Aven Riftwatcher MTG Card

Excellent at generating card advantage with its enter and leave-the-battlefield life gain. His ability to stabilize matches against aggressive decks with instant speed entry is key. Although mana-specific, Aven Riftwatcher excels in versatility and combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bird Rebel Soldier
Abilities Flying,Vanishing
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Vanishing 3 (This permanent comes into play with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.) When Aven Riftwatcher comes into play or leaves play, you gain 2 life.

Cards like Aven Riftwatcher

The Aven Riftwatcher, a unique card in MTG, shares similarities with a variety of flying creatures that also offer life gain on entry and exit. Its closest analog might be Kitchen Finks, which likewise has a powerful presence due to its persist ability, potentially resulting in a net gain of life greater than Aven Riftwatcher when it dies unless a -1/-1 counter is already present.

Another card worth mentioning is the Squadron Hawk, which boasts a similar mana cost and a flying trait. While it doesn’t directly affect life totals, it brings multiple cards of itself to your hand, ensuring aerial dominance and deck-thinning efficiency. Although not a direct life buffer, it sets up strategic plays much like the Aven Riftwatcher.

Lastly, we look to the Lone Missionary, a card that exemplifies simplicity in life gain. For a mere two mana, a substantial four life is restored upon its arrival on the battlefield. Although lacking in flying or rebound, the immediate impact on life totals is undeniable, making it a solid alternative for decks focusing on stabilizing against aggressive opponents.

All in all, while Aven Riftwatcher stands out due to its evasion and recurring life gain, these comparable cards each offer their own advantages in different MTG strategies, highlighting the diverse toolset that life-centric cards provide to players.

Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions
Squadron Hawk - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions
Kitchen Finks - MTG Card versions
Squadron Hawk - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Aven Riftwatcher. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
TronTron PauperTronPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-27

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aven Riftwatcher excels at providing card advantage upon entering and leaving the battlefield. Its unique ability to evoke allows you to trigger its leave-the-battlefield effect even if it wasn’t cast, effectively granting you two life points and a presence in the air twice over the course of its tenure.

Resource Acceleration: While Aven Riftwatcher doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense of ramping mana, its low casting cost combined with the life gain can help stabilize your board much faster against aggressive strategies, indirectly preserving your resources.

Instant Speed: This flyer offers a tactical edge with its flash-like capability when cast using the evoke mechanic. It can disrupt an opponent’s attack unexpectedly, offering both a surprise blocker and life gain during their turn, which can shift the momentum of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Aven Riftwatcher doesn’t inherently have a discard requirement, its presence in decks that operate on card synergies might pressure the player into making decisions that could lead to an unwanted discard effect from other card interactions.

Specific Mana Cost: Aven Riftwatcher has a mana cost that requires both white and blue mana, which may not be as easily accessible in decks that do not specifically cater to an Azorius (white-blue) strategy, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana with a split between two colors for a creature with flying that offers a life gain effect upon entering and leaving the battlefield, Aven Riftwatcher may not be the most mana-efficient choice compared to other creatures or spells in the same mana range that can provide immediate board impact or larger life swings.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aven Riftwatcher stands out for its ability to fit seamlessly into life-gain and flying-centric strategies. Its evasion and defensive capabilities can serve as both an aggressive tool and a protective element in a wide range of decks.

Combo Potential: With its enter and leave the battlefield effects, Aven Riftwatcher works well with flicker or reanimation mechanics. This allows for repeated life gain and presents multiple opportunities to stabilize your health against aggressive opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to counteract fast-paced burn and aggro decks with consistent life gain, Aven Riftwatcher holds a place in metas where maintaining a high life total can be the difference between victory and defeat.

How to beat Aven Riftwatcher

Aven Riftwatcher is a valuable card that provides versatility in games of Magic: The Gathering. As a creature with flying and vigilance, it’s capable of both attacking and defending effectively. Moreover, its entrance and exit trigger, granting 2 life points each time, offers a resilient buffer for your overall health. This can be particularly tough for opponents relying on a strategy of whittling down life points over time.

To counter Aven Riftwatcher, consider using spells that exile it rather than destroy it, thus avoiding life gain. Direct damage spells can remove it from play before its life gain effect can stack up. Enchantment-based removals, like Pacifism or Oblivion Ring, can sideline the Aven Riftwatcher without triggering the life gain, neutralizing it as a threat while it’s on the battlefield. For those playing blue, countering Aven Riftwatcher upon casting will prevent its effects altogether. Lastly, an aggressive strategy that overpowers an opponent before the Aven Riftwatcher’s life gain becomes significant can also prove effective.

Ultimately, while Aven Riftwatcher can provide a challenging obstacle, a well-thought-out strategy employing well-timed removal or counters can turn the tide of battle in your favor without sacrificing tempo or value.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aven Riftwatcher MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Eternal Masters, 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 Riftwatcher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aven Riftwatcher Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Don Hazeltine.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-02-02Planar ChaosPLC 12003NormalBlackDon Hazeltine
22016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 12015NormalBlackDon Hazeltine
32020-09-26The ListPLST PLC-12003NormalBlackDon Hazeltine
42021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 62015NormalBlackDon Hazeltine

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aven Riftwatcher has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal