Archdemon of Unx MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Demon |
| Abilities | Flying,Trample |
| Released | 2008-10-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shards of Alara |
| Set code | ALA |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 64 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Allsop |
Key Takeaways
- Create an army of Zombies on each upkeep, generating relentless card advantage and board presence.
- Archdemon synergizes with sacrifice and token strategies, accelerating resources and enabling combos.
- Navigate its demanding mana and upkeep costs to unleash its full potential in your deck.
Text of card
Flying, trample At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a non-Zombie creature, then put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token into play.
The necropolis at Unx was once a living city, its streets untrodden by death.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When bringing the Archdemon of Unx into play, you are immediately presented with a dominating board presence that often demands an answer. The demon’s ability to create a 2/2 Zombie creature token at the beginning of your upkeep means you’re generating additional threats turn after turn, effectively providing you with a persistent source of card advantage as your army of the dead steadily grows.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Archdemon itself does not directly accelerate your mana resources, it indirectly supports strategies that benefit from having numerous creatures on the field. Whether it’s powering up sacrifice synergies or enabling convoke mechanics, the consistent token production can lead to significant mana efficiency and resource acceleration over time as you leverage your undead horde to cast spells more quickly or generate additional value.
Instant Speed: While the Archdemon of Unx operates at sorcery speed, its abilities can be complemented with instant-speed spells and interactions available in your deck. By amassing a threatening board presences, your opponents may be forced to act on their turn, leaving them vulnerable to your instant-speed responses and disrupting their plans. This strategic layer can potentially tilt the game’s tempo in your favor as you continue to build your overwhelming undead army.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As you delve into the abilities of Archdemon of Unx, you’ll notice it demands you to sacrifice a non-Zombie creature at each of your upkeeps. This can be a steep price to pay regularly, especially when your army of creatures is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting this ardent fiend requires a particular blend of mana sources, including two black mana symbols. This emphasizes the card’s allegiance to black mana decks and can be a hurdle in multicolored deck strategies that are not heavily skewed towards black mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven-mana summoning requirement, this card sits at the higher end of the mana curve. This can slow down your gameplay as it takes considerable time and resources to bring the Archdemon into play, potentially placing you at a disadvantage when facing decks designed to win quickly.
Reasons to Include Archdemon of Unx in Your Collection
Versatility: Archdemon of Unx prospers in decks that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics and creature control. It thrives in environments rich with undeath themes, slotting seamlessly into Zombie decks or others that benefit from graveyard interactions.
Combo Potential: With its unique ability to provide a steady stream of Zombie tokens, the Archdemon can bolster strategies that revolve around token generation—combining with cards that grant benefits upon creature death or entry to provide a formidable combo engine.
Meta-Relevance: In the shifting tides of the meta, Archdemon of Unx holds its ground as a dynamic choice against control decks. Its persistent token creation demands answers from opponents, ensuring that it remains a relevant choice for players seeking to navigate the ever-changing competitive landscape.
How to Beat
Overcoming the Archdemon of Unx in Magic: The Gathering requires a blend of removal spells and graveyard management. This formidable card can dominate games with its Zombie creation ability linked to other spells you play. One effective method involves using instant speed removal spells to respond to the triggered ability, ensuring the Archdemon leaves the battlefield before you can be overwhelmed by a Zombie legion. Cards like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy offer clean and efficient answers.
Additionally, managing your opponent’s graveyard becomes crucial as the Archdemon thrives on an extensive graveyard. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can hinder the Archdemon’s impact and render it a non-threat. Preventing a large graveyard buildup will effectively neutralize the threat, contributing significantly towards seizing victory against this powerful adversary.
Strategic planning and the right combination of spells can turn the tide in your favor even against formidable foes like the Archdemon of Unx. Adaptability and anticipation are key, making engagements with such high-caliber cards in Magic: The Gathering both challenging and exhilarating.
Cards like Archdemon of Unx
Archdemon of Unx creates a captivating impact on the battlefield, nestled in the category of creatures with formidable abilities in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards like Overseer of the Damned, which also provides a strong flying presence and affects the board by destroying opponent creatures upon entering. However, Archdemon of Unx demands a zombie tribute each turn, which while potentially onerous, synergizes with zombie-themed decks to potentiate deadly strategies.
When we consider Ghoulcaller Gisa, there is an evident thematic kinship with the Archdemon. She forges an army of zombie tokens, a tactic that could work hand-in-hand with the Archdemon’s need for sacrifices. Gisa doesn’t possess the same aerial threat, but she excels in providing consistent zombie generation. Another similar entity is Phyrexian Obliterator, a dreadful force that also brings forth a powerful ability to warp the gameplay, punishing opponents for damaging it, akin to how Archdemon of Unx can dominate through its ability to control the board.
Examining these cards and their capabilities, Archdemon of Unx stands out in decks designed to exploit the zombie archetype in Magic: The Gathering, bringing unique flavor and a level of strategy that can be as enjoyable as it is effective.
Cards similar to Archdemon of Unx by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archdemon of Unx MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Archdemon of Unx 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 Archdemon of Unx has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archdemon of Unx card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | If Archdemon of Unx is the only non-Zombie creature you control when the triggered ability resolves, you’ll have to sacrifice it. You’ll still get a Zombie token. |
| 2008-10-01 | If you somehow control no non-Zombie creatures when the triggered ability resolves, you won’t have to sacrifice anything. You’ll still get a Zombie token. |
