Anax and Cymede MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities First strike,Heroic, Vigilance
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by turning single buffs into army-wide enhancements, maximizing hand value.
  2. Enables flexible strategies with instant-speed ability triggers, good for offense and defense.
  3. Limited by specific mana cost and potential for less efficient play due to targeting requirements.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

First strike, vigilance Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Anax and Cymede, creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.

Akros's greatest heroes are also its royalty.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Anax and Cymede may not directly allow you to draw cards, but their ability to potentially increase the efficiency of your other spells offers a different type of advantage. By enhancing spells that affect multiple creatures, they effectively turn single-target tricks into more powerful, wide-reaching effects, maximizing the value of cards in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Anax and Cymede don’t directly provide mana acceleration, they are a powerful engine for strategies built around casting multiple spells. Their low casting cost contributes to a swifter buildup on the field, setting the stage for an aggressive game plan where the resource acceleration comes in the form of an expedited offense.

Instant Speed: The heroic ability of Anax and Cymede is triggered not just by auras but also by instants, offering flexibility in both offense and defense. This allows you to adapt to an ever-changing battlefield, casting spells at instant speed to trigger their ability when it’s most tactically advantageous to you.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Anax and Cymede ask for a particular play style to make the most out of its heroic ability. Whenever you must target them with a spell to trigger their effect, opportunities for a strategic discard or hand management can be reduced, leading to a less efficient use of your card pool.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Anax and Cymede to the battlefield comes with a requirement for both red and white mana. This specific cost can sometimes make it challenging to cast them on curve, especially in a multicolored deck that may face mana consistency issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including both red and white, Anax and Cymede are at a competitive disadvantage when matched with other three-drop creatures. In the fast-paced matches, this can often mean falling behind on the board, especially when you consider the additional resources needed to make use of their heroic ability.


Reasons to Include Anax and Cymede in Your Collection

Versatility: Anax and Cymede offer a unique blend of abilities that can enhance a wide range of decks, particularly those that center around Heroic mechanics or strategies that capitalize on instant and sorcery spells.

Combo Potential: This card’s triggered ability to give other creatures you control +1/+1 and trample until end of turn can create powerful synergies with token generation strategies or with cards that benefit from creatures receiving buffs.

Meta-Relevance: Due to its low mana cost and role in aggressive strategies, Anax and Cymede are well-suited to current metas that favor quick, high-impact plays, making them a formidable choice for Boros-colored decks.


How to Beat Anax and Cymede

Anax and Cymede bring a unique twist to the battlefield with their heroic ability, rewarding players for targeting them with spells. They bolster not only themselves but also other creatures you control, amplifying each attack every time they’re chosen for a spell. Despite their commanding presence, overcoming this formidable duo isn’t out of reach. The key lies in controlling the pace and preventing triggers of their ability.

One effective strategy is to minimize spell casting that targets Anax and Cymede. Utilize board wipes that don’t single them out; sweeping effects bypass their heroic trigger. Alternatively, focusing on spells that restrict or remove abilities can clip their wings before they soar. If these options are unavailable, the best defense becomes a good offense. Aggressively managing the board and reducing the number of creatures before Anax and Cymede can leverage their strengths will tip the scales in your favor.

Finally, consider keeping removal spells in reserve, waiting for your opponent to invest resources into a heroic trigger. In response, a well-timed removal can not only thwart their strategy but also cause a loss of card advantage. With these tactics, you can navigate around the challenge Anax and Cymede pose on the MTG battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Tapping into the full potential of Anax and Cymede in MTG requires insight and finesse, as they offer both powerful boosts and strategic complexity to gameplay. The synergy between this duo’s ability and various spells creates an opportunity for players to change the tide of battle. Whether it’s integrating them into a Heroic-focused deck or leveraging their skill in a Boros strategy, understanding their strengths and limitations can profoundly impact your matches. We welcome you to join the community of players who have found success with Anax and Cymede and enhance your collection’s diversity and strategic depth. Dive in with us to discover more about optimizing your deck with Anax and Cymede for those impactful, game-winning plays.


Cards like Anax and Cymede

Anax and Cymede infuse the battlefield with momentum, much like other heroic cards within MTG that elevate the game when targeted by spells. Oft-touted for their legendary status, these warriors from Theros shine bright when synergizing with auras and instants. A parallel can be drawn with heroic card Favored Hoplite, which also gains strength upon spell targeting. While Favored Hoplite focuses on building a single, formidable entity, Anax and Cymede’s ability to boost an entire army provides widespread advantage, albeit with a higher casting cost.

Looking further, Tethmos High Priest shares the heroic trait and adds resilience, retrieving creatures from the graveyard when targeted. This ability presents a valuable recurring mechanism, something Anax and Cymede lack. Nonetheless, the latter’s ability to grant trample sets them apart, paving the way for an impactful army sweep that can be game-changing.

The distinct mechanics of these cards highlight the versatility of heroic creatures in MTG. Players inclined towards bolstering their army intermittently might find Anax and Cymede’s widespread boost preferable, offering both immediate power and potential for overwhelming combat scenarios.

Favored Hoplite - MTG Card versions
Tethmos High Priest - MTG Card versions
Favored Hoplite - Theros (THS)
Tethmos High Priest - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

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Mila, Crafty Companion // Lukka, Wayward Bonder - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
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Lavabelly Sliver - Commander Masters (CMM)
Hearthfire Hobgoblin - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Skyknight Legionnaire - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Boros Reckoner - The List (PLST)
Iroas's Champion - The List (PLST)
Depala, Pilot Exemplar - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Resolute Survivors - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Tajic, Legion's Edge - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Feather, the Redeemed - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Vikya, Scorching Stalwart - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Aisha of Sparks and Smoke - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Zirda, the Dawnwaker - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Akiri, Fearless Voyager - Commander Masters (CMM)
Kargan Warleader - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
A-Kargan Warleader - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Venerable Warsinger - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Anax and Cymede MTG card by a specific set like Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters and Theros, 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 Anax and Cymede and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Anax and Cymede Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2013-09-06 and 2013-09-27. Illustrated by Willian Murai.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 112003normalblackWillian Murai
22013-09-27TherosTHS 1862003normalblackWillian Murai
32020-09-26The ListPLST THS-1862003normalblackWillian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Anax and Cymede has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger.
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times.
2013-09-15 Heroic abilities won't trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell's targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability.
2013-09-15 Only creatures you control when the heroic ability resolves will get the bonuses. Creatures that come under your control later in the turn will not.

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