Paragon of the Amesha MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Released | 2009-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Conflux |
| Set code | CON |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 14 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chris Rahn |
Key Takeaways
- Paragon of the Amesha provides card advantage by drawing upon attacking, with the potential for instant-speed life gain.
- Its mana cost and discard requirement can limit its integration into a variety of MTG deck builds.
- Despite its limitations, it offers combo potential and adapts well to life gain and card draw strategies.
Text of card
First strike : Until end of turn, Paragon of the Amesha becomes an Angel, gets +3/+3, and gains flying and lifelink.
"Let my lance sing with the voices of angels and the heathen cower before my shield, for I will teach this land the meaning of honor."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Paragon of the Amesha provides a dual benefit upon attacking. In addition to posing a threat, it grants you the option to pay mana to draw a card, bolstering your hand and giving you more strategic options during the match.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Paragon of the Amesha can indirectly aid in resource acceleration. With the right setup, casting spells that benefit from triggering a life-gain effect can ramp up your resources considerably, especially in dedicated lifegain decks.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Paragon of the Amesha lies in its second ability, which can be activated at instant speed. This allows you to adapt to the state of the game, potentially surprising your opponent with sudden life gain and drawing a card if you have the mana available.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Paragon of the Amesha necessitates a specific action to unlock its potential. Players are required to discard a card, which can be detrimental when hand size is already compromised or when every card is crucial to maintaining a strategic edge on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: With an exacting requirement of one white, one blue, and two other mana to cast, Paragon of the Amesha demands a precise mana base. This confines its playability predominantly to two-color decks or ones with an extensive mana-fixing suite, potentially hindering deck diversity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that offers both life gain and a prowess-like ability, the investment of four total mana might outweigh its immediate benefits. As the game evolves and players’ libraries expand, there are alternatives that could fill the role with greater mana efficiency or provide additional utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Paragon of the Amesha offers significant flexibility for deck builders. As a creature that can be cast for a moderate mana cost, it serves multiple roles. It can be a combatant, a source of life gain, or a means to gain a crucial card advantage with its First Strike and additional abilities when you have blue and white mana available.
Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly fit into decks that capitalize on life gain or card draw mechanics. Its synergies with cards that trigger off of life gain or cast triggers can turn the tide of a match, making it an underrated combo enabler in both casual and competitive play.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values creatures with utility, Paragon of the Amesha holds its ground. This card can surprise opponents by shifting the balance during combat phases or by setting up for larger, game-winning plays with its versatile mana abilities, making it a worthy addition in a fluctuating game environment.
How to beat Paragon of the Amesha
Paragon of the Amesha presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, emerging as a multifaceted threat in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s flexibility, offering both creature buffing and conditional lifegain, demands a tactical approach. To topple this foe, you would typically look towards removal spells that can bypass its first-strike capability. Cards like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat provide a straightforward answer if you’re aiming for a swift removal of this creature.
Alternatively, counterplay can involve outpacing it in combat through superior board presence or strategies that involve direct damage spells such as Lightning Bolt. Another effective strategy could include effects that prevent it from attacking or blocking, minimizing its impact on the game. Cards like Pacifism or the more recent Thirst for Meaning, which can deal with multiple threats while replenishing your hand, offer nuanced control options.
In summary, tackling Paragon of the Amesha requires a blend of prompt removal, strategic stalling, or board control techniques. Assimilating such answers into your deck increases your resilience against versatile threats, solidifying your standing in the rich and competitive landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Paragon of the Amesha
Paragon of the Amesha is an intriguing choice for deck builders focused on multi-faceted creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It stands in the same category as cards like Aerial Responder, which offers a flying body paired with vigilance and lifelink, for a sound defensive and offensive mix. Paragon of the Amesha brings something extra to the battlefield with its first strike ability. Additionally, its mana cost is split between three colors, which can be a deck-building consideration.
In the vein of flexible warriors, we have Skyhunter Skirmisher. Similar in its ability to pack a punch with double strike, this card lacks the added utility of Paragon of the Amesha’s other keywords and mana generation capability. Comparatively, Elite Inquisitor offers first strike and vigilance but also adds protection from vampires, werewolves, and zombies, narrowing its specialization.
Overall, Paragon of the Amesha emerges as a solid choice with its collection of abilities and resource advantage upon casting. Its versatility ensures it can fit into various strategies which value battlefield presence and the intricacies of mana curve optimizing. While it requires a precise mana base, the rewards for playing it can enhance both offensive and defensive game plans.
Cards similar to Paragon of the Amesha by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Paragon of the Amesha MTG card by a specific set like Conflux, 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 Paragon of the Amesha 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Paragon of the Amesha 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 Paragon of the Amesha card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-02-01 | If Paragon of the Amesha gains flying after blockers have been declared, it won’t cause those blocks to change. |
| 2009-02-01 | When Paragon of the Amesha’s activated ability resolves, Paragon of the Amesha will gain flying and lifelink in addition to its other abilities. However, becoming an Angel will make it lose all other creature types. It will no longer be a Human or a Knight. |
| 2009-10-01 | You can activate Paragon of the Amesha’s ability more than once during a turn. The second time it resolves, it will get another +3/+3 and gain another instance of lifelink. However, multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant so you won’t gain extra life from the new one. |
