Aven Initiate MTG Card

Aven Initiate excels in card advantage with its embalm ability turning it into a repeatable airborne threat. Its four mana cost aligns with its 3/2 flying stats, fitting well in decks aiming for quick aerial offense. Embalm can be activated at instant speed, offering strategic flexibility during your opponent’s turn.

Amonkhet (AKH)
2017-04-28 - Number 3

Amonkhet (AKH)
2017-04-28 - Number 43

Aven Initiate - Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)

Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
2020-08-13 - Number 50

Aven Initiate - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)

Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
2022-07-08 - Number 39

Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
2022-07-08 - Number 4

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Type	Token Creature — Zombie Bird Warrior
Abilities	Flying
Power	3
Toughness	2

Text of card

Flying

Cards like Aven Initiate

Aven Initiate is a noteworthy creature within Magic: The Gathering, showcasing a synergy between flying mechanics and graveyard interaction. This card reminds seasoned players of other flyers like Stormfront Pegasus, offering a straightforward flying ability with no additional frills. What sets Aven Initiate apart is its embalm ability, enabling you to bring it back from the graveyard as a token, essentially getting two lives out of a single creature.

Another similar card, Gust Walker, also echoes this concept but leans more on exerting for temporary advantages rather than a second life. Gust Walker can become a more potent attacker for a turn, but lacks the resilience provided by Aven Initiate’s embalm. Conversely, comparing Aven Initiate with Winged Aven reveals that while both creatures take to the skies, Winged Aven opts for a potential power boost instead of an afterlife feature, targeting a different strategic approach.

Ultimately, Aven Initiate’s unique blend of aerial presence and longevity through its embalm ability secures its place as a solid choice for players looking to optimize their strategy with durable airborne units in Magic: The Gathering.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The ability to return Aven Initiate from your graveyard to the battlefield by using its embalm ability is a form of inherent card advantage. This transforms the card into a useful asset even after it’s dealt with the first time, effectively giving you two creatures in one card.

Resource Acceleration: While Aven Initiate itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its four mana cost for a 3/2 flier is a reasonable rate. Also, as a common it’s easily accessible for deck-building, making it a solid piece in strategies that aim to populate the board with flying threats quickly.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Aven Initiate complements decks that favor instant speed interactions. Its embalm ability can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to bring it back during your opponent’s end step. This maintains mana flexibility and bolsters your board presence in the opponent’s turn cycle without committing resources during your own turn, keeping up the pressure while leaving options open.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aven Initiate lacks such an additional cost, which in contrast can make it seem less interactive and strategic when optimizing hand management during gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Aven Initiate’s casting cost includes blue mana, potentially restricting its inclusion only in decks that can reliably produce that color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost to get a 3/2 flyer on the board, there may be alternative creatures that provide more value or lower casting costs within a similar role.

Reasons to Include Aven Initiate in Your Collection

Versatility: Aven Initiate’s ability to be a recurring threat due to its embalm mechanic means it adapts well to various game situations. Its flying ability also makes it a consistent damage dealer in decks that value evasion.

Combo Potential: The embalm ability of Aven Initiate interplays well with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or graveyard synergy, making it a functional addition to combos within those themes.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where the battlefield is often cluttered with ground creatures, Aven Initiate shines by soaring over defenses. This can be particularly relevant in limited formats or casual play where evasion is a premium ability.

How to beat

Aven Initiate is a versatile card in the world of MTG. This flying creature card is a solid inclusion in many blue decks, particularly due to its embalm ability, allowing it to return from the graveyard as a token. Despite its strengths, overcoming Aven Initiate depends on strategic plays that disrupt its advantages.

Spot removal spells are effective tools against Aven Initiate. Cards such as Fatal Push or Cast Down can handle the Initiate before it becomes an embalmed token. Additionally, negating its flying advantage with cards like Aerial Volley or plugging the skies with your own flying defenders ensures it becomes less of a threat. Graveyard hate cards such as Scavenger Grounds or Bojuka Bog also prevent the embalm ability from being a factor, stripping Aven Initiate of its resilience. Lastly, instant-speed spells that neutralize or bounce creatures during combat can mitigate the damage potential of Aven Initiate, ensuring it never fully establishes control over the battlefield.

It is also crucial to anticipate and prepare for the afterlife effect. Be mindful of your opponent’s graveyard and the potential for the Initiate to return. When played with consideration of these factors, you can efficiently handle the Aven Initiate, minimizing its impact on the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aven Initiate MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet, 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 Aven Initiate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aven Initiate Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Jakub Kasper.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-04-28	Amonkhet	AKH	3	2015	Token	Black	Jakub Kasper
2	2017-04-28	Amonkhet	AKH	43	2015	Normal	Black	Jakub Kasper
3	2020-08-13	Amonkhet Remastered	AKR	50	2015	Normal	Black	Jakub Kasper
4	2022-07-08	Double Masters 2022	2X2	39	2015	Normal	Black	Jakub Kasper
5	2022-07-08	Double Masters 2022	2X2	4	2015	Token	Black	Jakub Kasper