Guardians of Akrasa MTG Card

The card’s exalted ability bolsters other creatures, enabling stronger, focused attacks during each turn. Requiring only white mana, it fits snugly into white or mixed decks seeking a strong defense. Despite its higher mana cost, it’s a strategic asset in deterring opponent attacks and building combos.

Guardians of Akrasa - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Shards of Alara (ALA)
2008-10-03 - Number 12

Magic 2013 (M13)
2012-07-13 - Number 18

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Defender,Exalted
Power	0
Toughness	4

Text of card

Defender Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)

"Only by the bravery of those who put loyalty above glory is our home kept safe." —Elspeth

Cards like Guardians of Akrasa

Guardians of Akrasa stand out in the realm of defensive cards in Magic: The Gathering. Much like the card Wall of Omens, they provide a sturdy defense with their decent toughness. Where Guardians of Akrasa offers a unique edge is in their Exalted ability, granting a bonus to a single attacking creature for a more tactical offense. Wall of Omens doesn’t offer this, but compensates by allowing a card draw upon its entry.

When we delve further into cards akin to Guardians of Akrasa, Carven Caryatid comes to mind. This card, while also a defender, differs as it provides card draw and possesses a higher toughness. The Exalted ability of Guardians of Akrasa is absent in Carven Caryatid, placing more emphasis on individual versus cumulative board strength.

Reviewing each card for its merits, we see that Guardians of Akrasa serves a dual purpose in bolstering your creatures’ attacks while simultaneously fending off opposing threats, offering strategic flexibility to MTG players who favor a control or midrange approach during play.

Cards similar to Guardians of Akrasa by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Guardians of Akrasa doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its presence on the battlefield serves as a deterrent against enemy attacks, potentially preserving your creatures and therefore maintaining your card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: In terms of deck utility, the Guardians of Akrasa cost is low, contributing to a faster and more efficient mana curve, enabling you to deploy other strategies much earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Guardians of Akrasa itself is not an instant, its exalted ability can unexpectedly boost the power of creatures that are flashed in at instant speed, adding a surprise element to your offensive or defensive tactics.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of Guardians of Akrasa is that it does not have any discard requirement. Most MTG players consider the absence of a discard requirement as a benefit, suggesting a missed opportunity for leveraging strategic card cycling or graveyard filling tactics.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands white mana for both casting and the activation of its exalted ability. Such a requirement restricts deck-building options because it must be played in a white or at least white-inclusive deck, reducing versatility in multicolored formats.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost (CMC) of three, Guardians of Akrasa comes at a higher investment compared to other low-cost creatures. While it does offer a defensive capability with its decent toughness, there are alternative defensive creatures or spells that can be more impactful for the same or less mana.

Reasons to Include Guardians of Akrasa in Your Collection

Versatility: Guardians of Akrasa can be a useful addition to a variety of decks with its ability to block multiple attackers, thanks to its exalted ability. It adds a strategic layer to both offensive and defensive plays, enhancing the power of your single attacking creature.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergy with other exalted cards or abilities that activate when creatures attack alone, maximizing the potential damage each turn with a single, increasingly powerful creature.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where aggressive creature-based strategies prevail, Guardians of Akrasa offers a cost-effective way to deter attacks, while incrementally boosting your own offense. Its relevance can swing matches in your favor when timed correctly.

How to beat

Guardians of Akrasa stands as a defensive bulwark in MTG, known particularly for its exalted ability. When you’re facing this card, you’re up against a creature that can bolster the attack of its comrades, one at a time as they attack alone. To overcome this strategy, focus on removing the Guardians of Akrasa from the battlefield. Cards with removal abilities, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, can efficiently clear the path for your creatures to swing through.

Moreover, against exalted mechanics, you might opt for tactics that encourage multiple blockers or attackers. Engage in plays that allow your forces to bypass single targets or deploy effects that neutralize the advantages of attacking alone. Spells that can tap or disable an opponent’s creatures will negate the exalted benefits and help you to maintain control over the combat phase. Remember to consider speed and card efficiency when selecting your countermeasures to ensure your victory remains within reach.

Beating the Guardians of Akrasa requires vigilance and the right tools. Ensure your deck can handle such obstructions by including versatile answers to a variety of threats, emphasizing quick removal or ways to disrupt your opponent’s battle plans.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guardians of Akrasa MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Magic 2013, 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 Guardians of Akrasa and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Guardians of Akrasa Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2012-07-13. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2008-10-03	Shards of Alara	ALA		12	2003	Normal	Black	Alan Pollack
2	2012-07-13	Magic 2013	M13		18	2003	Normal	Black	Alan Pollack

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guardians of Akrasa 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 Guardians of Akrasa card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-10-01	Exalted abilities will resolve before blockers are declared.
2008-10-01	Exalted bonuses last until end of turn. If an effect creates an additional combat phase during your turn, a creature that attacked alone during the first combat phase will still have its exalted bonuses in that new phase. If a creature attacks alone during the second combat phase, all your exalted abilities will trigger again.
2008-10-01	If you attack with multiple creatures, but then all but one are removed from combat, your exalted abilities won’t trigger.
2008-10-01	If you declare exactly one creature as an attacker, each exalted ability on each permanent you control (including, perhaps, the attacking creature itself) will trigger. The bonuses are given to the attacking creature, not to the permanent with exalted. Ultimately, the attacking creature will wind up with +1/+1 for each of your exalted abilities.
2008-10-01	In a Two-Headed Giant game, a creature “attacks alone” if it’s the only creature declared as an attacker by your entire team. If you control that attacking creature, your exalted abilities will trigger but your teammate’s exalted abilities won’t.
2008-10-01	Some effects put creatures onto the battlefield attacking. Since those creatures were never declared as attackers, they’re ignored by exalted abilities. They won’t cause exalted abilities to trigger. If any exalted abilities have already triggered (because exactly one creature was declared as an attacker), those abilities will resolve as normal even though there may now be multiple attackers.