Avenger of Zendikar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Landfall
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage by creating plant tokens with each landfall, strengthening board presence over time.
  2. Turns land drops into a resource as plant tokens grow, ideally complementing land-centric ramp strategies.
  3. While not instant-speed, it catalyzes game-changing scenarios that adapt to diverse tactical approaches.

Text of card

When Avenger of Zendikar enters the battlefield, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield for each land you control. Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a +1/+1 counter on each Plant creature you control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Avenger of Zendikar not only brings a formidable presence to the battlefield itself but also generates an army of plant creature tokens. Each land you play thereafter bolsters your forces, ensuring that your card plays continue to bear fruit, establishing overwhelming card advantage as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: With every additional land you put into play, the Avenger of Zendikar’s plant tokens grow in power, turning your land drops into a resource acceleration tool. This synergizes exceptionally well with strategies that focus on ramping up land plays, transforming your natural land progression into an expanding threat that must be answered swiftly by adversaries.

Instant Speed: While the Avenger of Zendikar does not operate at instant speed, its impact on the state of the game is felt instantly. The armies it creates can also benefit from other cards with instant-speed effects, whether that’s giving your plants a sudden boost or protecting them from removal, thus integrating seamlessly into decks that value flexibility and timing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Avenger of Zendikar doesn’t require a discard upon casting, it has subtle implications on deck construction. This powerhouse card mandates a strategy built around it, meaning other potential card choices must be discarded or left out to cater to the optimal environment for its power.

Specific Mana Cost: The required mana cost to summon the Avenger of Zendikar is quite specific—two green along with five other mana. This requisite can be restrictive, as it necessitates a solid green mana base. Decks that run tight color budgets may struggle to reliably meet the requirement, especially in the early to mid-game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at seven mana, the Avenger of Zendikar comes with a hefty price tag. In fast-paced games or environments where lower-cost creatures reign supreme, the Avenger’s impact could be dampened by the time it hits the battlefield. There are alternative creatures and tokens that could be cast earlier, offering competitive board presence before the Avenger’s seeds even start to sprout.


Reasons to Include Avenger of Zendikar in Your Collection

Versatility: Avenger of Zendikar excels in decks that capitalize on playing numerous lands or creating creature tokens. Its ability to effortlessly adapt to a variety of green-centric strategies makes it a powerhouse in both casual kitchen table setups and more competitive formats.

Combo Potential: The plant tokens this card creates have immense synergistic potential. Pair it with cards that buff creatures or those that benefit from landfall triggers to turn a single play into a game-changing move, making it a linchpin in explosive combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where board presence and creature strategies are key, Avenger of Zendikar holds its weight by rapidly populating the battlefield, which can shift the tide in games where big swings are needed. Its enduring presence in various builds underscores its consistent performance against a range of decks.


How to beat

The Avenger of Zendikar is a powerhouse in MTG, known for its ability to swiftly populate the board with Plant tokens. This creates a formidable presence that can overwhelm opponents unprepared for a wide strategy. To effectively counter the Avenger, control decks that include board wipes like Supreme Verdict or Damnation are essential. They can reset the field before the Plant tokens become a serious threat.

Another efficient strategy is to employ targeted removals such as Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy to dispatch the Avenger before it gets the chance to create its army. Cards that provide graveyard hate, like Relic of Progenitus, can also be instrumental. They not only thwart reanimation tactics that may bring the Avenger back but also curb the growth of the tokens by reducing landfall triggers.

Timing is crucial; interrupting the Avenger’s enter-the-battlefield effect with instant-speed interaction is a tactical approach. It’s about striking the balance between managing the current wave of tokens and preventing the next from ever taking root. Consequently, recognizing the opportune moment and having the proper response in hand is the key to conquering the Avenger of Zendikar’s overwhelming strength.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Avenger of Zendikar stands as a testament to strategy and power in MTG, offering players numerous ways to dominate the battlefield. Its token-generating ability thrives in land-centered decks, fostering a growing threat with each land you play. If you’re keen on building an imposing board presence or harnessing the synergy of landfall mechanics, the Avenger of Zendikar should not be overlooked. Dive deeper into strategic builds and discover how this herald of growth can serve as the cornerstone of your winning deck. Embrace the challenge and refine your tactics—your path to victory begins here. Join us at BurnMana to enhance your gameplay and unearth the full potential of this formidable card.


Cards like Avenger of Zendikar

Avenger of Zendikar is a green powerhouse particularly beloved in the MTG world. When assessing cards like Avenger of Zendikar, it’s clear it stands shoulder to shoulder with Craterhoof Behemoth – a creature known for granting a game-winning power boost. The Behemoth, however, lacks Zendikar’s ability to spawn a slew of plant creature tokens. Both create seismic shifts in board state but in distinct ways.

Rampaging Baloths is another close relative in the token-generating family, producing a 4/4 beast with every landfall trigger. Unlike Avenger of Zendikar, its tokens are stronger, yet it doesn’t match the potential massive field growth that Avenger can command. Moreover, each plant created by the Zendikar can later become a substantial threat, as any additional land creates an army of substantial power.

When reflecting on the utility and impact of similar creature cards in MTG, Avenger of Zendikar holds a unique position. Its capacity for creating an immediate wide presence on the field provides an unmatched tactical advantage, potentially swinging the game’s momentum in its controller’s favor.

Craterhoof Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Rampaging Baloths - MTG Card versions
Craterhoof Behemoth - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Rampaging Baloths - Zendikar Promos (PZEN)

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Kalonian Behemoth - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Avenger of Zendikar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Worldwake, 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 Avenger of Zendikar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Avenger of Zendikar Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 11 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 588952015normalblackAleksi Briclot
22010-02-05WorldwakeWWK 962003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1352003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
42015-08-28Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. EldraziDDP 12015normalblackAleksi Briclot
52018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1292015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
62019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 1582015normalblackDominik Mayer
72020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1522015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
82020-09-26The ListPLST WWK-962003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
92020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 4222015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
102022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2802015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
112022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6292015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Avenger of Zendikar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-03-01 The landfall ability triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability (such as Rampant Growth) causes you to put a land onto the battlefield under your control. It will even trigger when a spell or ability causes another player to put a land onto the battlefield under your control (as can happen with Yavimaya Dryad's ability, for example).
2010-03-01 When a land enters the battlefield under your control, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves.

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