Anaba Ancestor MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 65
2009-09-07 - Number 86
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Minotaur Spirit |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oc T: Target Minotaur gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
"The Ancestors are the wisdom of the tribe and the soul of the Homelands. I am eternally in their debt." —Taysir
Cards like Anaba Ancestor
Anaba Ancestor adds to the lineage of Magic: The Gathering’s tribal support cards. It’s analogous to cards like Goblin Warchief in that it empowers its tribe – Minotaur in this case – much like the Warchief does for Goblins. Nevertheless, Anaba Ancestor provides a distinct advantage of bolstering Minotaur creatures with banding ability, making combat more favorable for them. Goblin Warchief, differs by offering cost reduction and haste to its tribe, thus enhancing their speed rather than their combat interaction.
In resemblance, we can look at Elvish Archdruid, which is also a tribal-boosting card. Much like Anaba Ancestor, the Archdruid offers a static power and toughness boost to its specific tribe – Elves. Additionally, Elvish Archdruid provides a ramping ability by producing mana, contrasting with Anaba Ancestor’s focus on fortifying defensive and tactical combat strategies with banding.
Reviewing the MTG landscape, Anaba Ancestor holds a unique place within Minotaur tribal cards. It stands out by strengthening the cohesion within a Minotaur deck, highlighting its ability to turn individual Minotaur creatures into a formidable, unified force on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Anaba Ancestor by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Anaba Ancestor features a unique ability allowing you to pump a Minotaur creature, which can indirectly lead to card advantage by strengthening your board presence and reducing the need for additional creature spells.
Resource Acceleration: This card’s totemic support, representative of its tribal synergy for Minotaurs, encourages a swifter development of your tribal strategy, expediting your deck’s capacity to present threats and influence the board.
Instant Speed: The activated ability of Anaba Ancestor can be utilized at instant speed, offering the flexibility to bolster your creatures during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions, making it a tactical asset in battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Anaba Ancestor necessitates discarding another card to activate its ability. This can be particularly taxing if you’re already managing a smaller hand, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage with fewer options for subsequent turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a blend of both red and generic mana, Anaba Ancestor demands a dedicated slot in your mana base. This can make it challenging to cast in multi-colored decks that might not have ready access to red mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana to cast, including one red, Anaba Ancestor’s impact on the game may not align with its mana investment when compared to other creatures or spells at a similar mana tier. This could potentially slow down your game plan, especially in formats where speed is crucial.
Reasons to Include Anaba Ancestor in Your Collection
Versatility: Anaba Ancestor offers widespread utility in Minotaur tribal or aggro decks, reinforcing the board with its ancestral heritage by boosting fellow Minotaurs. Its inclusion can diversify your gameplay, offering pivotal support in crucial match moments.
Combo Potential: As a tribal boon, this card synergizes seamlessly with Minotaur-themed cards, particularly those that feed off of buffs to creatures. This interplay can yield overwhelmingly powerful creatures that dominate the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tribal decks make a splash, Anaba Ancestor finds its place by solidifying the creature line-up. This card can play a crucial role, especially in formats that favor robust, creature-based strategies.
How to beat
Anaba Ancestor is a card that offers tribal synergy in Magic: The Gathering, specifically within Minotaur decks. At face value, its ability to bolster other Minotaurs may seem daunting, especially considering the cumulative power boost it offers in a creature-heavy setup. However, this card’s potential can be mitigated tactically.
Key to defeating an opponent’s Anaba Ancestor strategy is to disrupt their board presence. Removal spells are crucial in this endeavor. Direct removals like Doom Blade or Path to Exile will eliminate the Ancestor before its ability becomes a significant problem. Using counter spells like Negate or Mana Leak can also prevent the Ancestor or other Minotaur cards from hitting the field at all. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the game, nullifying the accumulated bonuses from Anaba Ancestor.
Since Anaba Ancestor hinges on a concentrated tribal strategy, dismantling that unity by selectively removing creatures or negating abilities can turn the tide of battle. Prioritizing threats and maintaining control of the board will often lead to victory against a deck with Anaba Ancestor at its core.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Anaba Ancestor MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition III, 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 Anaba Ancestor 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Anaba Ancestor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 65 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 2009-09-07 | Masters Edition III | ME3 | 86 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Anaba Ancestor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |