Archon of Justice MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Archon of Justice exits the battlefield, its ability to exile target permanent is a pivotal swing in card advantage. Not only does this effect mitigate an opponent’s resources, but it also does so without costing you an additional card, effectively dealing with threats one-for-one or sometimes even tipping the scales in your favor if timed properly.

Resource Acceleration: Although Archon of Justice itself does not directly offer resource acceleration, its presence can indirectly accelerate your resources. By removing key pieces of an opponent’s mana base or other accelerants, you ensure that your own resources remain potent while disrupting theirs.

Instant Speed: The threat of activation at instant speed is inherent with Archon of Justice due to its exile effect triggering upon death. This allows savvy players to hold back removal spells or board wipes until the most opportune moment, often catching an opponent off-guard and maximizing the Archon’s impact on the game state.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Archon of Justice comes with a mana cost that requires both white and generic mana, which could restrict it to decks that run white or have a dependable mana base capable of producing various colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value of five, including two white, this creature card might be considered a heavy investment, especially when competing with other impactful five-cost cards that may provide more immediate board presence or effects.

Discard Requirement: Though the Archon of Justice itself doesn’t ask for a card to be discarded, its optimal play often hinges on having cards that enable sacrificing or other death triggers, which can indirectly pressure your hand if those synergistic pieces are scarce.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Archon of Justice fits seamlessly into a multitude of deck archetypes. Its ability to exile any permanent upon death makes it a formidable threat in matches. Whether it’s a part of a control strategy or a midrange deck, its presence can pivot the game in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card possesses an innate synergy with mechanics that manipulate the graveyard or sacrifice. Pairing Archon of Justice with sacrifice outlets can repeatedly leverage its exile ability, disrupting opponents’ strategies consistently.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that often includes various permanents with powerful effects, Archon of Justice stands out as a valuable counter. Its ability to target any permanent makes it relevant in nearly every meta, ensuring that your decks stay competitive.

How to Beat

The Archon of Justice is a card that commands attention on the battlefield, often acting as a potent deterrent in Magic: The Gathering. With its formidable presence, it adds a strategic layer of protection, as many opponents might hesitate to remove it due to its afterlife ability to exile target permanent. However, if you’re strategizing to stand against this winged enforcer, consider a multi-pronged approach. Removal spells that exile can bypass its triggering ability—cards like Path to Exile or the infamous Swords to Plowshares make for an efficient solution.

Another viable strategy is to negate its leaving-the-battlefield trigger. Utilize counters like Stifle or Trickbind tokeep its ability from activating. Alternatively, employing instant-speed graveyard interactions that replace the event, such as Scarab Feast or Tormod’s Crypt, could clear the Archon before the ability resolves. Deploying these tactics requires timing and a keen sense of battlefield awareness, but mastering them turns the Archon of Justice from a foreboding threat to a manageable challenge in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.