Archangel of Strife MTG Card
2011-06-17 - Number 7
2015-08-21 - Number 3
2017-06-09 - Number 5
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Key Takeaways
- Offers a strategic choice between bolstering offense (War) or defense (Peace) on the battlefield.
- Demands immediate attention, distracting opponents and conserving your resources.
- Mana-heavy casting cost requires careful deck construction and commitment.
Text of card
Flying As Archangel of Strife enters the battlefield, each player chooses war or peace. Creatures controlled by players who chose war get +3/+0. Creatures controlled by players who chose peace get +0/+3.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Archangel of Strife provides a significant boon in a late-game scenario. Upon entering the battlefield, it presents a choice between “War” and “Peace” which equates to a form of card advantage. Choosing “War” can provide the power boost to swing games in aggressive strategies, while “Peace” can fortify defenses. This flexibility allows the Archangel to be a strong addition in any game state and provides value simply through its presence.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration like mana ramp cards, the Archangel of Strife’s commanding presence requires immediate answers from opponents. Each turn it remains on the battlefield is a turn that potentially accelerates you ahead in board advantage, indirectly pressuring your opponent’s resources and occupying their removal resources which could be used elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Though Archangel of Strife does not operate at instant speed, its impact on the game can be quite formidable at the right moment. Dropping this powerful flyer onto the battlefield can be the pivotal play that determines the trajectory of the game, as opponents must respond swiftly to its imposing selection of “War” or “Peace,” which affects the battle’s tempo instantaneously.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Archangel of Strife doesn’t explicitly demand a discard as its casting cost, its powerful battlefield impact could be mitigated if you’re forced to discard it prematurely due to an opponent’s disruption strategy. Such cases may leave you without a chance to make use of its potent abilities upon entering the fray.
Specific Mana Cost: The celestial might of Archangel of Strife comes at a steep price, requiring three white mana out of its seven total. This specific mana requirement means that crafting your mana base to consistently cast it on curve will be difficult, especially in multi-colored decks where white is not the primary color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, this behemoth demands a significant investment. While its power and toughness are appropriately scaled for such a cost, its late-game arrival might prove too slow when faced with the myriad of other creatures and spells that could either counter it or swing the gamestate before it has a chance to assert dominance.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Archangel of Strife offers a choice upon entering the battlefield, allowing players to adapt to the current game state. Whether you need to bolster your defense or increase your offense, this card has the flexibility to support different strategic approaches.
Combo Potential: This celestial powerhouse works well with life gain and token-generation strategies. It can be part of combos that enhance the creatures you control, or it can make individual creatures significantly more potent, increasing their impact on the board.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with creature-centric decks, Archangel of Strife can be a game-changer. The ability to give all your creatures +3/+3 or make them harder to block can turn the tide, making it a significant threat that demands an answer from opponents.
How to beat
The Archangel of Strife is a formidable presence in any MTG game, presenting players with a unique strategic quandary upon its entrance to the battlefield. Its power lies in giving players a choice between War and Peace, with each option bolstering creatures in a different way. Notably, War increases the offensive capabilities of your creatures with a significant power boost, while Peace reinforces their defensive stance by augmenting their toughness.
When it comes down to outmaneuvering this celestial powerhouse, timing and the careful selection of removal spells are key. Cards like Path to Exile and Murderous Rider shine against the Archangel of Strife due to their capability to bypass the chosen buffs. Board wipes are exceptional too; Supreme Verdict or Damnation can reset the playing field, negating the advantage brought by the Archangel. Moreover, countering this angel with a well-timed spell like Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent it from ever influencing the game. In essence, confronting the Archangel of Strife requires a blend of foresight and pinpoint answers to ensure it doesn’t tip the scales of the battle in your opponent’s favor.
Ultimately, understanding your own deck’s strengths and weaknesses, alongside a sound knowledge of control tactics, will arm you with the means to triumph over the celestial challenge posed by the Archangel of Strife.
Cards like Archangel of Strife
Archangel of Strife is a powerful figure on the battlefield, aligning closely with other standout angels in Magic: The Gathering. This card reminisces the abilities of cards like Angel of Serenity – both creatures have potent impacts when they enter the field. However, Angel of Serenity offers more control by targeting and exiling up to three other creatures until it leaves the battlefield, whereas Archangel of Strife provides a choice of war or peace, boosting either offence or defense.
Thinking about Serra Avenger, we see a lower mana cost angel with a compelling effect, restricting its casting until the fourth turn or later. Archangel of Strife, conversely, has no such limitations but demands a higher mana investment. Another card worth mentioning in this angelic hierarchy is Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Linvala’s ability to hinder activated abilities of opponents’ creatures shapes gameplay distinctly differently from the strategic offensive or defensive choice granted by Archangel of Strife.
These comparisons highlight that while Archangel of Strife may not have exile capabilities or early game presence, its flexible bolstering ability and imposing presence cater to a unique strategy, embodying the dilemmas and dimensions of strategic play inherent in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Archangel of Strife by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archangel of Strife MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and From the Vault: Angels, 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 Archangel of Strife 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 Magic products
Printings
The Archangel of Strife Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Greg Staples.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 7 | 2003 | normal | black | Greg Staples | |
| 2 | 2015-08-21 | From the Vault: Angels | V15 | 3 | 2015 | normal | black | Greg Staples | |
| 3 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 5 | 2015 | normal | black | Greg Staples |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Archangel of Strife has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archangel of Strife card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | Archangel of Strife’s bonuses apply immediately. Depending on your choice, Archangel of Strife will enter the battlefield as either a 9/6 or 6/9 creature. |
| 2011-09-22 | Archangel of Strife’s second and third abilities are linked. Similarly, its second and fourth abilities are linked. The bonus a player’s creatures get depends only on the choice that player made when Archangel of Strife entered the battlefield. |
| 2011-09-22 | As soon as Archangel of Strife leaves the battlefield, the bonus stops applying. If it returns to the battlefield, players will be able to make new choices. |
| 2011-09-22 | If there are two Archangels of Strife on the battlefield, and you choose war for one and peace for the other, your creatures get +3/+3. |
| 2011-09-22 | The active player chooses war or peace first, followed by each other player in turn order. Each player will know what previous players chose when making their choice. |
