Abzan Advantage MTG Card


Abzan Advantage - Fate Reforged
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Bolster
Released2015-01-23
Set symbol
Set nameFate Reforged
Set codeFRF
Number2
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byWinona Nelson

Key Takeaways

  1. Disrupts opponents by removing enchantments, potentially tipping the game in your favor.
  2. Instant speed enables surprise interactions and strategic depth during gameplay.
  3. Bolstering effect accelerates your board presence, providing an additional advantage.

Text of card

Target player sacrifices an enchantment. Bolster 1. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creatures you control and put a +1/+1 counter on it.)

"To survive, you must seize every opportunity." —Daghatar the Adamant


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Abzan Advantage grants a nuanced form of card advantage by targeting an opponent’s enchantment for removal. By disrupting their game plan while bolstering your own board, you solidify your standing during the match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Abzan Advantage can expedite your strategy by offering a +1/+1 counter when bolstering. This subtle form of resource acceleration lets you develop a stronger presence on the board without investing additional mana.

Instant Speed: The capacity to play Abzan Advantage at instant speed allows for reactive strategies and surprise interactions. Wait for the opportune moment in your opponent’s turn to optimize its effect, showing the apt timing can be just as valuable as the spell itself.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To extract the full potential of Abzan Advantage, you often have to toss another card from your hand into the graveyard. This can put you at a material disadvantage, especially when you’re already behind, and need every card to mount a comeback or establish board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana colors – white, black, and green. Decks that don’t operate within the Abzan colors will find this card difficult to cast, consequently limiting its flexibility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Abzan Advantage comes with a mana value that is on the higher side when benchmarked against other cards with similar effects. This cost can be quite restrictive, especially in faster-paced games where efficiency is key to outpacing your opponent.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Abzan Advantage has the adaptability to support various deck builds, thriving in environments that appreciate bolster effects and the removal of pesky enchantments. It can seamlessly integrate into your Abzan-themed decks or any strategy aiming to enhance creatures while disrupting opponents.

Combo Potential: The synergy this card boasts is noteworthy, as it plays well with strategies that utilize +1/+1 counters. Moreover, its ability to target enchantments makes it a suitable piece in combos aimed at dismantling common buffing enchantments that could be hindering your path to victory.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where enchantments are commonplace and creature strategies prevail, Abzan Advantage can serve as a critical swing in tempo and board state. Its dual functionality ensures that it remains a relevant choice for any player looking to maintain an edge in a fluctuating competitive scene.


How to beat

Abzan Advantage is a tactically engaging card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It distinguishes itself by bolstering one’s own forces while simultaneously weakening the opponent’s defenses. To thwart this card, a multifaceted approach is prudent. Playing without creatures that rely heavily on counters can dull its impact, as the primary benefit of bolstering is lost without them. Furthermore, running minimal or no enchantments can negate the card’s secondary ability, making it less of a threat to your board state.

Another effective strategy is to leverage instant-speed removal or counter spells, preventing Abzan Advantage from ever resolving and thus maintaining the status quo of the battlefield. Countermagic like Negate, amongst others, can be critical when timed correctly. The idea is to maintain enough control over the game to invalidate the potential swing that the card could provide an opponent using the Abzan strategy.

Careful deck building and strategic play can help in mitigating the power of this card, turning a would-be disadvantage to one’s benefit. Consider your options and plan ahead, ensuring that the Abzan Advantage doesn’t tip the scales against you.


Cards like Abzan Advantage

Abzan Advantage brings a unique twist to the suite of bolster and removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Abzan Charm, offering multi-functional utility but focuses specifically on bolstering and enchantment removal. Abzan Charm, however, provides more options such as card drawing or exile effects at the cost of greater mana flexibility.

Solidarity of Heroes is another card that often finds itself alongside Abzan Advantage due to its bolstering capabilities. It shines with its instant-speed prowess and the potential for exponential growth via a Strive mechanic. Unlike Abzan Advantage, which removes an opponent’s enchantment and bolsters as a one-time sorcery, Solidarity of Heroes can escalate a single creature’s power massively during combat.

Dromoka’s Command is an alternative that offers a similar experience. This card includes a small selection of modal choices that complement the bolster effect found in Abzan Advantage. It can also function as removal but extends its flexibility to fighting creatures or preventing noncreature spells from hurting you. This makes it a versatile tool, useful in a variety of situations where Abzan Advantage would be more restricted.

Stepping back to evaluate these options, Abzan Advantage claims its place by delivering a straightforward yet impactful effect at an affordable cost, enhancing both creature strength and board state through targeted enchantment removal.

Abzan Charm - MTG Card versions
Solidarity of Heroes - MTG Card versions
Dromoka's Command - MTG Card versions
Abzan Charm - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Solidarity of Heroes - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Dromoka's Command - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

Cards similar to Abzan Advantage by color, type and mana cost

Disenchant - MTG Card versions
Divine Offering - MTG Card versions
Alabaster Potion - 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
Life Burst - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Equal Treatment - MTG Card versions
Aura Extraction - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Test of Faith - MTG Card versions
Echoing Calm - MTG Card versions
Dawn Charm - MTG Card versions
Graceful Reprieve - MTG Card versions
Last Breath - MTG Card versions
Angelsong - MTG Card versions
Rest for the Weary - MTG Card versions
Disenchant - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Divine Offering - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Alabaster Potion - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Invulnerability - Tempest (TMP)
Remedy - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Rhystic Shield - Prophecy (PCY)
Samite Ministration - Invasion (INV)
Shield Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Life Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shelter - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Equal Treatment - Torment (TOR)
Aura Extraction - Onslaught (ONS)
Raise the Alarm - Mirrodin (MRD)
Test of Faith - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Echoing Calm - Darksteel (DST)
Dawn Charm - Commander Legends (CMR)
Graceful Reprieve - Morningtide (MOR)
Last Breath - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Angelsong - The List (PLST)
Rest for the Weary - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Abzan Advantage MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged, 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 Abzan Advantage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Abzan Advantage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-11-24 Bolster itself doesn't target any creature, though some spells and abilities that bolster may have other effects that target creatures. For example, you could put counters on a creature with protection from white with Abzan Skycaptain's bolster ability.
2014-11-24 The enchantment will have already left the battlefield when you bolster 1.
2014-11-24 You can target any player with Abzan Advantage, even if that player doesn't control an enchantment.
2014-11-24 You determine which creature to put counters on as the spell or ability that instructs you to bolster resolves.

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