The Triumph of Anax MTG Card

Generates card advantage and bolsters board presence, but requires discarding a card to play. Enables resource acceleration through Satyr tokens, enhancing offensive capabilities in red devotion decks. Lacks instant speed, but provides a strategic advantage when combined with flash mechanic cards.

The Triumph of Anax - Theros Beyond Death

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Saga
Abilities	Fight
Released	2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set name	Theros Beyond Death
Set code	THB
Number	160
Frame	2015
Layout	Saga
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chris Seaman

Text of card

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after IV.) I, II, III — Until end of turn, target creature gains trample and gets +X/+0, where X is the number of lore counters on The Triumph of Anax. IV — Target creature you control fights up to one target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)

Cards like The Triumph of Anax

The Triumph of Anax is a compelling saga card that has established its position in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering enchantments. It shares its thematic and mechanical roots with other saga cards like The First Iroan Games, offering a multi-turn narrative and a crescendo of effects. The Triumph of Anax notably fortifies your battlefield presence by powering up your creatures and culminates in possibly bringing a fearsome creature into play, reminiscent of the heroic tales of ancient lore.

Examining its kinship with other sagas, Elspeth’s Nightmare and The Birth of Meletis come to mind. Elspeth’s Nightmare provides utility in creature removal and hand disruption, while The Birth of Meletis focuses on stabilizing the board by fetching Plains and generating creature tokens. Though both are valuable, The Triumph of Anax stands out for its aggressive acceleration and potential to change the course of combat.

Assessing the landscape of MTG saga cards, The Triumph of Anax emerges with unique advantages for players leaning into a red strategy, balancing early aggression with late game power plays. The card adeptly bridges the gap between thematic storytelling and strategic gameplay, reinforcing its stature in themed decks and saga collections.

The First Iroan Games - MTG Card versions

The Birth of Meletis - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Triumph of Anax, when played strategically, can set you up for significant card superiority. This sorcery not only bolsters your board presence but may also draw you an additional card if Anax is on the battlefield, keeping your hand replenished.

Resource Acceleration: Even more intriguing is the potential resource acceleration. By creating a number of Satyr tokens equal to your devotion to red, it paves the way for an amplified offensive stance in subsequent turns, while potentially ramping your mana capabilities when utilized in concert with effects that tap creatures for mana.

Instant Speed: Although not at instant speed, the adept use of The Triumph of Anax during your main phase can provide a formidable setup that forces opponents to consider their responses carefully. Used in harmony with cards that have flash, it allows for a dynamic and unpredictable swing during your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Triumph of Anax necessitates that you discard a card upon playing it. This can be particularly strenuous when your hand is already depleted, leaving you at a disadvantage in terms of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast The Triumph of Anax, you’re locked into a color-specific requirement. It needs both red mana and other resources, which might not always align seamlessly with your deck’s mana base, especially in multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be deemed steep for its impact on the game, players often find themselves weighing its value against other potential four-mana plays. In some situations, alternatives may prove to provide a stronger presence or effect on the battlefield for the same cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Triumph of Anax offers adaptability in decks that capitalize on heroic or devotion mechanics. Its ability to bolster your creatures’ strength under certain conditions makes it a flexible inclusion in various red-centric builds.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from power increases or with those that trigger upon casting spells targeting creatures, The Triumph of Anax can be a pivotal part of powerful combo plays, enabling spectacular board states.

Meta-Relevance: With an environment that favors aggressive strategies, this card provides value through its potential to turn the tide by enhancing your creatures’ power, making your battalion formidable against your opponent’s strategies.

How to beat

The Triumph of Anax is an intriguing card that can amplify the power of your creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This saga card has the potential to escalate your battlefield presence expeditiously by boosting your creatures’ stats and even granting them the trample ability. However, several strategies can effectively counter this formidable card. For starters, direct removal spells can disrupt the card’s progression by taking out key creatures that benefit from Anax’s bonuses. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can efficiently handle the threat before Anax’s final lore counter is placed.

Counter spells are also an excellent tactic against The Triumph of Anax. By countering the saga card upon its cast, you prevent all of the upcoming advantages it offers. A well-timed Negate or Dovin’s Veto can save the day. Another approach is to use enchantment removal cards such as Return to Nature or Disenchant to remove The Triumph of Anax from the battlefield, thereby halting its escalating effects and removing any built-up advantages. Patience and the right countermeasures can turn the tide against this powerful saga.

Ultimately, facing The Triumph of Anax requires a balance between threat assessment and timing. Quick removals or counters can nullify its impact, ensuring that your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand with enhanced creature abilities.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Triumph of Anax MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 The Triumph of Anax and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where The Triumph of Anax has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-01-24	A chapter ability doesn’t trigger if a lore counter is put on a Saga that already had a number of lore counters greater than or equal to that chapter’s number. For example, the third lore counter put on a Saga causes the III chapter ability to trigger, but I and II won’t trigger again.
2020-01-24	As a Saga enters the battlefield, its controller puts a lore counter on it. As your precombat main phase begins (immediately after your draw step), you put another lore counter on each Saga you control. Putting a lore counter on a Saga in either of these ways doesn’t use the stack.
2020-01-24	Each symbol on the left of a Saga’s text box represents a chapter ability. A chapter ability is a triggered ability that triggers when a lore counter that is put on the Saga causes the number of lore counters on the Saga to become equal to or greater than the ability’s chapter number. Chapter abilities are put onto the stack and may be responded to.
2020-01-24	If either target is an illegal target as the final chapter ability resolves, no creature will deal or be dealt damage.
2020-01-24	If multiple chapter abilities trigger at the same time, their controller puts them on the stack in any order. If any of them require targets, those targets are chosen as you put the abilities on the stack, before any of those abilities resolve.
2020-01-24	Once a chapter ability has triggered, the ability on the stack won’t be affected if the Saga gains or loses counters, or if it leaves the battlefield.
2020-01-24	Once the number of lore counters on a Saga is greater than or equal to the greatest number among its chapter abilities, the Saga’s controller sacrifices it as soon as its chapter ability has left the stack, most likely by resolving or being countered. This state-based action doesn’t use the stack.
2020-01-24	Removing lore counters won’t cause a previous chapter ability to trigger. If lore counters are removed from a Saga, the appropriate chapter abilities will trigger again when the Saga receives lore counters.
2020-01-24	The value of X for the first three chapters is determined only as each chapter ability resolves. Once that happens, the value of X won’t change later in the turn even if the number of lore counters on The Triumph of Anax changes.