Stalwart Aven MTG Card

Flying gives Stalwart Aven consistent damage potential and activates renown or combat-related abilities. Resourceful as a defender, it preserves life totals and other resources by deterring attackers. Enhanced via instant-speed spells, it can surprise opponents and overcome combat challenges.

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 32

Iconic Masters (IMA)
2017-11-17 - Number 32

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 244

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number IMA-32

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Bird Soldier
Abilities	Flying,Renown
Power	1
Toughness	3

Text of card

Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.) Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.)

Cards like Stalwart Aven

Stalwart Aven is an intriguing creature card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, reminding veteran players of cards with similar flying abilities and renown mechanics. A card that comes to mind is Topan Freeblade, which also possesses renown and has comparable stats. Unlike Stalwart Aven, Topan Freeblade has vigilance from the get-go but shares the potential to become stronger after dealing combat damage to a player.

Taking flight into a different direction, we have Thunderclap Wyvern. Although it doesn’t boast the renown ability, it offers an aura of support, giving other flying creatures a welcomed stat boost. This makes it a team player in aerial-focused decks, setting a different stage for deck dynamics when compared to Stalwart Aven’s more solitary renown advantage.

Moreover, considering an enchantment like Gravitational Shift, it’s clear that flying creatures, in general, benefit greatly. While Stalwart Aven eagerly takes to the skies, becoming more formidable with renown, pairing it with enhancements like Gravitational Shift ensures its impact on the game is not merely passing. Ultimately, each card holds a distinctive role in MTG, where Stalwart Aven shines with its simple yet effective renown mechanic and aerial prowess.

Cards similar to Stalwart Aven by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Stalwart Aven itself doesn’t draw cards, its ability to consistently deal combat damage as a flying creature makes it an excellent enabler for cards with renown or other abilities triggered by dealing combat damage to a player. Thus, it indirectly contributes to card advantage by helping you activate beneficial effects that can draw you cards or impact the board state.

Resource Acceleration: Stalwart Aven isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration. However, its flying capability makes it a reliable defender, potentially saving resources you might otherwise have to allocate for protecting your life total or other creatures. By holding the skies, it can deter attacks, meaning your mana and other resources can be directed towards strengthening your board presence or advancing your game plan.

Instant Speed: Whilst Stalwart Aven itself is not an instant, it benefits from the aspect of surprise thanks to the instant-speed spells that can protect it or remove obstacles during combat. A well-timed instant can remove a blocker or boost Stalwart Aven’s toughness, enabling it to survive combat encounters that would otherwise be problematic, thus reinforcing its role as a consistent aerial threat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Stalwart Aven doesn’t force a discard upon casting, it lacks an impactful effect typically associated with cards penalizing you with discard. So you might find yourself discarding for other effects without a powerful payoff from this card in play.

Specific Mana Cost: Stalwart Aven requires one white mana, making it less flexible for multi-color decks that may be strained on white mana sources. This can hinder deck-building versatility and cause occasional mana issues in-game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a 1/3 flyer, Stalwart Aven might appear lackluster when compared to other creatures in the same cost range. There are several more efficient creatures available, which could impact its inclusion in competitive play.

Reasons to Include Stalwart Aven in Your Collection

Versatility: Stalwart Aven is a flexible addition to various deck types, providing both a solid flying defender and an attacker. With its renown ability, it becomes a formidable force once it deals combat damage to a player.

Combo Potential: As a creature with flying, this card works well in synergistic combos that capitalize on evasive creatures. Additionally, its renown mechanic can work in concert with cards that benefit from counters or unlocking abilities once a creature becomes renowned.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to serve as both offense and defense, Stalwart Aven holds a place in the current meta, especially in limited formats or decks focused on tempo and aerial superiority. Its mere presence can influence opponent strategies, demanding answers for its enhanced state post-renown.

How to Beat Stalwart Aven

Stalwart Aven, a renowned card from Magic: The Gathering, has always been a reliable flier in limited formats. To effectively counter this card, understanding its strengths and weaknesses is key. Stalwart Aven relies on its renowned status to gain a flying advantage, which can be disrupted by removal spells that deal with flying creatures or by enhancing your side with reach abilities to intercept it.

Consider utilizing cards like Plummet that are designed to target creatures with flying. Another tactic involves employing creatures with reach or those equipped with abilities or enchantments that negate flying advantages. Cards that reduce the power of an opponent’s creatures also work well, as they can minimize Stalwart Aven’s impact on the battlefield.

The strategic approach to beat Stalwart Aven also includes being aware of timing. Since it doesn’t have haste, you have an opportunity to react before it can attack. Prioritize removing Stalwart Aven in the early game to prevent your opponent from gaining an upper hand through repeated aerial assaults. Efficient board control ensures that when Stalwart Aven hits the table, it doesn’t remain a threat for long.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stalwart Aven MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Iconic Masters, 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 Stalwart Aven and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stalwart Aven Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Scott Murphy.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI	32	2015	Normal	Black	Scott Murphy
2	2017-11-17	Iconic Masters	IMA	32	2015	Normal	Black	Scott Murphy
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	244	2015	Normal	Black	Scott Murphy
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	IMA-32	2015	Normal	Black	Scott Murphy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stalwart Aven has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-06-22	If a creature with renown deals combat damage to its controller because that damage was redirected, renown will trigger.
2015-06-22	If a renown ability triggers, but the creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the creature doesn’t become renowned. Any ability that triggers “whenever a creature becomes renowned” won’t trigger.
2015-06-22	Renown won’t trigger when a creature deals combat damage to a planeswalker or another creature. It also won’t trigger when a creature deals noncombat damage to a player.