Ajani's Last Stand MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 4
2018-07-13 - Number 4s
2020-09-26 - Number M19-4
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Key Takeaways
- Generates a potent Avatar with flying, maintaining board presence even under duress.
- Boosts game pace, pressuring opponents with its sudden 4/4 flying token arrival.
- Requires tactical play, balancing its higher mana cost with strategic deckbuilding.
Text of card
Whenever a creature or planeswalker you control dies, you may sacrifice Ajani's Last Stand. If you do, create a 4/4 white Avatar creature token with flying. When a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard this card, if you control a Plains, create a 4/4 white Avatar creature token with flying.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ajani’s Last Stand is a card that can potentially net you an additional card on the battlefield. Upon fulfilling its condition, it allows you to put a creature token into play which could replace itself as a card in your battlefield presence, keeping your army consistent even while under pressure.
Resource Acceleration: While Ajani’s Last Stand doesn’t directly ramp your mana, having a 4/4 creature token with flying can apply immediate pressure, potentially accelerating the pace of the game in your favor and forcing your opponent to respond quicker than they’d like.
Instant Speed: Even though Ajani’s Last Stand doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, triggering its ability can create an instantaneous impact on the board state. If a spell or ability would cause you to discard it, you can transform that disadvantage into instant value by dropping a powerful token onto the field as the ability resolves. This can often catch opponents off guard and shift the momentum of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of Ajani’s Last Stand is its trigger condition. To activate, a condition must be met involving a creature or planeswalker you control, which potentially demands proactive decisions on when to commit these resources to the battlefield, making it a double-edged sword in heated matches.
Specific Mana Cost: Ajani’s Last Stand demands a fixed commitment to white mana within its casting cost. This can be particularly challenging for multicolored decks where mana flexibility is essential. Being predominantly white-intensive, it restricts the card’s inclusion to decks primarily dedicated to or heavily featuring white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card sits at a four mana value, which is substantial for its effect. Players must weigh its cost against the benefits of other cards in the same mana range. There is always a cost-benefit analysis to be considered, and with various alternatives available, players might opt for cheaper options that provide similar or more immediate board impact.
Reasons to Include Ajani’s Last Stand in Your Collection
Versatility: Ajani’s Last Stand doesn’t just shine in decks built around it—it can be a surprise factor in any deck that can handle the double white mana cost. Its ability to create a powerful creature token when your planeswalker or another creature you control dies or you discard a card gives it play across multiple deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card offers great synergy with strategies that involve self-discard or sacrifice. Not only does it deter opponents from removing your creatures, but it also poses a latent threat that becomes tangible with the right combo, turning a potential setback into an advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where removal spells are abundant, Ajani’s Last Stand provides resilience by offering an immediate board presence after a loss. It operates well against control decks that often rely on targeting your threats, as each creature lost has the potential to be replaced with an imposing Avatar token.
How to beat
Ajani’s Last Stand is a card that can be intimidating due to its ability to create a potent 4/4 white Avatar creature token with flying when a creature you control dies or if Ajani’s Last Stand is placed into a graveyard from the battlefield. However, understanding its mechanics can guide players towards overcoming it. Unlike other enchantments, this one relies heavily on the strategic sacrifice of creatures or the disruption of the battlefield to activate its effect.
One method to handle Ajani’s Last Stand involves maintaining control over when and how creatures die. Employing spells that exile it directly from the battlefield or using counterspells when the card initially hits the stack ensures that the condition for generating the Avatar is never met. Moreover, because it triggers upon creature death, instant speed removal can disrupt the sequencing necessary for your opponent to capitalize on a potential trade.
Tactfully timing your removal spells or opting for universal creature-control strategies, like board wipes that bypass triggering the Last Stand, can nullify this card’s potential. In essence, precise control over the flow of the game and understanding the trigger conditions of Ajani’s Last Stand can turn what appears to be a strong defense into a non-issue for adept Magic: The Gathering players.
Cards like Ajani's Last Stand
Ajani’s Last Stand is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card that conjures images of epic battles and final defenses. This card echoes the valiant sentiment inherent in other Magic cards like Heroic Intervention. Both cards offer protection, however, Ajani’s Last Stand uniquely creates a creature upon activation. In contrast, Heroic Intervention provides an overall shield with its ability to grant both hexproof and indestructibility to your permanents.
When comparing it to Luminous Broodmoth, another card that triggers upon creatures dying, Ajani’s Last Stand offers a more aggressive approach, creating a single powerful creature, rather than giving multiple creatures a second chance on the battlefield. Moreover, Luminous Broodmoth’s ability affects all creatures you control, while Ajani’s Last Stand triggers a specific event – when your planeswalker is under threat or a land you control is attacked.
Exploring further, we find Selfless Spirit, which also provides a safeguard, but does so by sacrificing itself for the good of your other creatures. While Ajani’s Last Stand requires the loss of a planeswalker or a land, the trade-off culminates in a significant token creature to bolster your lines.
In essence, Ajani’s Last Stand stands out for its situational, yet potentially game-turning abilities, offering MTG players a unique form of defense that can simultaneously turn the tides of battle with an imposing aerial creature.
Cards similar to Ajani's Last Stand by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ajani's Last Stand MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2019 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 Ajani's Last Stand and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Ajani's Last Stand Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 4 | 2015 | normal | black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 2 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 Promos | PM19 | 4s | 2015 | normal | black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | M19-4 | 2015 | normal | black | Slawomir Maniak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ajani's Last Stand 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 Ajani's Last Stand card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to make a choice and you choose to discard Ajani’s Last Stand, its last ability will trigger. |
| 2018-07-13 | If multiple creatures and/or planeswalkers you control die at the same time, the first ability of Ajani’s Last Stand triggers that many times. However, you can sacrifice it only once, so you’ll get only one token. |
| 2018-07-13 | In a Magic game, cards are discarded only from a player’s hand. Effects that put cards from a player’s library into that player’s graveyard do not cause those cards to be discarded. |
