Magus of the Arena MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Magus of the Arena’s ability to selectively engage creatures in combat can result in beneficial trades, essentially removing an adversary’s critical piece while maintaining board presence. Over time, this can lead to a significant advantage as you dictate the flow of combat.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing mana resources, Magus of the Arena can swiftly clear the way for your more mana-intensive creatures to connect with your opponent, effectively accelerating the potential to deal damage and close out the game.

Instant Speed: The power of Magus of the Arena isn’t in the speed of its abilities, but in its recurring nature. Each turn presents a new opportunity to strategically influence the battlefield, much like the versatile and reactive nature of instant speed spells, keeping opponents on their toes and forcing them to play around its activation.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Magus of the Arena’s ability, players must also discard a card, which might be detrimental when hand size is critical to maintaining an advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s ability requires both red and generic mana, which can be restrictive for multi-color decks or those operating on a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial mana cost to both play and use the card’s ability, Magus of the Arena may not be as resource-efficient as other creature control options available at lower mana points.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Magus of the Arena offers the ability to selectively engage in creature combat, making it a dynamic choice for decks that want to manipulate the battlefield without relying on direct removal spells.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with effects that untap creatures, allowing for multiple uses in a single turn. It can also work well with cards that have tap-triggered abilities, creating opportunities for powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Given the competitive landscape often involves creature-based strategies, Magus of the Arena can serve as a tactical asset in controlling opponents’ significant threats and can be especially impactful in games where board presence is crucial.

How to beat

Magus of the Arena is a potent creature card that brings a unique controlling dynamic to the battlefield in MTG. Armed with the ability to engage other creatures in one-on-one combat, it can dominate games if left unchecked. Tackling this card requires strategic removal. Ideally, you’d keep cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile in hand to dispatch it before its ability can be activated. Instant-speed removal is key, as you can respond to the activation and eliminate the Magus before it deals lethal damage to your creatures.

When facing the Magus of the Arena, it’s also wise to manage the number of creatures you have in play. By limiting targets, you can undercut the card’s potential. Cards that grant indestructibility or protection such as Heroic Intervention can be game-changers, safeguarding your creatures from the Magus’s forced battles. Lastly, countering it upon casting with spells like Counterspell or Negate disrupts your opponent’s plans and keeps the board state in your favor. In essence, swift removal, protective measures, and counterplay are the trifecta of tactics to overcome the challenge posed by Magus of the Arena.