Azorius Arrester MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 5
2024-01-12 - Number 5
2024-02-23 - Number 54
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | Detain |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
When Azorius Arrester enters the battlefield, detain target creature an opponent controls. (Until your next turn, that creature can't attack or block and its activated abilities can't be activated.)
"You have the right to remain silent. Mostly because I tire of your excuses."
Cards like Azorius Arrester
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, the Azorius Arrester stands as a notable card within the realm of creature control. It’s part of a long line of creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects that impact the board immediately, similar to the Man-o’-War. While the Man-o’-War bounces a creature back to its owner’s hand upon entry, the Azorius Arrester detains a target creature, effectively neutralizing it for a turn without returning it to hand. This makes the Arrester particularly effective against opponents’ creatures that have already spent their summoning sickness and are poised to attack or use an activated ability.
Analogous to Detention Sphere, the Azorius Arrester serves a similar purpose of temporary disability, but Detention Sphere can target and exile multiple permanents with the same name, offering a broader control aspect. However, as a low-cost creature, the Azorius Arrester can be a more accessible option for players leveraging detain mechanics early in the game. Then, there’s the Banisher Priest, which while it remains on the battlefield, can exile another creature. Though a more prolonged solution, it’s at greater risk of being removed and hence freeing the exiled creature, unlike the short-term solution the Azorius Arrester provides.
Upon review, the Azorius Arrester presents itself as a resilient choice for those exploring detainment strategies in MTG, balancing between cost and functional utility against similar creature control cards.
Cards similar to Azorius Arrester by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Azorius Arrester doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its detain mechanic effectively removes an opponent’s card from play for a turn, subtly tipping the scale in your favor by negating an opponent’s potential plays or blockers.
Resource Acceleration: Azorius Arrester itself may not ramp your mana, but it plays into Azorius strategies focusing on control and tempo. By delaying opponent’s threats, it keeps your resources safely allocated for pivotal plays.
Instant Speed: Although Azorius Arrester is a creature spell and not instant speed itself, its detain ability aligns with the ideology of instant speed interaction, offering you a way to disrupt your opponent’s plan at a critical moment—during your turn—setting you up for success in the ongoing match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Azorius Arrester doesn’t directly cause discards, but its ability to detain nonland permanents might not always align with your game strategy, especially if you’re aiming for more proactive plays.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires white and blue mana, making it a niche pick for Azorius or multicolor decks and potentially unplayable in mono-colored or off-theme decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though costing only two mana, in a fast-paced game, the detain effect may not impact the board as significantly as other cards at the same cost point, leading to less mana efficiency overall.
Reasons to Include Azorius Arrester in Your Collection
Versatility: Azorius Arrester is not just a creature; it’s a tool for controlling the battlefield. This card can seamlessly integrate into decks focused on detainment tactics, allowing for tempo plays that slow down your opponents’ strategy.
Combo Potential: The detain ability of Azorius Arrester can work wonders when combined with cards that capitalize on opponents’ creatures being unable to engage in combat or activate their abilities, setting up further lockdowns or board sweeps.
Meta-Relevance: As the game ebbs and flows with different deck archetypes rising to prominence, Azorius Arrester maintains relevance in metas dominated by creature-heavy decks. Its ability to disrupt early aggro plays or key creatures in midrange decks can be pivotal in securing victories.
How to Beat Azorius Arrester
Overcoming Azorius Arrester in Magic: The Gathering warrants a strategy that encompasses flexibility and a sound mana curve. This card, cherished for its detain ability, can momentarily disrupt your gameplay by restricting one of your creatures from attacking or using abilities until your next turn. However, its impact is transient, lasting only a single turn cycle.
To mitigate the setback posed by Azorius Arrester, consider leveraging cards that grant haste, enabling newly summoned creatures to become immediately operational. Moreover, incorporating spells or abilities that can neutralize creatures will render the Arrester’s ability inconsequential. Cards with flash permit you to play on your opponent’s turn, thus potentially sidestepping the detain effect entirely.
It’s crucial to remember the Arrester’s limitation to nonland permanents, which implies that your land-based strategies remain unencumbered. Prioritize adaptability in your deck build, including versatile removal and card draw to outpace the temporary hurdle Azorius Arrester presents. In essence, meeting the Arrester’s challenge lies in a balanced deck that can smoothly recover from its detainment tactic and continue to press the advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Azorius Arrester MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Azorius Arrester 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 Azorius Arrester Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 3 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 54 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Azorius Arrester has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Azorius Arrester card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Activated abilities include a colon and are written in the form “ -ost: -ffect].” No one can activate any activated abilities, including mana abilities, of a detained permanent. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a creature is already attacking or blocking when it’s detained, it won’t be removed from combat. It will continue to attack or block. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a noncreature permanent is detained and later turns into a creature, it won’t be able to attack or block. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a permanent’s activated ability is on the stack when that permanent is detained, the ability will be unaffected. |
| 2013-04-15 | The static abilities of a detained permanent still apply. The triggered abilities of a detained permanent can still trigger. |
| 2013-04-15 | When a player leaves a multiplayer game, any continuous effects with durations that last until that player’s next turn or until a specific point in that turn will last until that turn would have begun. They neither expire immediately nor last indefinitely. |