Avacyn, Guardian Angel MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Flying, Vigilance |
| Released | 2014-07-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic 2015 |
| Set code | M15 |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 3 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Winona Nelson |
Text of card
Flying, vigilance : Prevent all damage that would be dealt to another target creature this turn by sources of the color of your choice. : Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target player this turn by sources of the color of your choice.
Cards like Avacyn, Guardian Angel
Avacyn, Guardian Angel stands out in the realm of protective Magic: The Gathering creatures. Its abilities are often compared to those of other vigilant angels such as Linvala, Keeper of Silence. While Linvala’s ability to prevent the abilities of opposing creatures can be game-changing, it doesn’t offer the same targeted protection for you and your permanents that Avacyn does. Where Linvala passively disrupts the opponent, Avacyn actively shields your valued assets through its preventative powers.
Another angel card often brought to light is Guardian of the Gateless, which also provides a defensive stance but differs significantly in function and flexibility. Unlike Avacyn, Guardian of the Gateless can block any number of creatures but lacks the capability to protect against damage in such a personalized manner. Additionally, Avacyn’s mana-intensive ability to prevent damage to other permanents gives it a unique role, especially in multiplayer formats where specific threats can be neutralized.
Analyzing the distinctive features of these celestial guardians, Avacyn, Guardian Angel presents itself as a multifaceted protector. It offers both personal and broad defense mechanisms, making it an advantageous choice for players seeking comprehensive safeguarding in their MTG tactical line-up.
Cards similar to Avacyn, Guardian Angel by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Avacyn, Guardian Angel offers protective measures that can indirectly lead to card advantage. By shielding your key creatures or even your life total, you maintain crucial board presence against removal heavy strategies in the game.
Resource Acceleration: Although Avacyn herself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, she becomes a formidable presence that enables safer attacks or defenses, potentially leading to more turns and, thereby, more draws and resources in the long term.
Instant Speed: Avacyn offers a formidable advantage with her ability to protect at instant speed. Her activated ability to give you or another permanent protection from a color of your choice until end of turn can be activated whenever you have the mana, catching opponents off-guard and disrupting their plans during critical phases of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Avacyn, Guardian Angel doesn’t inherently require you to discard a card, building a deck around her abilities could pressure you into deck strategies that thin your hand, potentially putting you at a disadvantage if your resources become depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: Avacyn’s mana cost is heavy on white mana, which may reduce her compatibility with multi-colored decks. With a casting cost of two colorless and three white mana, decks lacking a robust mana base may struggle to summon her efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Totalling five mana for a summon, Avacyn, Guardian Angel carries a higher cost relative to her initial impact on the game. When assessing the battlefield presence she offers upon entry, players may find other cards at the five-mana slot that can swing the game more immediately in their favor.
Reasons to Include Avacyn, Guardian Angel in Your Collection
Versatility: Avacyn, Guardian Angel offers unique protective abilities that can shield your most valuable creatures or even yourself from harm. This adaptability makes her a solid addition to any white or multicolored deck wanting an extra layer of defense against various threats.
Combo Potential: With the angel’s ability to prevent damage to other creatures or players, she pairs well with cards that might normally be risky due to their damaging side effects. This opens up exciting combo avenues, particularly in life gain or control-oriented strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game setting where board control and creature preservation are crucial, Avacyn excels. Her presence can deter opponents from attacking and change the pace of the game, keeping you in contention even when the meta is dominated by aggressive strategies.
How to Beat
Avacyn, Guardian Angel is a powerful presence on the battlefield with her potential for board control and protection capabilities. Players facing her often must strategize carefully to take her down. Tactics must circumvent her abilities, emphasizing the importance of non-targeting removal or effects that can reduce her impact without engaging her protective measures directly.
Edict effects that force a sacrifice, such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana’s Triumph, can bypass Avacyn’s shield since they do not target. Board wipes that don’t discriminate between creatures, such as Supreme Verdict or Damnation, are also effective tools. Additionally, reducing Avacyn’s utility through stripping away her indestructibility or ability to protect others is essential. Cards like Shadowspear, which eliminate indestructible, or Phyrexian Revoker to prevent activated abilities from being used, can neutralize Avacyn’s influence. Timing is key; disrupting her before extensive protection can be amassed maintains pressure and can shift the tide of a game.
In essence, though Avacyn, Guardian Angel presents a challenge, her defeat lies in versatile removal and strategic play that respects her strengths while expertly exploiting her vulnerabilities.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Avacyn, Guardian Angel MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 Avacyn, Guardian Angel and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Avacyn, Guardian Angel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Avacyn, Guardian Angel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | Both activated abilities prevent all damage of the chosen color, not just combat damage. |
| 2014-07-18 | For each activated ability, you choose the color as the ability resolves. However, the color of a source that would deal damage to the permanent or player is checked only when it would deal that damage, not as Avacyn’s ability resolves. For example, if you choose blue, damage a blue creature would deal is prevented, even if that creature wasn’t blue (or wasn’t on the battlefield) when Avacyn’s ability resolved. |
| 2014-07-18 | Neither activated ability has any effect on damage that’s already been dealt. |
| 2014-07-18 | The possible color choices are white, blue, black, red, and green. You can’t choose artifact, colorless, or any other word. |
| 2014-07-18 | Whether the target permanent or player is still a legal target is no longer checked after the appropriate ability resolves. For example, if a creature targeted by the first ability gains protection from white after the ability resolves but before it prevents damage, the effect will still prevent damage. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.