Archfiend of Sorrows MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 74
2021-08-26 - Number 285
2021-06-18 - Number 26
2021-06-18 - Number 26s
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Demon |
| Abilities | Flying,Unearth |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Flying When Archfiend of Sorrows enters the battlefield, creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until end of turn. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
Cards like Archfiend of Sorrows
The Archfiend of Sorrows carves its niche within the realm of creature cards that pack a punch in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative could be Massacre Wurm, a creature that punishes opponents for each creature they have that meets their demise. While Massacre Wurm also diminishes the opponent’s life total, the Archfiend eases its way to victory by providing the added utility of creature control through its -2/-2 debuff to your opponents’ creatures upon entry.
Analogous in effect, we come across cards like Night of Souls’ Betrayal, a legendary enchantment that gives all creatures -1/-1. While less direct than the creature-based methods, it remains as an omnipresent threat. Then there’s the infamous Damnation, which wipes the board clean of creatures, though without the persistent threat posed by the Archfiend’s debuff aura. Archfiend of Sorrows further distinguishes itself with its unearth ability, ensuring a second wave of agony for creatures under your opponent’s command.
The balance between immediate impact and lingering threats places Archfiend of Sorrows in a unique position among creature control cards in Magic: The Gathering, blending board impact with recurrence potential.
Cards similar to Archfiend of Sorrows by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Archfiend of Sorrows enters the battlefield or dies, its unique ability lets you force each opponent to put two cards from their hand on top of their library, indirectly granting you card advantage by diluting your opponent’s upcoming draws.
Resource Acceleration: Although Archfiend of Sorrows does not directly produce resources, the card can indirectly accelerate your resources. By disrupting your opponents’ plans and reducing their hand quality, you maintain the upper hand, potentially sparing your own resources in the process.
Instant Speed: Even though Archfiend of Sorrows is a creature that does not inherently have instant speed, it can be brought into play at instant speed through various flash-enabling cards or reanimation spells, making it a versatile threat that can be deployed tactically during an opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Archfiend of Sorrows is that you must discard it to activate its Unearth ability. This cost becomes a steep price in situations where your hand is already depleted, or the card options you have are crucial for your gameplay strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a very specific mana combination to cast, needing both black and colorless mana. Its reliance on such a strict mana structure can make the Archfiend of Sorrows difficult to incorporate into a multicolored deck where mana resources are spread across various colors and types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, Archfiend of Sorrows comes at a considerable expense, particularly when compared to other creatures in the MTG universe. For decks focusing on rapid deployment and tempo, the high cost can be a significant deterrent, as it may congest your hand or delay your plays, affecting the overall pacing of your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Archfiend of Sorrows is a flexible addition to any collection as it serves as both a creature removal and a way to weaken your opponent’s board presence. Its ability to impact the game when it enters the battlefield or leaves makes it a useful card in a variety of circumstances.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that manipulate the graveyard, with its leave the battlefield trigger granting it inherent synergy with reanimation strategies. Its combo potential rises when paired with cards that benefit from creature deaths or casting spells from the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta abundant with creature-based strategies, Archfiend of Sorrows provides a significant edge. Its presence can turn the tide against decks that rely on accumulating a vast board presence, making this a timely inclusion in the current game environment.
How to beat
The Archfiend of Sorrows is a powerful creature card that can be a formidable opponent in any Magic: The Gathering match. With its ability to weaken enemy creatures upon entering the battlefield, it demands an effective strategy to overcome. If you want to beat this grim adversary, focus on removal spells that can target creatures without reliance on damage, such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider’s swift end ability.
Control decks stand a better chance in keeping Archfiend of Sorrows at bay by countering it with spells like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto. It’s also worth noting that exiling the Archfiend is more effective than sending it to the graveyard, where it could be potentially returned to the battlefield. To outpace the threat, aggressive decks should aim to lower the opponent’s life total quickly, minimizing the impact of Archfiend of Sorrows’ board-presence. Ultimately, being aware of your opponent’s graveyard and potential recursion tactics will be key in ensuring the Archfiend doesn’t bring about your match’s sorrowful end.
Remember to maintain card advantage and have responses ready in your deck to cope with this creature’s daunting presence. By carefully planning your strategy and keeping the pressure on your opponent, you can nullify the advantage that Archfiend of Sorrows brings to the table.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archfiend of Sorrows MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2 Art Series, 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 Archfiend of Sorrows and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Archfiend of Sorrows Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by David Rapoza.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza | |
| 2 | Modern Horizons 2 Art Series | AMH2 | 26 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | David Rapoza | ||
| 3 | Modern Horizons 2 Art Series | AMH2 | 26s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | David Rapoza | ||
| 4 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 285 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Archfiend of Sorrows has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archfiend of Sorrows card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | Activating a creature card's unearth ability isn't the same as casting the creature card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the creature card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle) will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Cancel) will not. |
| 2021-06-18 | If a creature returned to the battlefield by the unearth ability would leave it for any reason, it's exiled instead—unless the spell or ability that's causing the creature to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it. In that case, the spell or ability succeeds at exiling the creature. If the spell or ability later returns the creature card to the battlefield (as Ephemerate might, for example), the creature card will return as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effect will no longer apply to it. |