Azorius First-Wing MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Griffin |
| Abilities | Flying,Protection |
| Released | 2006-05-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dissension |
| Set code | DIS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 105 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Alex Horley-Orlandelli |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage by enabling beneficial triggers through reliable combat damage dealing.
- Supports a tempo strategy with its low casting cost, expediting spell deployment and board presence.
- Enhances strategic play, pairing well with Azorius’s arsenal of instant speed spells.
Text of card
Flying, protection from enchantments
With a steady diet of lawbreakers, Azorius griffins inevitably develop a resistance to the contraband magic that taints much of their prey.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Azorius First-Wing offers players the chance to gain incremental card advantage throughout the game. By exploiting its evasion ability to reliably deal combat damage, Azorius First-Wing can trigger beneficial effects from various cards that reward players for dealing damage to an opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Azorius First-Wing itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its low casting cost can contribute to a faster and more efficient deployment of other spells in your deck. This optimized resource allocation allows players to quickly establish board presence and pressure opponents, contributing to a solid tempo strategy.
Instant Speed: Instant speed spells offer strategic flexibility, and while Azorius First-Wing isn’t cast at instant speed, it pairs well with numerous instant speed spells in the Azorius color combination. Playing spells at instant speed while maintaining threats like Azorius First-Wing on the board forces opponents to navigate a complex web of potential plays and reactionary measures.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The requirement to discard for certain synergies can disrupt your hand and set you back in resources, making it challenging if your strategy depends on maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Azorius First-Wing demands both white and blue mana, which restricts its playability to Azorius or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its flexibility across the entire game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost is notable considering its stats and abilities. In a game where pace matters, other cards with lower mana requirements could be more desirable for an early game presence or for faster execution of your strategic plan.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Azorius First-Wing card is a flexible addition to various decks with its flying and vigilance abilities. It can serve both offensive and defensive roles on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card can work well in combination with enchantments and equipment that bolster flying creatures or benefit from vigilant creatures remaining untapped.
Meta-Relevance: In a game that emphasizes aerial control and maintaining a strong defense, the Azorius First-Wing offers consistent value by being a threat in the air and ready to block when needed.
How to beat
The Azorius First-Wing card is a notable creature in the MTG realm, beloved for its combination of flying and protection from enchantments. Its distinct abilities can pose challenges on the battlefield, especially when it operates under the radar, evading various common forms of removal spells that target enchanted creatures. However, like all cards, it has its weaknesses and can be outmaneuvered.
One effective strategy involves utilizing spells that don’t specifically target a single creature or rely on enchantments, such as board wipes. Cards like Supreme Verdict can clear the field regardless of a creature’s protective abilities. Alternatively, employing creatures with reach or those that can block creatures with flying can level the playing field, negating the Azorius First-Wing’s advantage in the air.
Understanding and exploiting the Azorius First-Wing’s vulnerabilities can turn the tide of the game in your favor. Employing a mix of untargeted removal and strategic creature choice will enhance your gameplay against this formidable card and may well secure your victory on the MTG battlefield.
Cards like Azorius First-Wing
Azorius First-Wing is an intriguing card for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts, providing a unique blend of speed and evasion. It sits alongside other cards like Healer’s Hawk, which also boasts flying but adds lifelink to its arsenal, offering a different tactical advantage. Azorius First-Wing stands out with the combination of flying and protection from enchantments, a trait that Healer’s Hawk doesn’t share, allowing it to maneuver past common control strategies effortlessly.
Hovering nearer in design, Faerie Guidemother presents another comparison. Both are low-cost creatures with flying, but Faerie Guidemother grants an additional bonus with its adventure ability, potentially could give another creature a temporary boost in power. Azorius First-Wing, however, remains singularly focused on evasion and resisting enchantments. Venerable Knight is also worth mentioning, entering the battlefield at the same mana cost but with a distinct focus on bolstering other knights when it leaves the playfield.
Delving deeper into the card’s merits, Azorius First-Wing shines within its niche. Its resistance to enchantments provides a solid option for players seeking an aggressive creature that adeptly dodges the prevalent enchantment-based removal spells in MTG. This makes it an interesting option within the Azorius archetype and beyond.
Cards similar to Azorius First-Wing by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Azorius First-Wing MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 First-Wing and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Azorius First-Wing has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Azorius First-Wing card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-05-01 | Azorius First-Wing doesn’t have protection from creatures that are enchanted. |
| 2006-05-01 | If an effect tries to move an Aura onto this creature, the effect will fail and the Aura will stay where it was. |
| 2006-05-01 | “Protection from enchantments” means that Azorius First-Wing can’t be enchanted, it can’t be targeted by Aura spells or by abilities of enchantments, all damage that would be dealt to it by enchantments is prevented, and it can’t be blocked by creatures that are also enchantments. |
