Armored Ascension MTG Card
2008-05-02 - Number 2
2009-07-17 - Number 3
2010-07-16 - Number 5
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each Plains you control and has flying.
"Why enchant feathers to make them sturdy when we can enchant shields to make them fly?" —Braenna, cobblesmith
Cards like Armored Ascension
Armored Ascension shines in Magic: The Gathering as an empowering enchantment for creature decks. Its closest counterparts include Ethereal Armor and All That Glitters, both of which also boost a creature’s power and toughness. Ethereal Armor grants +1/+1 for each enchantment you control, significantly rewarding heavy enchantment-based strategies. All That Glitters follows a similar pattern, conferring a boost for each artifact and enchantment owned, which offers a broader scope for augmentation in artifact-rich decks.
Diving into the nuances, Armored Ascension differentiates itself with its unique land synergy, granting +1/+1 for each Plains you control rather than for each enchantment or artifact. This angle can be particularly potent in mono-white decks where Plains are abundant. Its additional gift of flight positions any chosen creature as an immediate aerial threat. In contrast, Ethereal Armor and All That Glitters do not inherently provide flying, making them slightly less flexible in terms of evasion.
Armored Ascension shines specifically when integrated into decks with a high Plains count, granting players a potentially game-ending boost. Its unique convergence of power increase and evasion capability designates it as a formidable choice in creature enhancement spells.
Cards similar to Armored Ascension by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One key benefit of including Armored Ascension in your deck is its ability to significantly boost a single creature’s power and toughness. Not only does it make one of your creatures a more formidable threat, but it can also swing games in your favor by creating a single, overwhelming force that’s tough for your opponent to deal with without incurring card disadvantage themselves.
Resource Acceleration: Armored Ascension’s cost is mitigated by the fact that it scales with the number of Plains you control, essentially becoming more powerful as your resources grow. This intrinsic synergy with your land base can rapidly accelerate the threat level of your creatures, turning even the most humble of tokens into a potential game-ending presence on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: Although Armored Ascension does not have instant speed itself, the card advantage and resource acceleration it provides can help keep up the pressure and may free up your mana for other instant-speed interactions. Being able to efficiently manage your resources while developing a robust offense is key in maintaining tempo and controlling the pace of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Armored Ascension does not require a card to be discarded, its specific mana needs may prompt you to hold onto certain cards longer to meet its casting requirements, indirectly impacting your hand management.
Specific Mana Cost: Armored Ascension’s mana cost is exclusively white, which may not fit well into multicolored decks or those with a broader mana base, potentially limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of four, including three white mana symbols, it’s possible to find enchantments or creatures that cost less and still provide a significant boost or have additional abilities, possibly overshadowing Armored Ascension’s benefits in a well-constructed deck.
Reasons to Include Armored Ascension in Your Collection
Versatility: Armored Ascension offers a significant power boost in decks that prioritize Plains. Whether utilized in Mono-White Aggro or a Two-color control, this card can swiftly escalate the threat level of any creature it enchants.
Combo Potential: Alongside cards that care about Enchantments or the number of Plains you control, Armored Ascension can become a central piece in a potent synergy. It can amplify the effects of creatures like Ethereal Armor, leveraging every enchantment on the field.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based combat is prevalent, Armored Ascension can be a game-changer. It turns even the most unassuming creature into a colossal flyer, potentially swinging games in your favor against decks that struggle to block flying threats.
How to beat
Armored Ascension is a powerful enchantment that can turn an unassuming creature into a formidable threat on the battlefield. It shines in decks with a strong Plains presence, as it grants the enchanted creature +1/+1 for each Plains you control and the crucial ability to fly, potentially evading ground-based blockers.
To effectively navigate against this card, removal spells are your best ally. Consider instant-speed options like Disenchant or Naturalize that can rid the field of Armored Ascension before damage is dealt. Another strategy is to keep the Plains count low, thus diminishing the enchantment’s impact. Land destruction or land conversion spells could serve this purpose, albeit less commonly found in most decks. Lastly, general enchantment control through cards like Return to Nature or widespread removal options such as Wrath of God will reset the playing field, negating the advantage Armored Ascension provides. Focus on managing enchantments and maintaining control of the board, and you’ll dismantle the power behind Armored Ascension.
While Armored Ascension can be daunting to face, it’s important to remember that it’s a card that requires a specific setup to reach its full potential. By disrupting that setup, you secure the upper hand in the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Armored Ascension MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Magic 2010, 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 Armored Ascension and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Armored Ascension Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2010-07-16. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-05-02 | Shadowmoor | SHM | 2 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 2 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 3 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Armored Ascension has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Armored Ascension card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | This ability counts the number of Plains controlled by Armored Ascension’s controller, not the enchanted creature’s controller (in case they’re different players). |
| 2009-10-01 | This bonus is not fixed; it changes as the number of Plains you control changes. |
| 2010-08-15 | The ability cares about lands with the land type Plains, not necessarily lands named Plains. |