Assembled Alphas MTG Card
2016-07-22 - Number 117
2016-07-22 - Number 117
2016-07-22 - Number 117s
2023-03-21 - Number 141
2002-06-24 - Number 61551
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Wolf |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Whenever Assembled Alphas blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, Assembled Alphas deals 3 damage to that creature and 3 damage to that creature's controller.
There is always a toll to pay for passage.
Cards like Assembled Alphas
Assembled Alphas is a unique creature card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a diverse set of abilities to red deck enthusiasts. It shares similarities with cards such as Thunderbreak Regent, which also centers around red’s trademark dragon synergy and provides a damage-dealing effect to opponents targeting it. While Thunderbreak Regent excels in dragon tribal decks, Assembled Alphas doesn’t require such specificity, making it a versatile fit in any deck that values a punishing response to blockers.
Another comparison can be drawn with Ghor-Clan Rampager. While it lacks the direct damage dealt by Assembled Alphas when blocked, it presents an alternative form of utility with its bloodrush ability, offering a significant power and toughness boost as well as trample to another creature. This makes Ghor-Clan Rampager a robust combat trick, whereas Assembled Alphas is a persistent threat on the board.
Overall, Assembled Alphas stands its ground against other red creatures in MTG in terms of dishing out damage and providing a reliable deterrent against attackers. It can shape the battlefield to its advantage, providing a substantial impact in games where board control is essential.
Cards similar to Assembled Alphas by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Assembled Alphas can wreak havoc on an opponent’s strategy. Each time it becomes blocked or blocks a creature, it deals 3 damage to that creature and the creature’s controller. This ability can tilt the board in your favor by removing smaller enemy creatures while also chipping away at the opponent’s life total, potentially leading to card advantage as your opponent depletes resources to handle this threat.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Assembled Alphas doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its strong board presence can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By forcing your opponent to deal with it, often at a higher resource cost than you paid, you put yourself in a position to be ahead on the field, allowing you to deploy more threats or answers from your hand with less opposition.
Instant Speed: While the Assembled Alphas itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability to impact the board state can synergize with your instant-speed spells. The threat of damage it poses may cause an opponent to hesitate or misstep, offering you the chance to capitalize with your instants, ensuring that you maintain the upper hand during the battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As formidable as Assembled Alphas may appear on the battlefield, this creature doesn’t escape the challenge of requiring a strategic hand management. Commanding the ability to deal damage both in combat and to creatures blocking or blocked by it, the full potential of Assembled Alphas is only realized if you keep an ample hand size to continue your assault. Depleting your hand to cast it might leave you at a disadvantage when you need options the most.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting Assembled Alphas demands a committed investment in red mana with its specific cost, making it a potentially restrictive choice in multicolored decks. While its prowess is unquestioned in mono-red or heavy-red strategies, players utilizing more diverse mana bases might find it challenging to reliably cast Assembled Alphas on curve, often requiring them to tailor their land selections to accommodate this high-impact creature.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The power level of Assembled Alphas is certainly noteworthy, yet it comes at the steep price of six mana, a range in which many games are reaching their climax. With so many game-changing spells and creatures vying for a spot in a player’s six-mana slot, including Assembled Alphas means you are choosing it over other potentially more impactful plays that could shape the game’s outcome more decisively.
Reasons to Include Assembled Alphas in Your Collection
Versatility: Assembled Alphas provides a dynamic and flexible threat, capable of fitting into a range of red-based strategies. Its ability to deal damage to both creatures and players makes it a multifaceted card suitable for aggressive and midrange decks.
Combo Potential: When Assembled Alphas is on the battlefield, it creates a pain point for opponents by forcing unfavorable blocks or punishing them for engaging in combat. It synergizes well with effects that encourage or force combat, multiplying its impact and the combos you can execute.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated with creature-based strategies, Assembled Alphas shines by dealing with multiple threats at once. Its role in your collection becomes even more critical when you consider its ability to break through stalemates and discourage enemy attacks, maintaining relevance in diverse game scenarios.
How to beat
Assembled Alphas, a formidable creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, brings a unique challenge to the battlefield. This card can deter opponents from blocking or attacking due to its ability to deal damage to a player and a creature. To effectively counter this card, strategies often involve direct removal spells such as Murder or using bounce spells like Unsummon to reset the state of play. Enchantment-based solutions such as Pacifism can also neutralize the threat without triggering its damage ability.
Additionally, players might consider strategizing around Assembled Alphas with cards that prevent damage or redirect it. Tapping into such strategies can turn the tide of battle against this powerful creature. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation also provide a clean slate, removing Assembled Alphas without engaging in combat. When dealing with such a powerful adversary, timely removal and clever control of the playing field are key.
Therefore, understanding the dynamic nature of creatures like Assembled Alphas and implementing a suitable counter-strategy can assure that even the mightiest of creatures will not guarantee victory against a well-prepared opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Assembled Alphas MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Eldritch Moon Promos, 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 Assembled Alphas and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Assembled Alphas Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 61551 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | ||
| 2 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon Promos | PEMN | 117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 3 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon | EMN | 117 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 4 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon Promos | PEMN | 117s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 5 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Assembled Alphas has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Assembled Alphas card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-07-13 | The triggered ability deals damage to the creature’s controller even if the creature isn’t dealt damage, perhaps because it has left the battlefield or because the damage was prevented. |
| 2016-07-13 | The triggered ability triggers once for each creature blocking or blocked by Assembled Alphas. The ability resolves and deals damage to that creature before combat damage is dealt. If that damage destroys all creatures blocking Assembled Alphas, Assembled Alphas doesn’t become unblocked. |