Angelic Ascension MTG Card


Angelic Ascension - Core Set 2021
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2021
Set codeM21
Number3
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byVolkan Baǵa

Key Takeaways

  1. Angelic Ascension provides versatility, serving both offensive and defensive strategies effectively.
  2. Its instant speed allows for tactical responses in complex game situations.
  3. Cost and color limitations require careful deck integration and resource management.

Text of card

Exile target creature or planeswalker. Its controller creates a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying.

Within her battalion she was known as the Angel of Arkvale. Until now, that was only a metaphor.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Angelic Ascension stands out as it enables players to replace any creature or planeswalker, not just their own. If an opponent’s threatening permanent looms on the battlefield, swap it out for a token. Or strategically upgrade one of your own smaller creatures into a formidable aerial threat. This versatility offers a form of card advantage, as it can disrupt an opponent’s strategy while elevating your board state.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, but by creating a 4/4 Angel creature token, it effectively accelerates your resource presence on the battlefield. The Angel token can represent a significant threat that must be dealt with promptly, potentially diverting resources from your opponent and giving you the tempo advantage.

Instant Speed: The power of Angelic Ascension is markedly enhanced by its instant speed. This flexibility permits strategic players to adapt to an ever-changing game state, unleashing the spell when it can yield the utmost impact. Deploy it during an opponent’s attack to nullify their assault, or cast it after they’ve tapped out, thus optimizing its effect and potentially catching an adversary off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Angelic Ascension requires you to exile a creature or planeswalker you control, effectively demanding a sacrifice which can set you back if your board presence is crucial for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Angelic Ascension is not only color-specific, but it also requires one generic and one white mana, limiting flexibility and making it potentially less viable in multi-colored decks that may struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana for a 4/4 flying Angel token seems cost-effective, in a game where tempo is key, the need to exile one of your own permanents as part of the casting cost can make it a costly move, both in terms of mana efficiency and board position.


Reasons to Include Angelic Ascension in Your Collection

Versatility: Angelic Ascension offers a wide array of utility to various deck archetypes. It’s a powerful option for decks seeking to transform their own creatures for a sudden aerial threat or disrupt an opponent’s key creature or planeswalker.

Combo Potential: This spell’s ability to elevate a humble token or expendable creature into a 4/4 flying Angel can be a game-changer. Instant-speed allows for interesting combat phase interactions and unforeseen board state changes, aligning with numerous combo enablers.

Meta-Relevance: With its capacity to either counter removal or provide a surprise blocker, Angelic Ascension can prove significant in a meta with plenty of creature-based strategies. Its instant nature and the flexibility to target any creature or planeswalker make it a relevant choice against a multitude of decks.


How to beat

Angelic Ascension is an intriguing card that allows players to exchange their creatures or planeswalkers for a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying. This can be used offensively to upgrade a small creature or defensively to disrupt an opponent’s key strategy. To counter this strategy, it is essential to have instant-speed removal or counter spells ready. Effective removal like Fatal Push or Heartless Act can eliminate the token before it becomes a problem.

Another strategy is to rely on board sweepers such as Shatter the Sky or Doomskar to reset the playing field. These cards are especially helpful if the opponent has amassed multiple Angel tokens. Aiming for versatility, cards with flexible answers like Bonecrusher Giant with its Stomp ability can preemptively negate the Angelic Ascension by dealing damage to the creature targeted by the spell, potentially causing the opponent to waste their card. Lastly, it’s always wise to keep an eye out for the right moment to play around Angelic Ascension, forcing the opponent to use it at an inopportune time.

In essence, beating Angelic Ascension revolves around preparedness and timing, ensuring that you have the necessary tools to respond effectively and maintain control of the board state.


BurnMana Recommendations

With a detailed review of Angelic Ascension’s strengths and limitations, it’s clear that this card can be a game changer in the right deck. Offering both offensive and defensive capabilities, this spell is not just a simple creature upgrade – it’s a strategic tool that can pivot the game in your favor with the right timing. The versatility in its application makes it a worthy addition to any MTG player’s collection, especially for those playing white or looking to innovate with new combos. Eager to harness the power of Angelic Ascension and revolutionize your gameplay? Dive deeper with us and discover how to optimize your MTG experience.


Cards like Angelic Ascension

The rise of Angelic Ascension in Magic: The Gathering has given players a new way to leverage their creatures or planeswalkers. Comparable to Turn to Frog, this spell also neutralizes threats by transforming them, but instead of a frog, the target becomes a 4/4 white Angel creature with flying. Angelic Ascension, however, offers a permanent solution compared to the temporary effect of Turn to Frog.

Another card to consider is Generous Gift, sharing the similar concept of trading opponents’ threats for manageable 3/3 creatures. While the creatures offered by Generous Gift are less formidable than the Angel token, the unconditional removal could be a deciding factor in a game. On the flip side, Path to Exile is a staple in many decks for its efficiency in exiling a threat while giving the opponent a land as compensation – a trade-off considered worthwhile by many players.

In evaluating these cards, Angelic Ascension stands out in its ability to flip the board state, empowering players with a creature upgrade or dealing with an imminent threat, making it a versatile pick in various MTG deck strategies.

Turn to Frog - MTG Card versions
Generous Gift - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Turn to Frog - Magic 2012 (M12)
Generous Gift - Modern Horizons (MH1)
Path to Exile - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)

Cards similar to Angelic Ascension by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - MTG Card versions
Eye for an Eye - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blow - MTG Card versions
Sacred Boon - MTG Card versions
Invulnerability - MTG Card versions
Remedy - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Shield - MTG Card versions
Samite Ministration - MTG Card versions
Shield Wall - MTG Card versions
Reprisal - MTG Card versions
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Celestial Purge - MTG Card versions
Grand Crescendo - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Razor Barrier - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Eye for an Eye - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Lightning Blow - Ice Age (ICE)
Sacred Boon - Ice Age (ICE)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Reprisal - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Celestial Purge - Conflux (CON)
Grand Crescendo - New Capenna Commander (NCC)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Razor Barrier - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Angelic Ascension MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Angelic Ascension and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Angelic Ascension has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 If the target permanent is an illegal target by the time Angelic Ascension tries to resolve, the spell won't resolve. No player will create an Angel token.

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