Ashiok, Dream Render MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Ashiok
Abilities Mill
Loyalty 5

Key Takeaways

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Text of card

Spells and abilities your opponents control can't cause their controller to search their library.
-1: Target player mills four cards. Then exile each opponent's graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ashiok, Dream Render allows players to simultaneously disrupt opponents’ strategies while fueling their own graveyard with potential resources. This planeswalker’s ability to exile an opponent’s graveyard can significantly hinder strategies reliant on graveyard interactions, creating a net positive effect in resource balance.

Resource Acceleration: While the card does not directly produce mana, Ashiok’s ability to search for nonbasic lands gives players indirect resource acceleration. By eliminating potential land draws, players are more likely to draw into action spells that can change the tide of the game.

Instant Speed: Ashiok’s static ability works as a passive defense against opponents’ search capabilities, effectively functioning at “instant speed” without needing to commit mana each turn. This leaves players free to allocate resources elsewhere while still maintaining a form of constant board control and disruption.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside for players using Ashiok, Dream Render is the need to play with graveyard-strategy in mind. Though not requiring an actual discard from your hand, not benefiting fully from its mill ability could be like discarding potential strategic advances—particularly if your deck doesn’t utilize the graveyard as a resource.

Specific Mana Cost: Ashiok’s casting cost demands both blue and black mana, which can make it slightly restrictive. Decks that don’t run on Dimir (blue/black) colors may find it challenging to accommodate Ashiok without modifying their mana base, which could affect the overall deck consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of three, Ashiok, Dream Render isn’t the highest on the scale, yet it’s significant enough to merit consideration when deck building. There are planeswalkers and cards that may offer lower-cost alternatives for maintaining hand advantage or disrupting opponents, which could be preferred for faster gameplay strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ashiok, Dream Render can easily find a home in various deck archetypes. Its ability to target opponents’ graveyards while also hindering their search capabilities covers multiple strategic bases, making it a utility role player in both casual and competitive games.

Combo Potential: This planeswalker’s passive ability sets up synergies with strategies that capitalize on graveyard disruption. It’s a powerful enabler in decks that punish opponents for having empty graves or that seek to exile key combo pieces preemptively.

Meta-Relevance: With graveyard-based strategies frequently appearing in the meta, having Ashiok, Dream Render in your arsenal counters many prevalent decks. Its position in the current game environment makes it a strategic choice for players looking to disrupt opponents while advancing their own game plan.


How to beat Ashiok, Dream Render

Overcoming Ashiok, Dream Render in the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering requires tactical precision and strategic planning. This planeswalker’s ability to exile an opponent’s graveyard and hinder searching libraries is a real game-changer. Discarding cards becomes a preventive measure when faced with Ashiok’s dominion over dreams and nightmares.

One of the key strategies to thwart Ashiok is by utilizing instant-speed removal spells that can swiftly dispatch the troublesome planeswalker before its abilities take effect. Playing cards with passive effects that don’t require searching your library, such as land-based mana acceleration, also mitigates Ashiok’s disruptive tactics. Moreover, implementing alternative draw mechanics can help maintain your deck’s flow and card availability, reducing the exacerbating impact of Ashiok’s milling ability.

Ultimately, winning against Ashiok boils down to a well-crafted deck and a proactive approach to controlling the board state. By emphasizing speed, direct action, and evading reliance on the graveyard or library searches, players can navigate around Ashiok’s nightmare-inducing prowess, keeping their strategies intact and their dreams of victory alive.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG entails understanding the strengths and limitations of various cards, including Ashiok, Dream Render’s disruptive prowess. This planeswalker offers versatility, meta-relevance, and strategic depth to your deck, making it a worthy inclusion in your collection. Counter graveyard-based tactics and refine your control or mill decks with this unique card. Want to boost your gameplay and outmaneuver opponents? Dive deeper into deck-building strategies, find ways to optimize your mana curve, and explore the full potential of Ashiok. Embark on this quest with us and enrich your MTG experience today.


Cards like Ashiok, Dream Render

Ashiok, Dream Render stands as an intriguing planeswalker in MTG. This card presents a unique mix of abilities that relate closely to Jace, Memory Adept in milling strategies. However, what sets Ashiok apart is its static ability to hinder opponents from searching their libraries. Unlike Jace, Ashiok also exiles all cards from opponent’s graveyards for a significant disruptive effect.

Comparatively, Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver is another variant in the Ashiok planeswalker series. It, too, can create a milling predicament for the opponent, but rather than exile, it offers the potential to utilize the opponent’s creatures. Ashiok, Dream Render lacks this, but its lower casting cost and graveyard exile capability can be pivotal depending on the matchup and strategy.

Reflecting on their uses, and cost-to-effect ratios, Ashiok, Dream Render offers a valuable niche in the world of MTG. Its ability to disrupt opponents while providing a persistent mill effect gives it an edge, especially in matchups where denying graveyard access is crucial. It is a card that fits snugly into control and mill strategies, fortifying its place in the MTG metagame.

Jace, Memory Adept - MTG Card versions
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver - MTG Card versions
Jace, Memory Adept - Magic 2012 (M12)
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Ashiok, Dream Render by color, type and mana cost

Kaito Shizuki - MTG Card versions
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver - MTG Card versions
Kaito Shizuki - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver - Theros (THS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ashiok, Dream Render MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Ashiok, Dream Render and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ashiok, Dream Render Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 779932015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 722592015normalblackHozan Shinomaru
32019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 2282015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
42019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 228★2015normalblackHozan Shinomaru
52019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 228s2015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
62019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 228s★2015normalblackHozan Shinomaru
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 5282015normalblackCynthia Sheppard
82019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3992015normalborderlessUta Natsume

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ashiok, Dream Render has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 Effects that instruct your opponents to reveal or look at cards from the top of their libraries will still work. Only effects that use the word “search” are affected.
2019-05-03 If Ashiok’s last ability targets an opponent, the cards put into their graveyard will be among the cards exiled by the ability. No player may take any actions between the time the cards are put into a graveyard and the time your opponents’ graveyards are all exiled.
2019-05-03 If an effect says “Search your library . . . then shuffle your library,” your opponents shuffle their libraries even though they can’t search.
2019-05-03 If an effect says “You may search your library . . . If you do, shuffle your library” or “You may search your library . . . then shuffle your library,” your opponents can’t choose to search, so they won’t shuffle.
2019-05-03 Spells and abilities your opponents control may cause other players to search their libraries, and spells and abilities you control may cause your opponents to search their libraries.

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