Maelstrom Archangel MTG Card


Maelstrom Archangel grants card advantage by allowing free casting of spells post-combat damage. Resource acceleration is significant, bypassing mana costs and enabling early high-impact plays. High mana demand and lack of protections are key drawbacks to consider when playing.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Angel
Abilities Flying
Power 5
Toughness 5

Text of card

Flying Whenever Maelstrom Archangel deals combat damage to a player, you may play a nonland card from your hand without paying its mana cost.

There is no world where angels fear to tread.


Cards like Maelstrom Archangel

Maelstrom Archangel is a multicolored powerhouse that finds its home in a variety of Magic: The Gathering decks that favor a diverse casting strategy. Its closest relatives in terms of facilitating multicolored spells come in the form of creatures like Chromanticore and Fusion Elemental. Chromanticore shares the five-color identity and grants an assortment of abilities, though it’s not as straightforward at casting spells for free like the Archangel does. Fusion Elemental, on the other hand, boasts a solid body for a similar mana investment but lacks the ability to cheat cards into play.

Diving deeper into the pool of comparable creatures, we also see Omnath, Locus of Creation. Omnath rewards you for playing a range of colors, but it’s more geared towards landfall strategies than enabling free spell casting. Another card with a somewhat related concept is Fist of Suns, an artifact that allows you to pay a WUBRG cost to cast spells, similar to the ability of Maelstrom Archangel. However, the difference in card type and lack of a flying threat sets the Archangel apart.

Ultimately, Maelstrom Archangel’s uniqueness lies in its ability to freely cast a spell from your hand upon dealing combat damage. This not only provides an immense value but can swing the game in your favor by casting high-cost cards potentially much earlier in the game than usual.

Chromanticore - MTG Card versions
Fusion Elemental - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Creation - MTG Card versions
Fist of Suns - MTG Card versions
Chromanticore - MTG Card versions
Fusion Elemental - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Creation - MTG Card versions
Fist of Suns - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Maelstrom Archangel by color, type and mana cost

Sliver Queen - MTG Card versions
Cromat - MTG Card versions
Atogatog - MTG Card versions
Tazri, Beacon of Unity - MTG Card versions
Jegantha, the Wellspring - MTG Card versions
The First Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sliver Overlord - MTG Card versions
Sliver Legion - MTG Card versions
Horde of Notions - MTG Card versions
Child of Alara - MTG Card versions
Fusion Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sliver Hivelord - MTG Card versions
General Tazri - MTG Card versions
Scion of the Ur-Dragon - MTG Card versions
Nira, Hellkite Duelist - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet Reborn - MTG Card versions
Kenrith, the Returned King - MTG Card versions
Garth One-Eye - MTG Card versions
Jodah, the Unifier - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of All - MTG Card versions
Sliver Queen - MTG Card versions
Cromat - MTG Card versions
Atogatog - MTG Card versions
Tazri, Beacon of Unity - MTG Card versions
Jegantha, the Wellspring - MTG Card versions
The First Sliver - MTG Card versions
Sliver Overlord - MTG Card versions
Sliver Legion - MTG Card versions
Horde of Notions - MTG Card versions
Child of Alara - MTG Card versions
Fusion Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sliver Hivelord - MTG Card versions
General Tazri - MTG Card versions
Scion of the Ur-Dragon - MTG Card versions
Nira, Hellkite Duelist - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet Reborn - MTG Card versions
Kenrith, the Returned King - MTG Card versions
Garth One-Eye - MTG Card versions
Jodah, the Unifier - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of All - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Maelstrom Archangel offers a unique way to gain an edge in card utility. Once you deal combat damage to a player, you may cast a spell from your hand without paying its mana cost, leading to a potential card advantage that can tip the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This celestial powerhouse allows you to bypass mana costs entirely for a single spell per turn, provided it connects with your opponent. This kind of resource acceleration can be game-changing, allowing you to play high-impact cards much earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: While the Maelstrom Archangel itself is not an instant, the ability it grants interacts favorably with cards that have flash or can be cast at instant speed, broadening your strategic options each turn and keeping opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Maelstrom Archangel demands a varied and specific mana cost encompassing all five colors, which can potentially be challenging to fulfill in a timely manner within a game, especially for decks not focused on mana fixing or multicolor support.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at a grand total of five, including one of each color, the Maelstrom Archangel has a high casting cost when juxtaposed with other creatures providing similar board impact. This can slow down your game, especially in fast-paced formats.

Discard Requirement: Although not directly asking to discard, the substantial mana requirements can strain your resources. Allocating mana to cast the Archangel may force difficult decisions about which cards to play and which to hold back, potentially leading to unfavorable discards later on.


Reasons to Include Maelstrom Archangel in Your Collection

Versatility: Maelstrom Archangel shines with its ability to cast any spell for free after delivering combat damage, making it a powerful addition to multicolored decks seeking flexibility.

Combo Potential: The Archangel’s unique ability opens up numerous combo opportunities, allowing players to potentially cast high-cost spells early in the game without paying their mana costs.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors diverse strategies and big plays, having a card like Maelstrom Archangel can dramatically tilt the game in your favor, making it a formidable asset against various opponents.


How to Beat Maelstrom Archangel

Maelstrom Archangel is a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering with the potential to dominate the battlefield. This multicolored creature allows a player to cast a spell for free each time it deals combat damage to an opponent. To counter this powerful ability, strategic removal is key. Employing instant-speed removal spells before combat damage is dealt can prevent the free spell casting. Cards such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can efficiently remove the Archangel due to its lack of inherent protection.

Another effective strategy is to use counterspells when the Archangel is cast. Since the Archangel requires a diverse mana base to cast, utilizing land destruction or mana disruption can hinder your opponent’s ability to play it. Board wipes are also a solid plan, as they can clear the Archangel along with any other creatures on the board. Utilizing these techniques, players can mitigate the impact of the Maelstrom Archangel and keep the game in their favor.

Ultimately, knowing when and how to disrupt your opponent’s game plan is crucial. With a balance between timely removal, counterspells, and land disruption, you can overcome the threat of Maelstrom Archangel and maintain control over the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deck building in MTG is an art and Maelstrom Archangel is the kind of card that opens up a canvas of possibilities. Whether it’s adding muscle to your multicolored deck or designing game-winning combos, this celestial being can change the game’s dynamics instantly. If you’re eyeing an edge over your adversaries or seeking to include a powerful, versatile creature that can bypass traditional mana costs, we recommend looking into Maelstrom Archangel. Dive deeper into our insights and strategies to harness its full potential and build a deck that’s not only formidable but also fun to play. Elevate your MTG experience by integrating Maelstrom Archangel into your collection and discover how to make every match epic.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Maelstrom Archangel MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Mystery Booster, 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 Maelstrom Archangel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Maelstrom Archangel Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Cyril Van Der Haegen.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 1152003NormalBlackCyril Van Der Haegen
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 14492003NormalBlackCyril Van Der Haegen
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4542015NormalBlackCyril Van Der Haegen
42020-09-26The ListPLST CON-1152003NormalBlackCyril Van Der Haegen
52022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1582015NormalBlackCyril Van Der Haegen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Maelstrom Archangel has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-02-01 If you cast a card this way, you're casting it as a spell. It can be countered.
2009-02-01 If you cast a card with X in its cost this way, X must be 0.
2009-02-01 If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs, such as evoke or the alternative cost provided by the morph ability. However, you can pay optional additional costs, such as conspire, and you must still pay mandatory additional costs, such as the one on Goldmeadow Stalwart.
2009-02-01 If you want to cast a card this way, you cast it as part of the resolution of Maelstrom Angel's triggered ability. Timing restrictions based on the card's type (such as creature or sorcery) are ignored. Other casting restrictions are not (such as “Cast
-his card] only before attackers are declared”).