Avatar of Discord MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Avatar of Discord presents a unique approach to card advantage. While it asks for a pair of cards to be discarded, it can strategically thin a deck leading towards more consistency in drawing key cards while in play.

Resource Acceleration: This flying creature doesn’t directly accelerate resources but its early presence on the battlefield, for a simple cost of sacrificing two cards, can apply pressure on the opponent, making it a valuable asset in maintaining the tempo.

Instant Speed: Although Avatar of Discord is not an instant itself, its enter-the-battlefield ability of discarding two cards can be tactically timed upon casting, allowing a player to react to an opponent’s graveyard strategies or to simply mitigate excess cards in hand for strategic planning.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Avatar of Discord demands a heavy toll for its allegiance in the form of discarding two cards upon entry. This can be a steep price, especially when your hand is already dwindling or if it includes key pieces of your strategy that you’re not ready to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: To summon this creature to the battlefield requires a precise blend of mana types — one black, one red, and one of any assortment. This can be challenging in multicolored decks, or those that aren’t fine-tuned for such specific demands. Additionally, the narrow mana requirement makes it less flexible, especially in formats where mana acceleration or fixing is less consistent.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of three for a 5/3 flying creature, the initial look might seem like a bargain. However, when compared to other creatures in the game, its cost-to-power efficiency is offset by the discard requirement. There are creatures with similar or lower mana costs that don’t have such a high penalty or provide more impactful abilities without any additional requirements.

Reasons to Include Avatar of Discord in Your Collection

Versatility: Avatar of Discord offers a powerful option for decks focused on sacrificing creatures for value or leveraging the graveyard. As a flyer, it can also serve as an evasive threat in aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card works well with mechanics like madness or reanimation, enabling players to set up their hand for powerful plays. Its discard effect could be a strategic asset in combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive plays are crucial, Avatar of Discord can apply pressure early in the game. Its ability to hit the board quickly makes it relevant in fast-paced matches.

How to beat

Avatar of Discord is a powerful creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, due to its early board presence and challenging stats. Facing this formidable foe requires strategic play and a clear understanding of its weaknesses. To efficiently handle Avatar of Discord, consider employing removal spells that can bypass its hefty power and toughness. Instant-speed removals such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can exile it before the opponent gets a chance to capitalize on their early creature advantage.

Additionally, keeping in mind that Avatar of Discord requires its owner to discard two cards as a penalty for its Evoke cost, controlling the timing of your removal spells can leave your opponent down three cards in total. Cards like Unsummon can be particularly advantageous, forcing your opponent to either replay Avatar of Discord at a hefty cost or drop it altogether. Effective sideboarding with cards that provide grave hate can also nullify the advantage gained from any graveyard synergies Avatar of Discord might be leveraging. This multi-angle approach can assure a swift counter to this formidable adversary.