Scroll of Avacyn MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 220
2020-07-17 - Number 483
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
, Sacrifice Scroll of Avacyn: Draw a card. If you control an Angel, you gain 5 life.
Words to bless the eye that reads them, telling of a future beyond the reach of fear.
Cards like Scroll of Avacyn
Scroll of Avacyn finds its place within Magic: The Gathering as a unique artifact that offers card advantage and a potential life boost. In the realm of such cards, it provides a direct comparison with the likes of Alchemist’s Vial. Both artifacts allow you to draw a card; however, Scroll of Avacyn stands out with an additional option to gain life if you control an Angel.
Another artifact to consider is Golden Egg. Like Scroll of Avacyn, it offers you a card when sacrificed, with the advantage of no additional conditions for gaining life since the life gain is guaranteed upon sacrificing it. However, Golden Egg lacks the potential for a significant life swing that Scroll of Avacyn could deliver in a deck with Angels.
To compare with a spell rather than an artifact, Take Inventory is a sorcery card that becomes increasingly potent with each copy in the graveyard, yet it doesn’t grant the immediate life gain or the potential Angel-reliant boost that Scroll of Avacyn provides. The artifact thus holds its own, especially in decks synergized with Angelic themes, offering both immediate value and a conditional benefit that can be vital in tight matches.
Cards similar to Scroll of Avacyn by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Scroll of Avacyn offers players the chance to draw a card upon activation, and an additional card if you control an Angel, which can be pivotal in outpacing your opponent with more options at hand.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly contributing to mana resources, this artifact’s low cost and potential card draw effectively expedite reaching crucial cards that could change the tide of the game, thereby accelerating your resource deployment indirectly.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of activating the Scroll of Avacyn at instant speed allows players tactical leeway to respond during an opponent’s turn or after their strategies have been revealed, making it a versatile tool in any match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Scroll of Avacyn’s ability only functions optimally if you have an Angel card in your hand to reveal. This can be a significant setback, especially when you’re in a game state where resources are already strained, or if your deck isn’t heavily focused on Angel-type creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: Even though Scroll of Avacyn itself has a generic mana cost which can be paid with any type of mana, its optimal draw condition relies on an Angel card being revealed, potentially requiring a deck with White mana sources due to the color identity of most Angel creatures. This may dictate deck construction choices and limit the card’s versatility across various archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the initial cost of one mana may seem low, the necessity to pay an additional two mana to activate its ability elevates the total investment to three mana for a single card draw. In a game where efficiency is key, Scroll of Avacyn faces stiff competition from other card draw artifacts and spells that either offer more cards or additional effects for a similar or lower mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Scroll of Avacyn in Your Collection
Versatility: Scroll of Avacyn shines with its ability to fit into various deck archetypes. It’s a low-cost artifact that can provide card draw, an essential function in many strategies seeking to maintain hand advantage. Whether you’re piloting an aggressive deck aiming to replace resources quickly or controlling the board in a slower game, this scroll offers a quick and easy way to refill your hand.
Combo Potential: For combo enthusiasts, Scroll of Avacyn doesn’t disappoint. It not only draws you a card but also gains you life if you control an Angel, which can be instrumental in decks that synergize around life gain or card draw triggers. It provides fodder for sacrificing artifacts, potentially enabling explosive turns when combined with the right cards.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving nature of competitive play, cards that offer flexibility often find a place in the meta. Scroll of Avacyn’s immediate impact and low investment cost make it a relevant choice for decks in a variety of formats, from Commander to casual play, where having the right tools at the right time is key to victory.
How to beat
The Scroll of Avacyn presents itself as a useful tool in Magic: The Gathering, mainly for those decks that are looking for ways to draw more cards and gain a bit of life. The artifact’s straightforward mechanics require the player to control a creature with the Angel subtype to gain the maximum benefit. Handling it efficiently in-game boils down to disrupting these synergies.
To undermine the card’s effectiveness, you could deploy strategies that would remove Angel creatures from the battlefield, thus negating the Scroll’s conditional bonus. Removal spells, board wipes, or even counter spells to prevent Angels from hitting the field in the first place, are your arsenal here. Additionally, artifact destruction spells or abilities that target the Scroll of Avacyn directly can prove to be effective ways to reduce an opponent’s ability to draw extra cards.
Managing the game state in such a way that the Scroll of Avacyn becomes a less impactful resource is key. This can mean maintaining pressure to force early activation without the life gain, or being ready to respond when your opponent seeks to capitalize on its card draw potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scroll of Avacyn MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Jumpstart, 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 Scroll of Avacyn and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Scroll of Avacyn Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Cliff Childs.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 220 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs | |
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 483 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scroll of Avacyn has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scroll of Avacyn card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-05-01 | Whether you control an Angel is checked when the ability resolves. |