Malfegor Avatar MTG Card

Rarity	Rare
Type	Vanguard
Released	2003-01-01
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Online Avatars
Set code	PMOA
Number	90
Frame	2015
Layout	Vanguard
Border	Black
Illustred by	UDON

Key Takeaways

Offers strong card advantage by potentially forcing opponents to discard while improving your board position.
Demands careful play, with a discard condition and specific mana requirements influencing deck construction.
Despite a higher mana cost, its versatility and combo potential make it an asset in the right meta.

Text of card

Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if it was unearthed, it gets +3/+0. Whenever a creature you control is exiled, if it was unearthed, shuffle that card into its owner's library.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Malfegor Avatar card is a powerhouse when it comes to card advantage. It has the potential to decimate an opponent’s hand while you maintain a card benefit, setting you up for dominance on the game board.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable Avatar helps in pulling ahead of the competition by potentially clearing the way for faster and more impactful board presence, streamlining your path to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: With the agility of instant speed, this card gives you the flexibility to react swiftly to the evolving playfield, ensuring you can optimize the timing of its abilities for maximum impact.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For players considering the Malfegor Avatar card, it’s important to note that one of the drawbacks is its discard condition. When you summon this formidable creature, it demands that you discard your hand, which can be quite the sacrifice if you’re holding onto key resources or strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Malfegor Avatar carries a specific mana cost that includes both black and red mana. This requirement can make it a challenging fit for decks that aren’t tailored to a black-red mana base, potentially making it less versatile in deck construction than more flexibly costed alternatives.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a relatively high mana cost for its effects, Malfegor Avatar may come off as less appealing when compared to other cards. Players might find that other creatures or spells at a lower cost could offer similar or greater impact without the steep investment that this Avatar demands.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Malfegor Avatar card offers flexibility across various strategies, primarily fitting in easily with decks that thrive on discarding mechanics or sacrificing creatures for greater effects.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that retrieve creatures from the graveyard or generate advantages from discards, this Avatar can become part of a powerful combo, turning apparent disadvantages into game-changing plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to both clear the battlefield of opponents’ creatures and impact their hand, Malfegor Avatar remains a relevant choice in metas dominated by creature-heavy decks or those that rely on hand advantage.

How to beat

Malfegor Avatar presents a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering with its ability to dominate games if left unchecked. One key strategy when confronting this formidable foe is to manage your resources wisely. Board control is paramount so prioritize removal spells that can deal with it effectively. Direct removal spells such as Path to Exile or Go for the Throat can eliminate it without allowing for a potential return, unlike traditional destruction spells that may leave the door open for recursion.

It’s also worth considering countermeasures to interrupt the Avatar’s entrance in the first place. Counterspells play a critical role here; a well-timed Dissipate or Mana Leak could prevent your opponent from ever unleashing Malfegor Avatar’s power. Maintaining a hand with answers will give you the upper hand for when Malfegor Avatar makes its appearance on the scene. Additionally, cards that limit the effectiveness of activated abilities, such as Pithing Needle, provide auxiliary support by hindering Malfegor Avatar’s utility during gameplay.

Ultimately, the key to overcoming Malfegor Avatar lies in preparedness and proactive control of the game state. By employing strategic disruption and maintaining answer-based cards, players can neutralize the threat and continue on the path to victory.

Cards like Malfegor Avatar

Malfegor Avatar enters a niche group of MTG cards that blend creature abilities with substantial casting costs. When you summon this powerful Demon Dragon, you must pay the price by discarding your hand, which echos the punishing cost found in cards like Myojin of Infinite Rage. However, Malfegor Avatar compensates the player with instant board impact by destroying all creatures your opponents control, previously mirrored by the similarly devastating card, Damnation.

Diving into the realm of fire and brimstone, Rakdos the Defiler shares the trait of demanding sacrifices while offering game-swinging power. Unlike Malfegor Avatar, Rakdos impacts both players, requiring a sacrifice of half the non-Demon permanents as it attacks. Inversely, Malfegor Avatar targets solely the opposing forces without jeopardizing your own board state. Lastly, Bladewing the Risen fuels the graveyard synergy by offering resurrection of Dragon creatures. While it doesn’t create the immediate pressure Malfegor Avatar does, Bladewing provides a persistent advantage, making it starkly different in use.

Considering the unique attributes and the trade-offs these similar cards introduce, Malfegor Avatar remains a formidable force for players craving to reset the battlefield at a pivotal moment in their MTG matches.

Myojin of Infinite Rage - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Malfegor 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 Malfegor Avatar and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products