Aven Brigadier MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Bird Soldier
Abilities	Flying
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	3
Toughness	5
Number	7
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Key Takeaways

Aven Brigadier substantially empowers bird tribal decks, making each bird a greater offensive and defensive force.
While not directly resource-accelerating, Aven Brigadier maximizes bird token generators for quicker army buildup.
Instant board presence effect solidifies Aven Brigadier as a game-turning asset upon arrival.

Text of card

Flying All other Birds get +1/+1. All other Soldiers get +1/+1.

He represents what little pride the Order has left.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aven Brigadier generates a significant advantage in bird tribal decks by boosting all your other birds. This boost means that each creature can become a more potent threat or a better defender, effectively increasing the value of every bird card in play.

Resource Acceleration: Although Aven Brigadier itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its presence amplifies the potential of other cards that create bird tokens, allowing for a faster build-up of a formidable flying army.

Instant Speed: While Aven Brigadier is a creature that does not operate at instant speed, its effect on the battlefield can be immediately felt, similarly to instant speed spells. Its ability to empower your creatures can turn the tide of a game the moment this card hits the field, catching opponents off-guard and making it difficult for them to recover.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aven Brigadier doesn’t require discarding as a cost, but it’s important for players to consider the discard mechanics inherent in their decks. Cards like Aven Brigadier could potentially take up a valuable slot in decks that favor discarding strategies for larger benefits.

Specific Mana Cost: The Aven Brigadier’s mana cost is quite specific, demanding two white and four other mana. This cost limits its playability across various decks, catering more towards mono-white or white-focused decks, potentially restricting deck diversity for players.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Boasting a mana value of six, Aven Brigadier may not be the most mana-efficient creature you can play. While it offers substantial benefits for Bird and Soldier tribal decks, its high mana cost means that it competes with other high-impact cards that could be played sooner, allowing for a more streamlined and aggressive strategy.

Reasons to Include Aven Brigadier in Your Collection

Versatility: Aven Brigadier serves as a powerful addition to any deck that centers around bird creatures, making it a must-have for tribal enthusiasts. It can bolster your flying forces, offering both offensive and defensive advantages on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with other cards that benefit from bird or soldier types. Its ability to amplify the power and toughness of other creatures you control makes it ideal for combination plays, potentially turning your board into an aerial fortress.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right circumstances, Aven Brigadier can shine in metas where creature-based strategies prevail. Its bird lord effect amplifies numerous strategies, making it a card you might want to have on hand when these strategies come into favor.

How to Beat

Aven Brigadier is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, bolstering not just itself but other Birds and Soldiers in play. Its potent anthemic effect makes it a daunting card to face in combat. The key to overcoming this particular challenge lies in managing the board state effectively.

You may consider deploying spot removal spells to deal with the Brigadier before its buffing capability can turn the tide. Counterspells are also highly effective; by preventing it from entering the battlefield, you negate its influence entirely. Another strategy is using board wipes to clear the board of multiple creatures, diminish synergy buffs, and reset the board. Cards that impose -1/-1 counters or deal damage across the board, can reduce the overall toughness of Aven Brigadier’s allied creatures, thereby negating the buff it provides and making it easier to handle. Sweepers are particularly valuable as they can bypass the increased stats given to Birds and Soldiers.

Ultimately, remaining proactive and disrupting synergy before it fully develops, ensures that Aven Brigadier does not lock in its dominance, allowing you to maintain control of the game’s pace and flow.

Cards like Aven Brigadier

Aven Brigadier stands out as a notable tribal booster in MTG, sharing the battlefield with cards like Kinsbaile Cavalier. This Knight-centric card enhances other Knights you control, much like Aven Brigadier does for Birds and Soldiers. Although Kinsbaile Cavalier doesn’t offer the across-the-board stat boost, it does grant double strike to Knights, a mechanic that can turn the tide in combat.

Looking towards another feathered friend, Adaptive Automaton also enters the comparison. As a creature that can adapt to any creature type, it’s favored for its versatility. While it provides a similar type-specific boost in power and toughness, it lacks the command presence the Brigadier offers to a wider range of creatures. On the flip side, Field Marshal speaks to Soldier tribal decks by boosting Soldiers—an overlap with Aven Brigadier’s effect. However, it also confers first strike, contrasting Aven Brigadier’s broad stat boost with a strategic combat advantage.

Each of these cards has its place in MTG, with Aven Brigadier exemplifying a blend of wide-reaching support and substantial power increase for those devoted to Bird and Soldier synergies.

Cards similar to Aven Brigadier by color, type and mana cost

Personal Incarnation - MTG Card versions

Archon of Coronation - MTG Card versions

Crovax, Ascendant Hero - MTG Card versions

Spirit of the Hearth - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aven Brigadier MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Aven Brigadier and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aven Brigadier has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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