Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper MTG Card


Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper - March of the Machine
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Elemental
Abilities Menace
Released2023-04-21
Set symbol
Set nameMarch of the Machine
Set codeMOM
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number232
Frame2015
LayoutTransform
BorderBlack
Illustred byJoshua Raphael

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances card economy, giving players more tactical choices during gameplay.
  2. Serves as an accelerant for mana, enabling quicker deployment of game-changing plays.
  3. Flexible as an instant, it can pivot a game’s outcome with optimal timing.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Text of card

Menace At the beginning of your end step, put a +1/+1 counter on Ashen Reaper if a permanent was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn.

Eternal hatred fuels eternal fire.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper is a formidable asset for players seeking to improve their card economy on the battlefield. By providing access to additional cards, players can consistently outmaneuver opponents by having more options at their disposal.

Resource Acceleration: This card is also a boon for those aiming to ramp up their resources swiftly. Its ability to give a player increased mana potential can be pivotal in deploying heavy-hitting spells or creatures ahead of schedule, tipping the scales in their favor.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of being an instant enhances its strategic value. It can be played at the most opportune moments, often catching an opponent off guard. This can be a game-changer when timing is crucial, allowing for reactive plays that can disrupt an opponent’s strategy or protect your own interests during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One hurdle players might encounter with the Ashen Reaper is the necessity to discard a card. This can pose a strategic challenge, especially in moments where your hand is already depleted or each card in your grasp is vital for your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Another consideration with the Invasion of Azgol is its specific mana requirements. The card requires a particular combination of mana types which may require you to tweak your deck or could potentially reduce flexibility in deck-building, especially if you’re not running a heavy black mana deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When other cards on the battlefield can be summoned for less, the Ashen Reaper’s relatively high cost can be a point of contention. Players need to weigh the benefits of its use against other potentially more economical creatures or spells that could offer similar or greater value for a lesser mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper can seamlessly adapt to a range of deck strategies. With its transforming ability, it provides flexibility, catering to the changing tides of gameplay. This duality enables it to serve different roles within a single match.

Combo Potential: As a card with two faces, it invites creative deck-builders to explore interesting interactions. In particular, its reanimation ability on the Ashen Reaper side offers perfect synergy with grave-centric decks aiming to capitalize on discarded powerhouses.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to shift between aggressive and defensive postures, this card can be a crucial asset against a variety of decks that dominate the current competitive scene. With graveyards often playing a key role in many strategies, having a card that works with and against that trend is invaluable.


How to beat

Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper is an intriguing card that offers a dual-faced dynamic, challenging MTG players to devise strategies for overcoming its specific threats. When facing the Invasion of Azgol front, denial of resources becomes key. Cutting off the supply of creatures your opponent can sacrifice will diminish the card’s impact significantly. Spot removal, graveyard hate, or leveraging counter-magic can prevent your opponent from leveraging the full power of the card’s abilities. Control decks that can manage the battlefield and keep creature counts low will naturally inhibit the card’s potential.

When the card flips into Ashen Reaper, it presents a formidable airborne threat with added life-drain capabilities. Here, swift removal spells or cards that neutralize abilities, such as those with “frost” effects that negate triggered abilities, become vital. Providing blockers with reach or employing flying creatures of your own can also be a direct way to hedge against the Reaper’s assault from the skies. Bearing anticipated strategies and prepared responses, seasoned players can chart a course toward subduing the dual menace of Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper and protect their gameplay from disruption.


Cards like Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper

Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper is an intriguing and versatile card for Magic the Gathering enthusiasts. When comparing it to other cards with transforming abilities, one that comes to mind is the powerful Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration. Both cards begin with a modest effect or power but can evolve into a more formidable threat on the battlefield. However, Invasion of Azgol stands out with its dual nature, offering flexibility as it can be played as an enchantment or as a creature after transformation.

Another similar card is Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells, which also shifts between two states with potent effects. While Huntmaster provides life gain and creates wolf creature tokens, the duality of Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper brings a different kind of strategic depth, allowing players to control when their powerful creature enters the fray. The shift in strategies between these cards showcases the diversity and excitement these transforming cards bring to Magic the Gathering.

Ultimately, cards like Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper enrich the gameplay experience with their transformative abilities, offering players unexpected twists and complex decision-making moments within their Magic the Gathering matches.

Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration - MTG Card versions
Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells - MTG Card versions
Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration - MTG Card versions
Huntmaster of the Fells // Ravager of the Fells - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper by color, type and mana cost

Marsh Goblins - MTG Card versions
Acidic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Shivan Zombie - MTG Card versions
Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - MTG Card versions
Juri, Master of the Revue - MTG Card versions
Labyrinth Raptor - MTG Card versions
Gobhobbler Rats - MTG Card versions
Squealing Devil - MTG Card versions
Ghostflame Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sootstoke Kindler - MTG Card versions
Spiteflame Witch - MTG Card versions
Goblin Deathraiders - MTG Card versions
Goblin Outlander - MTG Card versions
Crimson Muckwader - MTG Card versions
Rix Maadi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Shred-Freak - MTG Card versions
Spike Jester - MTG Card versions
Tymaret, the Murder King - MTG Card versions
Marsh Goblins - MTG Card versions
Acidic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Shivan Zombie - MTG Card versions
Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - MTG Card versions
Juri, Master of the Revue - MTG Card versions
Labyrinth Raptor - MTG Card versions
Gobhobbler Rats - MTG Card versions
Squealing Devil - MTG Card versions
Ghostflame Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sootstoke Kindler - MTG Card versions
Spiteflame Witch - MTG Card versions
Goblin Deathraiders - MTG Card versions
Goblin Outlander - MTG Card versions
Crimson Muckwader - MTG Card versions
Rix Maadi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Shred-Freak - MTG Card versions
Spike Jester - MTG Card versions
Tymaret, the Murder King - MTG Card versions

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-04-14 A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.
2023-04-14 A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it.
2023-04-14 A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.”
2023-04-14 A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters.
2023-04-14 As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.
2023-04-14 Ashen Reaper’s ability triggers at the beginning of each of your end steps, even if nothing has entered any graveyard that turn. The ability checks as it resolves whether to put a +1/+1 counter on Ashen Reaper or not. This means the ability will count any permanent that’s put into a graveyard in response to the ability.
2023-04-14 Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat.
2023-04-14 Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it.
2023-04-14 If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face.
2023-04-14 If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger.
2023-04-14 If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat.
2023-04-14 If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below).
2023-04-14 If a nontoken permanent is put into a graveyard, it doesn’t matter what happens to the permanent card afterward. Ashen Reaper’s ability will count it even if the card has left the graveyard by the time the ability resolves.
2023-04-14 If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face.
2023-04-14 If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed.
2023-04-14 In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal.
2023-04-14 Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it.
2023-04-14 Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.”
2023-04-14 The ability will count any permanent that was put into a graveyard, including token permanents.