Karona, False God Avatar MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	2003-01-01
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Online Avatars
Set code	PMOA
Number	34
Frame	2015
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	UDON

Key Takeaways

Karona’s five-color identity enables flexible deck building and tribal synergy acceleration.
Her ability to affect game dynamics can backfire without proper hand and board control.
Despite the high mana cost, Karona’s inclusion can potentially transform game states.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, exchange control of a permanent you control chosen at random and a permanent target opponent controls chosen at random.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you summon Karona, False God, you’re bringing a substantial threat to the battlefield that can quickly tip the scales in multi-player games. Once on the field, her ability to switch control can indirectly lead to card advantage by pitting your opponents against each other, conserving your resources while they handle the formidable Avatar.

Resource Acceleration: Stepping beyond mere mana production, Karona’s five-color identity allows for a flexible deck construction. This characteristic enables the inclusion of numerous mana accelerants and color fixers within your deck to cast her efficiently. Once she’s in play, her allegiance to all creature types permits a diverse range of tribal synergies, potentially accelerating your board state with each type’s complementary benefits.

Instant Speed: While Karona herself does not have instant speed, her potential impact on the game state is fast and decisive. Including spells that can be cast at instant speed to protect Karona or exploit her switching mechanic can lead to unexpected twists and advantageous power shifts during the course of gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card’s complex ability, often necessitating a discard from your hand, can set back your game if you’re already running low on options or if you are trying to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Karona, False God demands a diverse mana base to cast—WUBRG (one of each color). This specific mana requirement can constrain deck building and is less flexible in formats where mana fixing is limited.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that totals up to five mana spanning all colors, this card may arrive too late in the game when faster, lower-cost creatures and spells could be more impactful. Considering that many competitive formats value speed and efficiency, the high mana cost makes it a less viable choice in a fast-paced meta.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Karona, False God stands out due to its ability to slot into multiple decks as a powerful finisher. As a five-colored Avatar, it can be seamlessly integrated into rainbow decks or any Commander strategy looking to harness its substantial attack potential.

Combo Potential: Karona’s ability to boost the power of all Creatures can be leveraged in various combo strategies. It synergizes well with a suite of cards that capitalize on creature types, fostering opportunities for game-winning plays.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting nature of the metagame, Karona can prove to be a valuable wildcard. Its allegiance to all colors and substantial power level can upset opponents not prepared for its game-changing presence on the board.

How to beat

Karona, False God is an awe-inspiring legendary creature known for her ability to boost all creatures on the battlefield. If left unchecked, she can significantly alter the course of the game in favor of her controller. To overcome this impressive Avatar, savvy players have developed a number of strategies. One effective method is employing targeted removal spells. These allow you to bypass her potential defenses and remove her before her buffs lead to an overwhelming state.

Counterspells also serve as a robust line of defense. By countering Karona, False God as she’s cast, you prevent her from ever impacting the board. This preemptive approach is particularly useful if you sense your opponent has built their entire strategy around her presence. Additionally, you can turn Karona’s abilities against her controller by using cards that gain control of opposing creatures, allowing you to benefit from her when it’s most advantageous for you.

Ultimately, while Karona, False God can be a formidable foe, a combination of removal, counterspells, and strategic control spells can ensure this Avatar’s divinity is short-lived in the heat of battle. By staying alert and prepared with these tools, you can keep Karona from seizing the gods’ favor in MTG.

Cards like Karona, False God Avatar

Delving into the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Karona, False God stands out among legendary creatures. This card teeters on a kinship with Progenitus, the “soul of the world,” both being multicolored and requiring a diversity of mana to play. However, Karona grants all creatures the various creature types, inviting a potential tactical abundance, while Progenitus remains a stalwart defender with protection from everything.

Chromanticore is another similar entity, boasting all five colors and offering a cascade of abilities like bestowing. Yet, unlike Karona, this mythic enchantment creature isn’t a game finisher by itself but rather enhances other creatures. The enchantment aspect creates flexibility in gameplay, distinct from the direct approach Karona demands when hitting the board.

In comparing these multicolored Goliaths, Karona’s unique trait of empowering all creatures draws a stark contrast against the more targeted boons of Progenitus and Chromanticore. Each exhibits strengths in a diverse MTG landscape, yet Karona, False God Avatar introduces a dynamic that can both unify and betray a player’s board with its all-encompassing allegiance shift.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Karona, False God Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Avatars, 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 Karona, False God Avatar and other MTG cards: