Champion of the Perished MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Champion of the Perished thrives in zombie decks, incrementally growing in power with each undead ally that shambles onto the battlefield. This one-drop creature can become a significant threat, ensuring you have a persistent presence on the board which your opponents can’t ignore.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct producer of mana or tokens, this card accelerates your board state’s threat level efficiently. By simply playing other zombies, which is a common strategy for black mana decks, you are indirectly amplifying the value of Champion of the Perished without expending extra resources.

Instant Speed: The real strategic depth of Champion of the Perished is unleashed with the instant speed zombie spells or abilities that can be leveraged to surprise an opponent. Increasing its power and toughness unexpectedly during combat or before damage calculation can turn the tide of an entire match in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Champion of the Perished does not directly require a discard, but as a Zombie tribal card, it often functions in decks with discard mechanics to synergize with other Zombies. This can lead to situations where maintaining card advantage is more challenging, particularly if the deck is not drawing enough cards to replenish the hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires black mana, which is not a drawback in itself, but it does mean that it fits mostly in mono-black or black-centric decks. Players looking to incorporate Champion of the Perished into multi-color decks must carefully manage their mana base to consistently cast it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Champion of the Perished has a low initial cost of one black mana, its effectiveness is contingent on playing other Zombies. This strategy can be mana-intensive, as you need to deploy additional creatures to power up the Champion. As the game progresses and more mana is available, there might be more impactful cards that could be played at a similar cumulative mana investment.

Reasons to Include Champion of the Perished in Your Collection

Versatility: Champion of the Perished shows great flexibility by slotting neatly into zombie tribal decks and any strategy focusing on creature synergy. Its ability to grow with each zombie entering the battlefield makes it a threat that opponents can’t ignore.

Combo Potential: This card’s innate ability to accrue +1/+1 counters offers excellent combo opportunities with other cards that manipulate or benefit from counters. It works well with proliferate mechanics or as a recipient for additional counters from other effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are common, Champion of the Perished can become a powerhouse. Its effectiveness increases as it feeds off the momentum of consistent creature play, helping players to assert dominance on the board early in the game.

How to Beat Champion of the Perished

Champion of the Perished is a powerful card that thrives in decks teeming with zombies, gaining a +1/+1 counter each time a zombie enters the battlefield. However, mastering the strategy to combat this card is crucial. Removal spells such as Fatal Push can swiftly dispatch the Champion before it grows out of control, particularly in the early game where the Champion is most vulnerable.

Spot removal isn’t the only answer; enchantments like Rest in Peace can halt the Champion’s growth by preventing zombies from hitting the graveyard and returning to the field. Board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God can also reset the board, eliminating the Champion and its undead allies in one fell swoop, a tactic especially effective against decks that heavily rely on creature synergy.

Finally, using cards that limit the capacity to cast creature spells, such as Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, can slow down a zombie deck’s momentum, giving you time to stabilize and prepare a counterattack. In essence, timing and the right removal tools are key to keeping Champion of the Perished in check and claiming victory over zombie-infested matches.

BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the depths of strategy with insights on how to enhance your MTG gameplay using Champion of the Perished. This card serves as a linchpin in any zombie-centric deck, offering a scalable threat with each shambling comrade. Understanding its potential and limitations can be the difference between defeat and a hard-fought victory. Tap into the strategies that enable Champion of the Perished to flourish, and offset its weaknesses to dominate the board. Looking to transform your matches into displays of tactical finesse? Our detailed guides and strategic deep-dives await to escort you through the ranks to MTG glory.