Arek, False Goldwarden MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Cleric |
| Abilities | Intensity |
| Released | 2023-02-28 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Phyrexia |
| Set code | YONE |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 17 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Josh Hass |
Text of card
Starting intensity 0 Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, perpetually increase the intensity of Arek and the intensity of all cards named Arek, False Goldwarden in your graveyard, hand, and library by 1. , , Sacrifice Arek: Target opponent loses X life and you gain X life, where X is Arek's intensity.
Cards like Arek, False Goldwarden
Arek, False Goldwarden introduces an intriguing dynamic to creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. With abilities reminiscent of storied guardians like Palladia-Mors, The Ruiner, it offers a robust combination of flying and vigilance. Unlike Palladia-Mors, however, Arek provides an economical advantage by potentially creating Treasure tokens — a significant tactical boon. While Palladia-Mors also boasts hexproof, Arek substitutes this with a unique reckless abandon for attacking, turning defense into a potential offensive onslaught.
Exploring further parallels, Victory’s Herald serves as another comparison. The Herald shares the flying trait and confers additional life gain to its controller upon attacking, positioning it as a formidable ally. Contrasted with Arek, it lacks the direct capacity for token generation, which can be pivotal in maintaining momentum and resource management throughout a match.
Comparing these cards highlights how Arek, False Goldwarden fits into the framework of MTG’s creature roles. Offering both offensive pressure and the versatile function of Treasure production, Arek stands out as a solid choice for players who value immediate effects coupled with long-term strategic potential.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arek, False Goldwarden enhances card flow by allowing you to effectively manipulate the top of your library. This increases the chances of drawing the cards you need exactly when you need them, streamlining your strategy and maintaining a steady grip on the game’s dynamics.
Resource Acceleration: As a powerful asset in ramp strategies, Arek facilitates resource acceleration by enabling the production or optimization of mana. This may dramatically speed up your gameplay, allowing you to deploy high-cost cards sooner than usual and outpace your opponents in terms of board presence and threat deployment.
Instant Speed: Boasting abilities that can be utilized at instant speed offers a tactical advantage, providing flexibility to react swiftly to your opponent’s moves. This enables strategic depth, allowing you to make decisions with a higher level of information and control the pace of the match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Arek, False Goldwarden necessitates a card discard as part of his activation cost. Having to let go of a valuable card can be a potential setback, especially if your hand is already depleted and you’re banking on every single card to make a difference in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana to play Arek, False Goldwarden is color-intensive, requiring a significant commitment to both white and green mana sources. This can be restrictive, demanding players to build their deck around these colors, which may not always align with their strategic preferences.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Arek brings considerable abilities to the battlefield, his casting cost is substantial. With a multitude of other options available, players might find it challenging to justify the inclusion of Arek over other creatures or spells that could offer more immediate impact or versatility for the same or less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Arek, False Goldwarden offers a robust array of abilities, making it a flexible inclusion in Commander and Brawl formats. With its ability to create creature tokens and manipulate combat, Arek adds value across various board states and strategies.
Combo Potential: Arek’s potential to ramp your mana while providing an imposing board presence works seamlessly within token and ramp-focused decks. Pairing Arek with cards that capitalize on extra mana or rewards you for summoning creatures can lead to powerful synergies and overwhelming advantages.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving nature of the MTG landscape, a card like Arek, False Goldwarden remains an advantageous pick for its resilience against common removal spells and its capability to swiftly change the tide of the game with its powerful defensive and offensive qualities.
How to Beat Arek, False Goldwarden
Arek, False Goldwarden stands as a robust adversary in Magic: The Gathering, boasting formidable power and toughness stats that can turn the tide of battle. Fortifying your board presence with deathtouch creatures can serve as an effective countermeasure. These creatures can fell even the most daunting opponents, regardless of size, making them an ideal solution against Arek. Moreover, including spells that impose exile or can directly destroy creatures without relying on damage is crucial, as they circumvent Arek’s towering statistics and avoid triggering any abilities that activate upon taking damage.
Another strategy revolves around card abilities that shrink an opponent’s creatures or alter combat math to your advantage, such as abilities that prevent a creature from attacking or blocking. These can neutralize Arek’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Lastly, countering Arek before it hits the field is always a clean and efficient method. Reactive spellcasters would be wise to save their counter magic for such high-impact plays, ensuring Arek never gets the chance to capitalize on its value in the game.
In essence, adjusting your strategy to include destruction, exile effects, and preventive tactics can keep Arek, False Goldwarden at bay, preserving your chances at victory even in the face of this imposing threat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arek, False Goldwarden MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Phyrexia, 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 Arek, False Goldwarden 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 Arek, False Goldwarden has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |