Ashnod MTG Card
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Vanguard |
| Released | 1997-05-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Vanguard Series |
| Set code | PVAN |
| Number | 401 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Vanguard |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Text of card
Whenever a creature successfully damages you, destroy it.
Ashnod served as Mishra's confidante while he led Fallaji weapons development before the Brothers' War. Whereas Mishra works in metals and stone, however, Ashnod works in living flesh. She sees all living things as prototype machines; her "improvements" to them make her as feared by allies as by enemies.
Cards like Ashnod
Ashnod’s Altar is a renowned artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, earning its place as a staple in decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for an advantage. This card allows you to sacrifice a creature and gain two colorless mana, which can be pivotal in numerous strategies. It shares similarities with other sacrifice outlets like Altar of Dementia, which provides a mill effect instead of mana, or Phyrexian Altar, which offers colored mana at the cost of only sacrificing one creature. Both are potent in their own right and open different avenues for deck builders.
Another card worth mentioning is Krark-Clan Ironworks, which like Ashnod’s Altar, gives two mana for sacrificing an artifact. This can create explosive turns in artifact-heavy decks. The versatile usability of Garruk, Primal Hunter’s -3 ability also comes close, allowing you to draw cards equal to the greatest power among creatures you control, which can be facilitated by creature sacrifice.
Ultimately, Ashnod’s Altar stands out due to its unlimited usage capacity per turn and its interaction with creature-based combos. Its ability to fit into a myriad of strategies, from combo to control, highlights its utility and why it’s considered a fundamental component in many Magic: The Gathering decks.
Cards similar to Ashnod by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ashnod’s card facilitates additional draw by transforming unused resources or creatures into crucial card draws, enabling a stronger hand and better strategic positions.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels at converting creatures into immediate mana resources, paving the way for quicker deployment of high-impact spells and overwhelming board presence.
Instant Speed: With the flexibility of instant speed, Ashnod’s card can be utilized at pivotal moments, ensuring maximum benefit and response to the evolving state of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When utilizing Ashnod’s abilities, you might be faced with a situation where discarding a card is a requirement. This can sometimes lead to a critical decrease in card advantage, particularly if your hand is already depleting and your strategic options are diminishing.
Specific Mana Cost: Ashnod cards often demand a fixed combination of mana types. This inherent specificity can restrict the card’s flexibility, hindering its integration into decks with diverse mana bases. Players might find themselves strained in mana allocation, thereby affecting the overall synergy of their deck.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to get the full benefit from an Ashnod card can be on the higher side when compared to other alternatives in the game. What this means for players is that they might be allocating a significant portion of their mana to a single card, possibly undermining their board presence and leaving them vulnerable to more mana-efficient plays from their opponents.
Reasons to Include Ashnod’s Card in Your Collection
Versatility: Ashnod’s card offers broad application across various deck archetypes. Its ability to convert creatures into additional mana makes it an asset in strategies aiming to deploy high-cost spells or activate key abilities.
Combo Potential: This card is well-known for its ability to interact with numerous cards, enabling players to execute powerful combos. It seamlessly integrates into engine strategies, allowing the conversion of creatures into a resource to fuel game-winning synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the trending decks and common playstyles, Ashnod’s card can enhance competitiveness by providing an edge over opponents through utility and efficiency. It remains a staple in formats where sacrificing creatures for an advantage is pivotal to the strategy.
How to beat
Overcoming the challenges posed by the Ashnod card in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic insight into its abilities and a keen understanding of game mechanics. Ashnod cards are often recognized for their exceptional ability to generate extra mana, much like the notorious Ashnod’s Altar, a card that allows the sacrificing of creatures for mana gain. This card can significantly alter the tempo of the game by providing a surge of resources when least expected.
To effectively counter this card, players must prioritize removal spells or abilities that can directly target and dismantle the card’s presence on the battlefield. This approach not only disrupts the Ashnod card’s contribution to the opponent’s strategy but also puts a wrench in potential combo setups that could lead to an early game defeat. Tactics such as exile or bounce effects could provide the necessary edge to keep the card’s influence in check.
Focused deck building that includes countermeasures against such potent artifacts gives players a fighting chance. Incorporating these strategies can tilt the balance of power in your favor, allowing you to hold the line against the formidable Ashnod cards and maintain control of the game’s flow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ashnod MTG card by a specific set like Vanguard 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 Ashnod 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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