Azorius Skyguard MTG Card

Provides card advantage by negatively impacting opponents’ creatures, offering a strategic edge. Resource acceleration through vigilance and flying, maximizing efficiency without sacrificing board control. Instant speed deck synergy enhances its role in tempo plays, bolstering reactionary strategies.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Knight
Abilities	First strike,Flying
Released	2019-01-25
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica Allegiance
Set code	RNA
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	155
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gabor Szikszai

Text of card

Flying, first strike Creatures your opponents control get -1/-0.

"These new thopters are all well and good, but four eyes are better than none."

Cards like Azorius Skyguard

Azorius Skyguard is a unique flyer in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, sharing airspace with cards like Senate Griffin. Both creatures have the ability to surveil, yet Azorius Skyguard stands out with its static ability to weaken opposing creatures. Unlike Senate Griffin’s once-off surveil when entering the battlefield, Azorius Skyguard offers consistent control over engagements.

Another interesting comparison is found with Windstorm Drake, which also belongs to the Azorius’s suite of flyers. While it bolsters the strength of your other flying creatures, it does not offer the wide-reaching debuff that Azorius Skyguard presents. This presents players with a strategic choice depending on whether their deck aims for aggressive buffs or a comprehensive battlefield management style.

Looking at the broader spectrum of flying creatures and their tactical advantages, Azorius Skyguard carves its niche as a card that serves both offensive and defensive roles on the field. Its unique combination of flying, detainment, and weakening enemy forces makes it a versatile pick for many deck builders aiming to maintain aerial dominance.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Azorius Skyguard presents a formidable presence on the battlefield that can significantly alter the pace of the game. Its ability to detune competitive threats gives its controller a substantial card quality edge, transforming it into an asset that can often translate into indirect card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Through its vigilance and flying abilities, the Azorius Skyguard can serve as a reliable defender while also applying pressure on the opponent, effectively accelerating your resource utilization by keeping your other creatures free to act without compromising board defense.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Azorius Skyguard can be a critical piece in strategies that operate at instant speed. Its influence on the field can instantly shift momentum, making it a complementary asset in decks that wish to operate on the opponent’s turn and disrupt their tempo with flash creatures or instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Azorius Skyguard doesn’t directly make you discard cards, it’s important to be mindful of the potential for discarding due to its synergies with certain Azorius strategies that involve hand management.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires both white and blue mana, the Azorius Skyguard has a specific mana cost that could restrict it to only Azorius or other decks that can accommodate both colors, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having to set aside six mana to summon Azorius Skyguard means it demands a significant investment. When considering its stats and abilities in comparison to other creatures at a similar cost, there might be other options that provide more immediate board impact or value.

Reasons to Include Azorius Skyguard in Your Collection

Versatility: Azorius Skyguard is a flexible card well-suited for both offense and defense. It can be a significant threat with its ability to hamper opponents’ creatures.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with strategies that put a premium on flying creatures or those that look to debuff enemy creatures. Its static abilities can turn the tide by empowering your flying arsenal while weakening opposing forces.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where smaller creatures are common, Azorius Skyguard shines by nullifying those threats. Its presence on the board can discourage opponents from deploying low-powered creatures and can shift the dynamics of aerial combat in your favor.

How to beat

Azorius Skyguard presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its combination of flying and first strike abilities. Overcoming this card requires a well-thought-out strategy. As it stands out among creatures for its ability to dictate combat dynamics, especially in the air. Ground creatures are at a significant disadvantage, given its evasion capabilities. To counter this, focus on removal spells not reliant on combat such as Murder or Fatal Push, which can bypass its first strike ability.

Another tactic is utilizing board wipes like Shatter the Sky or Wrath of God, which can clear the Skyguard regardless of its in-combat prowess. Alternatively, edict effects, which force a player to sacrifice a creature, such as Diabolic Edict, offer a solution that can circumvent its protections. Cards that reduce the Skyguard’s power or nullify its abilities, like Frogify or Lignify, can also render it harmless.

Effectively mitigating the strength of Azorius Skyguard hinges on your ability to leverage non-combat solutions. Your deck should be prepared with versatile answers against such formidable flyers, ensuring that the Skyguard’s presence doesn’t leave you watching from the sidelines.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Azorius Skyguard MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Skyguard and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Azorius Skyguard has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal