Akroan Skyguard MTG Card

Efficient card advantage via synergy with enchantments, driving powerful draw mechanisms within aura-centric decks. Encourages fast, aggressive play through low-cost Heroic ability activations, converting small mana into impactful presence. Ability to disrupt opponents at instant speed, leveraging Heroic triggers to adapt to the shifting board state.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Flying,Heroic
Released	2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set name	Born of the Gods
Set code	BNG
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	3
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Winters

Text of card

Flying Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Akroan Skyguard, put a +1/+1 counter on Akroan Skyguard.

"Trust me. When you have earned a god's favor, you'll know."

Cards like Akroan Skyguard

Akroan Skyguard stands out in the Magic: The Gathering realm as a capable flyer within the Heroic mechanic. It’s often compared to Wingsteed Rider, both sharing a propensity to grow through spells that target them. Akroan Skyguard has the advantage of being a 1/1 for only two mana, capable of becoming a threat early on. Though slightly less formidable than its 2/2 Wingsteed counterpart in toughness, its lower mana cost allows for quicker plays and synergy with numerous spells.

Considering the card Phalanx Leader, also utilizing the Heroic mechanic but affecting the entire board, we see a difference in tactical application. While the Leader demands a wider strategy, favoring spells like Gods Willing, Akroan Skyguard excels in focused tempo, empowering individual combat strength and thrives with buffs such as Aerial Maneuver.

To conclude, Akroan Skyguard presents itself as an affordable and aggressive option for decks leveraging Heroic triggers. It shines with potential for early dominance and synergistic plays, distinguishing itself within its category and offering a unique route for aerial combat strategies in the game.

Cards similar to Akroan Skyguard by color, type and mana cost

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Akroan Skyguard. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Mono-White Heroic	Pauper	Mono-White Heroic	Pauper Challenge 32 2023-11-18
Mono-White Hero	Pauper	Mono-White Heroic	Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 1^ tappa MILANO 2024
Mono White Heroic	Pauper	Mono-White Heroic	Lega Pauper Perugia - Tappa#5 - Road To Paupergeddon Milano 2024
Mono-White Aggro	Pauper	Mono-White Heroic	Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 1^ tappa MILANO 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Akroan Skyguard itself may not directly let you draw cards, its synergy with enchantments can lead to significant card advantage. Deck strategies that focus on auras or enchantments often include ways to draw cards whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield. This makes the Skyguard a pivotal part of maintaining a full hand while developing a formidable board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Akroan Skyguard itself doesn’t provide traditional mana acceleration, but its low cost and Heroic ability encourage a fast-paced, aggressive strategy. By using inexpensive auras or spells that target the Skyguard, you can quickly enhance its power and toughness, essentially converting small mana investments into significant battlefield dominance without delay.

Instant Speed: The true potential of Akroan Skyguard is unlocked when combined with instant-speed spells or auras. This interaction allows you to hold mana and strategically cast buffs in response to your opponent’s actions, possibly creating surprise blockers or attackers that disrupt your opponent’s strategy. Moreover, the ability to trigger the Heroic mechanic at instant speed gives you the flexibility to adapt to an ever-changing game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Akroan Skyguard doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it can be impacted by an opponent’s strategy that forces discards, thereby reducing your ability to buff or protect it on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: The Skyguard’s mana cost requires one white and one generic, making it a potential hurdle for multi-color decks that may struggle with the necessary mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only two mana, as a 1/1 creature, the Skyguard can be less mana-efficient compared to other creatures that provide greater initial board presence or come with additional abilities for the same cost.

Reasons to Include Akroan Skyguard in Your Collection

Versatility: Akroan Skyguard is a card that can seamlessly adapt to various deck types, especially those looking to exploit the Heroic ability. With its low casting cost, it’s a suitable inclusion for aggressive strategies that aim to power-up creatures quickly.

Combo Potential: This card is excellent for decks that focus on triggering abilities. Pair it with spells that target multiple creatures to distribute +1/+1 counters at an efficient rate, leveraging those counters to strengthen your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures can dominate due to less aerial defense, the Akroan Skyguard stands out as a valuable player. Its flying attribute can evade many blockers while steadily growing stronger, making it a persistent threat in both offense and defense.

How to beat

Akroan Skyguard proves to be a challenge with its heroic ability which makes it stronger each time you target it with a spell. To efficiently handle this winged warrior, it’s essential to prevent its ability from triggering. Instant speed removal spells that can deal with the creature before it grows too large or before your opponent can protect it with combat tricks are ideal. Think about using options like Shock or Fatal Push, which can remove it from the game before it becomes a tangible threat.

Another tactic is to bypass its heroic ability entirely. Cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures, such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana’s Triumph, sidestep targeting and thus, the chance for Akroan Skyguard to get buffed. Strategy is key: waiting for the right moment to play these spells can maximize their effectiveness and keep the battlefield in your favor.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s moves can make all the difference. Managing your resources wisely and choosing the correct moment to act are crucial in turning the tide against an Akroan Skyguard on the rise. By employing swift and targeted removal or utilizing sacrifice effects, the Skyguard can be grounded permanently, ensuring your path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Akroan Skyguard MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Akroan Skyguard and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Akroan Skyguard has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Akroan Skyguard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2013-09-15	Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger.
2013-09-15	Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times.
2013-09-15	Heroic abilities won’t trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell’s targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability.