Ana Battlemage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Kicker
Released	2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set name	Planar Chaos
Set code	PLC
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	124
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Jim Nelson

Key Takeaways

Ana Battlemage provides card advantage and strategic depth with dual kicker abilities in certain game scenarios.
The card’s demanding mana cost and discard requirement can hinder deck fluidity and turn progression.
Despite its high mana cost, Ana Battlemage’s adaptability makes it a worthwhile addition to diverse deck styles.

Text of card

Kicker and/or When Ana Battlemage comes into play, if the kicker cost was paid, target player discards three cards. When Ana Battlemage comes into play, if the kicker cost was paid, tap target untapped creature and that creature deals damage equal to its power to its controller.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ana Battlemage provides a double-edged approach to gaining an advantage. Its kicker abilities can disrupt the opponent’s hand while potentially pulling you ahead in the late game.

Resource Acceleration: Although the card itself doesn’t generate additional mana, its presence can lead to strategic resource allocation. Playing it with its kicker cost can quickly escalate your board presence, forcing opponents to deal with multiple threats.

Instant Speed: While Ana Battlemage is a creature card and not played at instant speed, its effects can be felt during the critical points of a match – especially when timed well with your kickers to gain maximum benefit during your turn or to prepare for what your opponent might have in store.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Ana Battlemage requires you to discard another card, which could strain your hand, especially if card advantage is crucial in your strategy. This cost can often set you back, particularly in the late game where each card in hand is valuable.

Specific Mana Cost: Ana Battlemage demands a precise mana configuration to cast – one forest, one island, and one swamp. This can be challenging in a multi-colored deck, as it restricts the card to only those decks that can reliably produce all three types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Ana Battlemage is considered quite expensive. While it does offer versatile abilities, there are alternative cards that can impact the board sooner or require less mana investment, providing a more immediate advantage.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ana Battlemage fits comfortably into a variety of decks, embodying flexibility as it caters to different strategies with its kicker abilities. Whether you’re disrupting your opponent’s game plan or bolstering your own board state, Ana Battlemage adapts to your deck’s needs.

Combo Potential: This card’s kicker options open up numerous avenues for synergistic plays. It can support combo decks looking to control the opponent’s hand or create a stronghold of creatures on the board, acting as a catalyst for powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where control decks are prevalent, Ana Battlemage shines. Its ability to hinder opponent strategies while advancing your own makes it a game-changer, staying relevant irrespective of the shifting landscapes of competitive play.

How to beat

Ana Battlemage stands out as a multifaceted threat on the battlefield with the ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies effectively. This creature card, originating from the Planar Chaos set, not only poses a creature presence but also brings a suite of abilities to the table, depending on the mana invested in its kicker costs. To overcome Ana Battlemage, it is essential to anticipate and disrupt the mana base that fuels its versatile options.

Direct removal spells are a reliable method to dispatch Ana Battlemage before it can leverage its kicker abilities. These spells range from Path to Exile to Doom Blade, allowing you to target and eliminate this creature regardless of how much mana has been sunk into it. Controlling the pace of the game with counterspells like Mana Leak or Negate can also prove to be effective by preventing Ana Battlemage from ever entering the battlefield. Additionally, mana disruption plays a pivotal role—denying your opponent the diversity of their mana can hinder or delay their ability to use the Battlemage’s kicker abilities, thus neutralizing this multi-threat card.

Ultimately, maintaining board control and having a swift response to the casting of such a card are key to ensuring it doesn’t turn the tides against you. Quick action and strategic plays are essential tools to prevail over Ana Battlemage and claim victory in your Magic: The Gathering matches.

Cards like Ana Battlemage

When looking at the Ana Battlemage, one can immediately see its uniqueness among creature spells in MTG. This card bears similarity to other battlemages, such as the Blightspeaker and the Sunscape Battlemage. All of these share a common trait — they offer versatility with multiple abilities activated by different types of mana.

However, Ana Battlemage stands out with its specific Kicker costs, allowing players to choose between two distinctive and powerful effects once it hits the battlefield. Its first kicker mirrors that of the Sunscape Battlemage, providing a controlling ability, though Sunscape’s effect is limited to flying creatures. On the flip side, Ana’s second kicker produces an effect reminiscent of discard mechanics found in black spells, setting it apart and providing a disruptive edge against opponents.

While Ana Battlemage may not be the most cost-effective creature spell within its family, its potential for strategic depth and tactical advantage is clear. Players who leverage its kickers effectively can reap the benefits of both board control and hand disruption, aspects that underpin the card’s value in MTG gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ana Battlemage MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Ana Battlemage and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ana Battlemage has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2007-02-01	The second triggered ability targets an untapped creature. If there are no other untapped creatures when Ana Battlemage enters the battlefield, it must target Ana Battlemage. If the target becomes tapped by the time the ability tries to resolve, the ability won’t resolve.