Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Ajani
Loyalty 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances creatures by returning them from the graveyard, increasing your board impact without additional card costs.
  2. Ajani’s consistent +1/+1 counters augment your creatures, creating more robust defenses and offenses each turn.
  3. His ability to surprise opponents mimics instant speed plays, giving a tactical edge in MTG matches.

Text of card

+1: Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target creatures. −2: Return target creature card with converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. −7: You get an emblem with "At the beginning of your end step, create three 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ajani Adversary of Tyrants excels at recurring utility creatures from the graveyard to your hand, bolstering your card advantage by effectively drawing you an additional creature card that may have been previously lost in combat or used for other purposes.

Resource Acceleration: This planeswalker can also accelerate your resources on the board by placing additional +1/+1 counters on your creatures each turn. By enhancing your creatures’ stats, you’re indirectly gaining resource advantage by strengthening your existing board presence without having to cast more spells.

Instant Speed: While Ajani himself is not an instant, his ability to permanently boost your creatures’ power and toughness can create surprise blockers or attackers that can be used tactically similar to instant speed effects, enabling you to adapt to the flow of the game and catch your opponent off-guard during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ajani Adversary of Tyrants doesn’t specifically ask you to discard a card, its ultimate ability requires substantial setup, which might force you to deplete other card resources in order to enhance its loyalty counter progression.

Specific Mana Cost: Ajani requires both white mana and an additional generic mana total to cast. This specific cost necessitates a solid base in white mana, potentially restricting it to decks heavily featuring white or those with a reliable mana filtering system.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Ajani can feel costly compared to other options. In competitive play, this mana investment might not always align with a player’s strategy, especially if early-game plays are crucial for building momentum.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ajani Adversary of Tyrants offers a dynamic role in various decks with his ability to buff creatures, create token creatures for defense or aggression, and his ultimate ability that can turn the tables in tight matches by bringing back key creatures from the graveyard.

Combo Potential: This planeswalker’s +1 ability to incrementally strengthen creatures can synergize with counters-focused builds, while his -2 ability creates excellent combo opportunities with cards that thrive on creature ETB (Enter The Battlefield) effects or death triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values resilience and versatility, Ajani Adversary of Tyrants shines by providing consistent board presence through creature enhancement and can recover important creatures that have been lost earlier in the game, making him a relevant choice for competitive play.


How to beat

Ajani Adversary of Tyrants is a potent planeswalker in the MTG universe, designed to bolster your creatures while threatening to bring back formidable champions from the graveyard. With its ability to place counters on multiple creatures, Ajani poses a significant threat by rapidly enhancing your opponent’s board presence. However, disrupting Ajani’s strategy can pivot the game in your favor. Keeping the board clear of creatures limits Ajani’s impact, while direct damage spells or abilities targeting planeswalkers can help you regain control. Efficient removal spells and board wipes can prove invaluable in countering the relentless growth Ajani aims to achieve.

Ultimately, the key to triumphing over Ajani lies in preventing a populated battlefield, which in turn diminishes the value Ajani brings to your opponent. Counterspells are also effective at ensuring Ajani never hits the field, making it crucial for control decks to hold mana in reserve for threats like this. By prioritizing these strategies, Ajani Adversary of Tyrants can be kept in check, ensuring your path to victory remains clear.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the world of MTG means embracing the synergies and strategies that distinguish an average player from a seasoned veteran. Ajani Adversary of Tyrants exemplifies the potential for a card to make an imposing impact on the board. For those looking to enhance their gameplay and expand their MTG collection with a card that brings value to creature-focused decks, Ajani’s multi-faceted abilities are worth consideration. Integrate this planeswalker into your arsenal to augment your creatures’ capabilities and retrieve pivotal allies from the graveyard. Ready for a strategic edge? Dive deeper with us to perfect your deck with Ajani.


Cards like Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants

Ajani Adversary of Tyrants is a powerful planeswalker in the MTG universe. Its ability to buff creatures is mirrored by other cards such as Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. Gideon’s ability to create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance closely aligns with Ajani’s penchant for creature support. In addition, they both have the capacity to boost the power and toughness of creatures, albeit through different methods.

Exploring further, Ajani, Strength of the Pride offers a life gain angle that can be lifesaving in the right deck, sharing the white mana lineage. While it does not directly empower creatures like Ajani Adversary of Tyrants, the life-themed abilities it provides can be crucial in gaining a strategic edge. Lastly, Elspeth, Sun’s Champion brings to the table not only the production of multiple creature tokens but also a devastating board wipe, showcasing a different but complementary approach to board control.

While each of these planeswalkers offers distinct advantages and strategies, Ajani Adversary of Tyrants holds its own with a combination of creature enhancement and versatility, making it a valuable card for players who favor creature-based decks in MTG.

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Champion - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - Core Set 2020 Promos (PM20)
Elspeth, Sun's Champion - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants by color, type and mana cost

The Wanderer - MTG Card versions
Grand Master of Flowers - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - MTG Card versions
Ajani Goldmane - MTG Card versions
The Wandering Emperor - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Knight-Errant - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Champion of Justice - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Serra the Benevolent - MTG Card versions
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - MTG Card versions
Ajani Goldmane // Ajani Goldmane - MTG Card versions
Teyo, Aegis Adept - MTG Card versions
Archangel Elspeth - MTG Card versions
The Wanderer - Commander Masters (CMM)
Grand Master of Flowers - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)
Ajani Goldmane - Magic 2011 (M11)
The Wandering Emperor - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Elspeth, Knight-Errant - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Gideon, Champion of Justice - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Ajani Steadfast - Commander Masters (CMM)
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - Regional Championship Qualifiers 2022 (PRCQ)
Serra the Benevolent - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Ajani Goldmane // Ajani Goldmane - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Teyo, Aegis Adept - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Archangel Elspeth - March of the Machine Promos (PMOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2019 Promos, 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 Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Victor Adame Minguez.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 32015normalblackVictor Adame Minguez
22018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 3s2015normalblackVictor Adame Minguez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2018-07-13 If a card in your graveyard has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.

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