: Create a 2/2 white Cat Soldier creature token named Ajani's Pridemate with "Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on Ajani's Pridemate." 0: If you have at least 15 life more than your starting life total, exile Ajani, Strength of the Pride and each artifact and creature your opponents control.
Cards like Ajani, Strength of the Pride
Ajani, Strength of the Pride asserts its presence in the planeswalker roster of MTG with unique attributes that resonate among life gain aficionados. The card echoes the lifelink strategy similar to what you would find in Authority of the Consuls with its passive health accumulation. Where Ajani, Strength of the Pride excels is the zero loyalty ability to create a token that’s a copy of itself if you have at least 35 more life than your starting total. This is in contrast to cards like Leonin Warleader that generates tokens but is dependent on combat.
Another peer in the life gain category is Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice. Despite sharing the theme of accruing life and token generation, Ajani, Strength of the Pride offers the potential to wipe the board clean with its -2 loyalty ability when facing a swarm of opposing creatures, something Trostani does not inherently possess. Then there’s Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, who brings to the table both token generation and a boost to your creatures. Yet again, Ajani’s ability to potentially end the game with its ultimate stands apart giving it a unique foothold in life-gain strategies.
In assessing the value and role of life-centric planeswalkers and creatures within the game, Ajani, Strength of the Pride certainly carves a niche for itself as a force-multiplier in life gain decks, balancing board control with the creation of valuable token assets.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ajani, Strength of the Pride. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Selesnya Angels | Pioneer | Selesnya Angels | *HALF PRICE FRIDAY* ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 2:00 pm |
| Mono-White Death & Taxes | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 08 2024 | |
 | Boros Midrange | Pioneer | ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Hartford - Friday - 1:30 pm (Bronze) | |
 | All Other Decklists | Modern | Martyr Proc | Modern $10K Trial - SCG CON Cincinnati - Saturday - 4:00 pm (Silver) |
| Mono-White Prison | Modern | Martyr Proc | Modern $20K Trial - SCG CON Cincinnati - Friday - 4:00 pm (Silver) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ajani Strength of the Pride offers a significant card advantage, especially with its zero-loyalty ability, which allows you to create a 2/2 white Cat creature token with lifelink for no loyalty cost. This not only can build your board presence but effectively thins your deck to get to your key pieces faster.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Ajani Strength of the Pride accelerates your resources through its passive abilities. The +1 loyalty ability to gain life equal to the number of creatures you control plus the number of planeswalkers you control can quickly escalate your board strength and set you up for its -2 ability, which can exile opponents’ creatures and artifacts with lower power than your life total.
Instant Speed: Although Ajani Strength of the Pride operates at sorcery speed, its ultimate ability can be activated at instant speed in response to threats. By sacrificing Ajani Strength of the Pride when your life total is more than double your starting total, you exile the card and all cards your opponent owns, leaving them with minimal resources on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ajani Strength of the Pride does not require discarding cards directly, but its minus two ability can deplete your hand by creating tokens only if you have enough loyalty counters. This could sometimes force players to choose between maintaining a full hand or developing the board.
Specific Mana Cost: This Planeswalker comes with a rather color-committed mana cost, needing two white mana. This can restrict its inclusion mostly to mono-white or white-centric decks, potentially limiting deck-building flexibility for players who operate with a broader color palette.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of four mana, Ajani Strength of the Pride demands a significant investment early in the game. In a format where speed and efficiency are paramount, the cost may be a deterrent when considering other cards that could potentially offer quicker board impact or less strain on the mana base.
Reasons to Include Ajani Strength of the Pride in Your Collection
Versatility: Ajani Strength of the Pride thrives in life-gain decks, offering a dynamic range of abilities that can impact the game significantly. From bolstering your life total to creating creature tokens, this planeswalker card adapts to various play styles and situations.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes exceptionally well with other life-gain cards, allowing players to set up powerful combos that can overwhelm opponents. Its ultimate ability can be a game-ender by itself, exiling opposing threats based on your high life total.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Ajani Strength of the Pride can provide critical tempo swings. Its loyalty abilities interact favorably in matches, making it an essential card for decks that aim to stabilize and dominate the board through continuous life gain and creature control.
How to Beat Ajani, Strength of the Pride
Ajani, Strength of the Pride is a powerful planeswalker card in MTG. Debuting in the Core Set 2020, this card is recognized for its ability to stabilizes games with its loyalty abilities that revolve around life gain and creature creation. It shines in lifegain decks, but like all cards, it has weaknesses that can be exploited.
One effective strategy in countering Ajani is dealing with it as soon as it enters the battlefield. Direct damage spells, creature abilities that deal damage, or forcing a sacrifice are good ways to eliminate Ajani before it can create an overwhelming board presence. Cards that can handle planeswalkers directly, such as Murderous Rider or Bedevil, prove to be invaluable in this scenario.
Additionally, preventing lifegain or reducing life totals quickly can diminish Ajani’s impact. Strategies involving burn spells, aggressive creatures, or disruption tools can keep Ajani’s abilities in check. By applying constant pressure and not allowing the life total to escalate, Ajani becomes much less of a threat and easier to manage throughout the course of a game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Assembling an MTG deck with Ajani Strength of the Pride can elevate your gameplay to formidable heights. This planeswalker shines in life-gain decks and can take you from a steady buildup to a commanding victory. We encourage you to look beyond the card advantage and resource acceleration, understanding how it fits into your deck strategy and the overarching MTG metagame. Consider its potential to synergize with your deck’s theme and the impact in your local game scene. To integrate this stalwart ally into your arsenal or to refine its use in your current lineup, we invite you to explore deeper insights and strategies on our platform. Harness the full power of Ajani Strength of the Pride in your next MTG session.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ajani, Strength of the Pride MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and The List, 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 Ajani, Strength of the Pride and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Ajani, Strength of the Pride Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | M20-2 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis | ||
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rallis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ajani, Strength of the Pride 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 Ajani, Strength of the Pride card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-07-12 | Each creature with lifelink dealing combat damage causes a separate life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, Ajani’s Pridemate’s ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature you control with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once. |
| 2019-07-12 | If Ajani’s Pridemate is dealt lethal damage at the same time that you gain life, it won’t receive a counter from its ability in time to save it. |
| 2019-07-12 | If a planeswalker you control is also a creature (most likely because it’s Gideon), it will be counted twice as Ajani’s first ability resolves. |
| 2019-07-12 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, Ajani’s last ability exiles permanents as long as your team’s life total is greater than your team’s starting life total by 15 or more life. |
| 2019-07-12 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, life gained by your teammate won’t cause Ajani’s Pridemate’s ability to trigger, even though it will cause your team’s life total to increase. |
| 2019-07-12 | The ability of Ajani’s Pridemate triggers just once for each life-gaining event, whether it’s 1 life from Impassioned Orator or 4 life from Dawning Angel. If you gain an amount of life “for each” of something or “equal to the number” of something, that life is gained as one event and the ability of Ajani’s Pridemate triggers only once. |
| 2019-07-12 | The tokens created by Ajani’s second ability are similar to the card Ajani’s Pridemate, but they have no mana cost and their mana value is 0. |
| 2019-07-12 | Whether you have at least 15 life more than your starting life total is determined as Ajani’s last ability resolves. |