Ajani's Influence MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2018-07-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2019 |
| Set code | M19 |
| Number | 282 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Sidharth Chaturvedi |
Text of card
Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature. Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a white card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Cards like Ajani's Influence
Ajani’s Influence stands out in MTG’s landscape of creature-enhancing spells. Within this niche, its most direct comparison is with cards such as Ajani’s Pridemate, which also benefits from life gain, but in a slightly different manner. Ajani’s Pridemate gains +1/+1 counters each time you gain life, thereby growing steadily over time. While Ajani’s Influence provides a singular, albeit significant boost, Ajani’s Pridemate offers a more cumulative advantage that can lead to a formidable threat if left unchecked.
Considering Oath of Ajani, another related card, we see a contrast in scope. Oath of Ajani affects all creatures you control, giving them +1/+1 counters and reducing the cost of your planeswalker spells, hinting at a broader strategic use. Ajani’s Influence, however, focuses its boost on a single target but comes with the added option to revive it from the graveyard, potentially turning the tides of play with its revival aspect.
In summary, while Ajani’s Influence is a card with a highly situational but powerful effect, MTG offers a variety of similar cards that provide either incremental advantages or broader buffs to creatures, catering to diverse game tactics and deck builds. Finding the right card depends on the synergy with the rest of your deck and your overarching strategy.
Cards similar to Ajani's Influence by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ajani’s Influence comes with the capacity to proliferate your board, methodically amassing counters across your permanents which can swiftly tip the scales in your favor as they grow in power turn by turn.
Resource Acceleration: The secondary effect of placing a loyalty counter on a planeswalker you control is a form of resource acceleration. This subtle yet powerful alternation can lead to quicker activation of powerful planeswalker abilities, giving you an edge over the competition.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Ajani’s Influence allows you to interact during your turn at sorcery speed, setting up defenses or enhancing your offense. The strategic depth of using sorcery-speed spells like this can align with instant-speed plays, making your turns highly impactful and transformative.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ajani’s Influence asks you to part ways with another card when you cast it. This trade-off can be punishing, especially during the late game when your hand might already be dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a specific set of mana — in this case, white — this card may not seamlessly fit into every deck, particularly those that tap into a broader color palette or rely on mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a rather hefty mana requirement, Ajani’s Influence comes at a higher cost than some alternatives that offer similar or more impactful benefits. Savvy players often weigh the mana investment against the potential returns, and in some instances, Ajani’s Influence may not tip the scales in its favor.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ajani’s Influence brings flexibility to a variety of decks. Its ability to proliferate strengthens permanents with counters, supporting strategies from +1/+1 counter decks to planeswalker-heavy builds.
Combo Potential: This card excels in synergizing with other cards, particularly those that depend on counters. By increasing the number of counters on your permanents, it can amplify the effects of other synergistic cards, unlocking powerful combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values long-term value and board presence, Ajani’s Influence can become a key card. Its power to modify and elevate the status of your in-game resources means it can swing games in your favor when facing slower, control-oriented decks.
How to beat
Ajani’s Influence is a spell that can present quite a challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. What sets it apart is its ability to bolster your creatures while simultaneously providing a means to recover Ajani Planeswalkers from your graveyard. This potent combination of buffing creatures and Planeswalker retrieval underscores its high strategic value.
To successfully navigate against Ajani’s Influence, the key lies in maintaining a robust removal suite. Prioritize spells that can neutralize creatures before the buff takes effect or dispatch Planeswalkers immediately as they hit the field. Timing is also vital; having instant-speed answers allows you to respond to your opponent’s moves, keeping the threats in check. Moreover, graveyard disruption can significantly hinder your opponent’s ability to exploit Ajani’s Influence to its fullest, by interrupting the reanimation of their key Planeswalkers.
Ultimately, overcoming Ajani’s Influence requires a proactive and reactive game plan. By staying ahead of your opponent with efficient threats, disrupting their graveyard, and having instant-speed responses ready, you can mitigate the impact of Ajani’s Influence and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ajani's Influence MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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's Influence and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ajani's Influence 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's Influence card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | You can’t cast Ajani’s Influence without a target creature. If the target creature is an illegal target when Ajani’s Influence tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t look at the top five cards of your library. |