Argivian Welcome MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2022-12-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: The Brothers' War |
| Set code | YBRO |
| Number | 16 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Paolo Parente |
Key Takeaways
- Argivian Welcome grants card advantage and resource acceleration through its creature-based drawing mechanic.
- The enchantment’s instant speed allows for a flexible response to game dynamics, enhancing strategic play.
- Despite its benefits, players must navigate a required discard and specific mana costs to use it effectively.
Text of card
Destroy up to one target creature with power 4 or greater. Choose a nonland card in your hand. It perpetually gains flash.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Argivian Welcome offers players a unique mechanism to bolster their defenses while replenishing their hand with extra cards. Every time a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you get to draw a card, potentially transforming every creature play into an opportunity to maintain card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Argivian Welcome itself doesn’t directly provide resources, it optimally sets the stage for significant resource acceleration. By increasing your card flow, you enhance the chances of drawing into additional lands and accelerating spells, thus supporting your mana curve and gameplay strategy.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Argivian Welcome comes from its instant speed, permitting you to react to the state of the game with precise timing. This ability to play the card in response to creatures entering the battlefield during either player’s turn makes it a versatile tool in any match, enabling strategic moves that can surprise and outmaneuver an opponent.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Argivian Welcome is that playing it requires you to have an additional artifact card in hand to discard. This condition can strain your hand resources, particularly in tight situations where each card’s value is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is constricted by its white color requirement. While white mana is a staple in many decks, this cost can be restrictive for multicolored or non-white decks, potentially complicating its inclusion in those strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be considered high for its singular effect, Argivian Welcome may not appear as an optimal choice when compared to other cards in its mana range. Decks looking for efficient mana-to-effect ratios might bypass this card for alternatives that provide a greater or more versatile impact for the same, or less, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Argivian Welcome offers an edge in gameplay by bolstering life totals upon creature deployment. This card seamlessly integrates with deck archetypes that prioritize creature play, such as token or life-gain strategies. Its low mana cost also ensures it’s a fit in a multitude of color schemes.
Combo Potential: This enchantment shines when paired with cards that produce numerous creatures, promising a steady stream of life gain. It can turn an army of small creatures into a source of durability, fortifying your position as you establish board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta punctuated by aggressive decks, Argivian Welcome provides essential life-padding which can be the linchpin to outlasting your opponents. Any shift in the meta that emphasizes creature-based strategies will increase the utility of this card, making it a timely inclusion for an adaptive collection.
How to Beat
Understanding the nuances of the Argivian Welcome card is crucial for players navigating the MTG arena. This enchantment can be deceptively simple, enhancing the staying power of creatures as they enter the battlefield. One effective strategy to counteract its benefits is employing removal spells that target enchantments. This can immediately negate the continuous life gain offered by Argivian Welcome. Cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize shine in this scenario, as they can remove the enchantment without requiring significant resource investment.
Another strategy is to focus on winning through non-combat means. Since Argivian Welcome aids in the battle of attrition through life gain, direct damage spells or alternate win conditions bypass the need to contend with increasing life totals. This can involve leveraging cards that deal damage directly to the opponent or building towards a different win condition entirely—such as mill decks that aim to deplete the opponent’s library.
Finally, embracing aggressiveness can also be key. Swiftly establishing a dominating board presence can outpace the incremental life gain from Argivian Welcome, rendering it less impactful. In this case, rapid creature deployment and boosting their power can overwhelm an opponent before the life gain becomes a decisive factor.
Cards like Argivian Welcome
Argivian Welcome is a unique addition to the suite of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. It brings to mind other cards like Soul Warden and Essence Warden which also offer life gain whenever a creature enters the battlefield. While these wardens actively participate as creatures themselves, Argivian Welcome’s enchantment nature remains on the field, potentially offering a less vulnerable route to keep the life-gaining advantage ongoing.
Another card to consider in comparison is Authority of the Consuls. This enchantment not only gifts you life with every opposing creature’s arrival but also taps them, giving a tactical edge in controlling the pace of the opponent’s attack. Although sharing the initial life-gain trait, Authority of the Consuls provides a multifaceted strategy where Argivian Welcome is purely focused on the life gain.
Evaluating the effectiveness of life-gain strategies, Argivian Welcome’s simplicity could be an asset in decks dedicated to triggering life gain effects with minimal interference. It holds its own within the category of life-gain enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, bringing a steady, reliable option to the table.
Cards similar to Argivian Welcome by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Argivian Welcome MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: The Brothers' War, 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 Argivian Welcome and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Argivian Welcome has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.