Ashling the Pilgrim MTG Card
2007-10-12 - Number 149
2022-09-09 - Number 119
2023-08-04 - Number 528
2023-08-04 - Number 205
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Elemental Shaman |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Ashling the Pilgrim generates value by disrupting enemy boards without drawing extra cards.
- Instant speed ability allows for flexible play, making Ashling a versatile threat.
- The card demands careful hand and mana management to unlock its full potential.
Text of card
: Put a +1/+1 counter on Ashling the Pilgrim. If this is the third time this ability has resolved this turn, remove all +1/+1 counters from Ashling the Pilgrim, and it deals that much damage to each creature and each player.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ashling the Pilgrim offers a unique form of card advantage that does not hinge on drawing cards but rather on board impact. Each investment of mana into Ashling’s ability can potentially eliminate a multitude of opposing threats, equating to multiple cards worth of value.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of ramp, Ashling can function as resource acceleration by keeping the board clear. This allows you to commit to your game plan efficiently without the need to hold back mana for other removal spells.
Instant Speed: Ashling’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing you the flexibility to respond during your opponent’s turn. This timing can lead to advantageous blocks or surprise board wipes, disrupting opponents’ strategies at crucial moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not necessary for its initial abilities, maximizing Ashling the Pilgrim’s explosive potential often requires discarding cards to build up a substantial number of +1/+1 counters. This can leave you in a precarious position if you’re running low on hand resources and need to maintain board presence or options.
Specific Mana Cost: Ashling the Pilgrim demands not only a precise mana cost of two red mana but also additional red mana for each activation of its ability. This specificity can make it challenging for multi-color decks to harness Ashling’s full power without sacrificing mana consistency elsewhere.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: To trigger its board-impacting ability, you must invest at least three mana each turn, which can total to a hefty sum over time. When you consider this ongoing investment, Ashling may not seem as mana-efficient compared to other creatures or spells within the same mana range that can impact the board immediately or offer more versatility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ashling the Pilgrim offers flexible utility in numerous deck builds. With the ability to pump mana into her, she grows stronger and can be a robust game-ending threat or a strategic board wipe. This adaptability ensures she’s always a relevant draw.
Combo Potential: This legendary creature thrives in combos, particularly with cards that double mana or add to damage outputs. By themselves, the counters incrementally threaten opponents, but paired with the right synergies, they can result in explosive turns that dominate the game.
Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s capability to act as both removal and a potential win condition, Ashling the Pilgrim can be quite impactful. In environments heavy on creature strategies or when games tend to drag on, she can be the avenue to turn the tides, making her presence in your collection a savvy choice.
How to beat
Ashling the Pilgrim is a unique figure in the realm of MTG, offering a versatile approach towards deck building and gameplay. This legendary creature has an ability that allows it to grow in power and eventually explode, dealing damage to each creature and each player. However, understanding Ashling’s potential to both enhance your board presence and serve as a ticking time bomb is key to turning the tables in your favor.
Given Ashling’s ability that scales with the mana invested into it, timing your removal spells is crucial. Aim to dismantle Ashling’s momentum before too much mana is sunk into her abilities. Moreover, prioritizing enchantments or creatures that prevent damage can nullify the impact of her detonation. Instant-speed interaction is particularly potent against Ashling since you can respond to the explosion being set off, thereby saving your creatures and your life total. Counterspells and direct damage spells can also serve as effective deterrents or final nails to Ashling’s proverbial coffin.
Ultimately, respect for Ashling’s explosive nature and a strategy built around control and prevention can ensure that this fiery pilgrim’s journey ends before it truly begins to threaten your path to victory in the Magic: The Gathering universe.
Cards like Ashling the Pilgrim
Ashling the Pilgrim is a unique creature that brings explosive potential to the table in MTG. Comparable cards, such as Brion Stoutarm, offer a different twist on dealing damage. Though Brion can fling creatures at opponents, Ashling offers a scalable board wipe mechanic. Both are red and share an ability to challenge the opponent’s life total, yet with Ashling, the preparation and suspense can shift the dynamics of the game substantially.
In the realm of red commanders, Krenko, Mob Boss shares Ashling’s potential for exponential power but through token generation. Where Ashling can clear the field with her ability to deal damage to each creature and each player, Krenko’s strength lies in swarming the battlefield with an ever-growing army of Goblins. While both have the capacity to overpower opponents if left unchecked, they cater to starkly different strategies and deck builds.
Analyzing Ashling the Pilgrim alongside these similar MTG characters, it’s evident that she carves out a niche for those who prize flexibility and the thrill of a looming threat. The capacity to dictate the pace of play with a single, commanding creature like Ashling is what defines her distinct role within the game.
Cards similar to Ashling the Pilgrim by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ashling the Pilgrim MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Dominaria United Commander, 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 Ashling the Pilgrim 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
Printings
The Ashling the Pilgrim Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-10-12 | Lorwyn | LRW | 149 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Commander | DMC | 119 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 3 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 528 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 4 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Wayne Reynolds |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ashling the Pilgrim has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ashling the Pilgrim card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-01 | Counts resolutions, not activations. Any such abilities that are still on the stack won't count toward the total. |
| 2007-10-01 | When the ability resolves, it counts the number of times that same ability from that this creature has already resolved that turn. It doesn't matter who controlled the creature or the previous abilities when they resolved. A copy of this ability (created by Rings of Brighthearth, for example) will count toward the total. Abilities from other creatures with the same name don't count towards the total. Neither does an ability that's been countered. |
| 2007-10-01 | You get the bonus only the third time the ability resolves. You won't get the bonus the fourth, fifth, sixth, or any subsequent times. |
| 2007-10-01 | “That much damage” refers to the number of +1/+1 counters removed from Ashling the Pilgrim. Since the counters are removed, it's likely that the damage will kill Ashling. |
