Angel of Retribution MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Angel
Abilities First strike,Flying
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers dual benefits; neutralizing threats and boosting board presence with its flying capability.
  2. Demands a white mana base, posing deck-building challenges for multi-color strategies.
  3. Strategically strong in current metagames, complementing both defensive and offensive decks.

Text of card

Flying, first strike

Bitter vengeance never glowed so bright nor sang so sweet.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Angel of Retribution offers substantial value by potentially neutralizing an opponent’s creature while providing a formidable flyer on the board. This dual functionality can pivot a game in your favor, giving you an edge in maintaining control of the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: As a high-impact card that can swing the momentum of a match, the Angel of Retribution can accelerate your resource dominance. By removing key threats and establishing aerial supremacy, it potentially saves resources you’d otherwise spend on multiple spells to achieve the same effect.

Instant Speed: Although the Angel of Retribution itself isn’t an instant, its reactionary abilities harness a similar strategic advantage. Its presence can discourage opponents from attacking or using abilities, akin to the tactical depth instant-speed cards provide, enhancing your overall strategy by influencing the flow of your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Angel of Retribution necessitates discarding another card, often presenting a challenge when you’re trying to maintain card advantage or if you’re already low on hand resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This angelic creature demands a devoted mana base, with an emphasis on white mana, which could limit deck construction options, especially for multi-color decks seeking flexible mana strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its elevated mana cost, Angel of Retribution may arrive on the battlefield later than some players would like. In fast-paced games, there are alternative cards that could provide impact sooner or offer more utility for the same investment.


Reasons to Include Angel of Retribution in Your Collection

Versatility: Angel of Retribution can be a dynamic inclusion across various deck styles. Due to its status as a flying threat, it becomes a valuable asset in strategies focused on aerial dominance and defensive setups.

Combo Potential: With its abilities synergizing with life gain and other Angel tribal effects, Angel of Retribution can be the lynchpin in combos that amplify your battlefield presence or trigger potent game-winning sequences.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right conditions, Angel of Retribution can be particularly effective in the current metagame. Its capacity to counter specific popular strategies and act as a substantial threat makes it a wise choice for players looking to stay competitive.


How to beat

The Angel of Retribution is a formidable presence on the MTG battlefield, boasting an impressive arsenal of abilities. Navigating a strategy to overcome this card hinges on understanding its strengths and weaknesses. While it may provide a potent blend of offense and defense, key tactics can turn the tide in your favor.

Cards with exile effects are a strong counter, as they can remove the Angel of Retribution from the game entirely, bypassing any on-death effects or regeneration. Additionally, using spells that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature can circumvent its protections, effectively neutralizing the threat without having to engage in direct combat.

Control decks may leverage counterspells, preventing the Angel of Retribution from entering the battlefield in the first place. For decks that focus on aggressive strategies, ramping up the power of your creatures to outsize the Angel, or equipment that grants your creatures deathtouch, can efficiently handle this celestial adversary.

Remember, the key to defeating the Angel of Retribution lies not just in raw power, but in strategic plays and timing, turning its divine might into a mere footnote in your path to victory.


Cards like Angel of Retribution

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Angel of Retribution presents itself as a commanding figure among flying creatures. It bears a resemblance to other formidable angels like Exquisite Archangel. Both cards offer an impressive flying presence, but while Exquisite Archangel can provide a second chance with its unique life-total reset ability, Angel of Retribution shines in its straightforward damage-dealing potential during combat.

Another parallel can be drawn with Guardian of the Gateless. Much like Angel of Retribution, this celestial guardian can block multiple creatures, making it an excellent choice for defense. However, Angel of Retribution’s advantage is its aggressive approach, allowing players to actively pursue victory, rather than remain guarded. Looking at the mana cost, Angel of Retribution requires a robust investment like Herald of the Host, which also possesses powerful attacking bonuses. Yet, Angel of Retribution stands out with its ability to deal more immediate impact on the battlefield.

After considering these comparisons, Angel of Retribution certainly finds its place in a player’s deck who values high-powered, offensive angels. Its capacity to dominate in the skies and contribute to an aggressive game strategy makes it a vital addition to the angel archetype.

Exquisite Archangel - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions
Herald of the Host - MTG Card versions
Exquisite Archangel - Aether Revolt Promos (PAER)
Guardian of the Gateless - Gatecrash (GTC)
Herald of the Host - Commander 2015 (C15)

Cards similar to Angel of Retribution by color, type and mana cost

Elder Land Wurm - MTG Card versions
Seraph - MTG Card versions
Archangel - MTG Card versions
Ancestor's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Serra Avatar - MTG Card versions
Drogskol Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Eternal Dragon - MTG Card versions
Soul of Eternity - MTG Card versions
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - MTG Card versions
Resolute Archangel - MTG Card versions
Crowd Favorites - MTG Card versions
Kami of the Honored Dead - MTG Card versions
Luminous Angel - MTG Card versions
Ghosts of the Innocent - MTG Card versions
Angel of Glory's Rise - MTG Card versions
Windbrisk Raptor - MTG Card versions
Pale Wayfarer - MTG Card versions
Yoked Plowbeast - MTG Card versions
Vengeful Archon - MTG Card versions
Angelic Arbiter - MTG Card versions
Elder Land Wurm - Renaissance (REN)
Seraph - Masters Edition (ME1)
Archangel - Starter 1999 (S99)
Ancestor's Chosen - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Serra Avatar - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Drogskol Cavalry - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Eternal Dragon - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Soul of Eternity - Commander Legends (CMR)
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Resolute Archangel - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)
Crowd Favorites - Onslaught (ONS)
Kami of the Honored Dead - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Luminous Angel - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Ghosts of the Innocent - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Angel of Glory's Rise - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Windbrisk Raptor - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Pale Wayfarer - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Yoked Plowbeast - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Vengeful Archon - Magic 2011 (M11)
Angelic Arbiter - Commander Anthology (CMA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Angel of Retribution MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Salvat 2005, 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 Angel of Retribution and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Angel of Retribution Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by rk post.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-02-04TormentTOR 11997normalblackrk post
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL G12003normalwhiterk post
32018-06-08BattlebondBBD 862015normalblackrk post

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Angel of Retribution has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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