Astarion, the Decadent MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 265s
2022-06-10 - Number 265
2022-06-10 - Number 413
2022-06-10 - Number 524
2022-07-07 - Number 231
2022-06-10 - Number 62
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Vampire Elf Rogue |
| Abilities | Deathtouch,Feed,Friends,Lifelink |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Deathtouch, lifelink At the beginning of your end step, choose one — • Feed — Target opponent loses life equal to the amount of life they lost this turn. • Friends — You gain life equal to the amount of life you gained this turn.
Cards like Astarion, the Decadent
Astarion, the Decadent makes its mark in MTG as an intuitive choice for lifegain strategies. It’s often likened to cards such as Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, which grants all your creatures lifelink. Vito has the striking ability to translate lifegain into direct damage to an opponent. Although Astarion does not offer this aggressive conversion of life points into damage, it compensates by providing a consistent stream of lifegain accompanied by potential card advantage.
Addressing the theme of recurring lifegain, Ajani’s Pridemate serves as another parallel, growing stronger with each instance of life you gain. Yet, unlike Ajani’s Pridemate, Astarion doesn’t simply swell in power but offers a valuable utility in possibly exiling key cards from opponents’ graveyards. This makes Astarion multifaceted in its roles, providing both battlefield and graveyard interaction.
In essence, Astarion, the Decadent carries a unique blend of lifegain and card interaction that positions it distinctively among similar MTG cards. Its ability to accrue incremental advantages over time allows it to shine within decks aimed at exploiting life totals for strategic gains.
Cards similar to Astarion, the Decadent by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Embracing the possibilities of card draw, Astarion, the Decadent enables players to potentially draw an extra card each turn. This ability helps keep your hand replenished, thereby sustaining a lead in resources over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: With Astarion, the Decadent on the battlefield, players have the potential to accelerate their resources by creating Blood tokens. These tokens are versatile, offering not just an extra card but also facilitating strategies that rely on sacrificing permanents for greater benefits.
Instant Speed: Astarion, the Decadent’s abilities can mesh well with instant speed interactions. Whether it’s through cards that synergize with token generation or those that benefit from sacrificing permanents, being able to react in real-time allows for tactical advantages and unexpected power plays during the course of a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Astarion, the Decadent necessitates a card discard which could strain your hand, especially in decks that don’t capitalize on graveyard synergy or card recursion strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: This vampire warlock’s casting cost demands a strict combination of black and red mana, potentially limiting its integration outside of rakdos or multicolored decks that support these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s somewhat steep, players might find that Astarion, the Decadent competes with other impactful four-mana spells that could offer immediate board presence or value without the additional discard cost.
Reasons to Include Astarion, the Decadent in Your Collection
Versatility: Astarion, the Decadent offers a range of abilities that make it a suitable addition to multiple deck archetypes. Its lifegain attribute fits seamlessly into strategies centered around health as a resource, while its creature control aspect can disrupt opponents’ boards.
Combo Potential: This card’s unique skill set opens up for interesting interactions with other cards. By aligning Astarion with your existing combos, you can create new layers of tactics, tapping into both its life manipulation and control elements.
Meta-Relevance: Given that player lifetotals are always a critical part of gameplay, Astarion, the Decadent provides a tool that is always relevant. Its capabilities are particularly useful against aggro decks that aim to win quickly, offering you a way to stabilize and turn the tide.
How to beat
Astarion, the Decadent emerges as a captivating creature in Magic: The Gathering, with abilities that can sway the tide of battle if left unchecked. Confronting this formidable opponent requires strategic planning and the right countermeasures. Unlike passive cards that have a predictable play, Astarion brings a dynamic twist to your opponent’s arsenal, commanding attention the moment it hits the battlefield.
To effectively neutralize Astarion, consider utilizing removal spells that can handle indestructible creatures, as traditional destruction will not suffice. Spells like Path to Exile or Toxic Deluge can bypass Astarion’s resilience, removing it from play efficiently. Additionally, minimizing lifegain for your opponent thwarts Astarion’s power-boosting ability, stunting its potential impact. Cards such as Tainted Remedy or Erebos, God of the Dead can be instrumental in this aspect.
Ultimately, Astarion, the Decadent’s defeat lies in proactive measures and staying ahead of your opponent’s game plan. Regularly assessing the board and maintaining control spells to neutralize threats will ensure that Astarion’s decadence doesn’t turn the game in your opponent’s favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Astarion, the Decadent MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Astarion, the Decadent 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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Printings
The Astarion, the Decadent Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos | PCLB | 265s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Hill | |
| 2 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 265 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Hill | |
| 3 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 413 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Phil Stone | |
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 524 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Hill | |
| 5 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series | ACLB | 62 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 6 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ben Hill |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Astarion, the Decadent has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |