Archway Angel MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 3
2020-09-26 - Number RNA-3
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Archway Angel excels in achieving high life totals, especially in decks with multiple Gates.
- Demanding specific mana makes it less versatile in non-Gate focused decks.
- Despite a higher mana cost, it offers both defense and life gain synergy.
Text of card
Flying When Archway Angel enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life for each Gate you control.
A ray of hope breaks through the shroud of rain.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Archway Angel provides implicit card advantage by gaining you a potentially significant amount of life when it enters the battlefield. This mitigates the need for additional healing spells in your deck, allowing you to focus on other strategies.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly affecting mana, Archway Angel can effectively accelerate your game plan in decks that utilize life as a resource. This can enable strategies built around cards and mechanics that benefit from high life totals.
Instant Speed: Although Archway Angel itself does not have instant speed, its impact on the board is immediate upon landing. Its life gain ability takes effect at that crucial moment of entry, which can instantly swing the game’s momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Archway Angel does not have a discard requirement per se, it is essential to note that the card’s value is contingent upon having a significant number of Gates on the field. This often necessitates holding onto Gate cards rather than utilizing them for other pressing needs, akin to a passive discard requirement as they are tied up until the Angel can be optimally played.
Specific Mana Cost: Archway Angel demands a very particular mana configuration: four generic and two white mana. This cost specificity makes it less flexible, specifically challenging for multi-colored decks not focused heavily on white mana or those not built around a Gate strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a six mana cost, Archway Angel falls into the higher end of the mana curve. In a game where tempo and efficiency are key, the six mana investment can be significant. Considering that the main benefit it provides is life gain—directly related to the number of Gates controlled—its cost-effectiveness decreases in non-Gate-centric decks or in scenarios where an immediate impact on the board state is required.
Reasons to Include Archway Angel in Your Collection
Versatility: Archway Angel shines in decks that manipulate the battlefield with a multitude of Gate lands. Its flexibility allows it to be an integral part of a diverse array of strategies, especially in multicolored decks that benefit from having an array of different Gate lands in play.
Combo Potential: This angel not only provides a robust defensive body but also works harmoniously with decks centered around Gate lands, potentially regaining you a massive amount of life when it enters the battlefield. This synergy makes it a key piece in any Gate-focused deck’s arsenal.
Meta-Relevance: With the fluctuating trends of the MTG arena, Archway Angel can be particularly potent in environments where aggro decks are prevalent. The life gain offers a mean of stabilizing, thus improving your odds against the onslaught of fast-paced decks that dominate such metas.
How to Beat Archway Angel
Archway Angel can be quite a formidable card when playing against a deck with numerous Gates. Gaining life equal to the number of Gates you control upon its arrival to the battlefield provides a robust life buffer. To tackle this angelic adversary, one can employ several effective strategies.
Counterspells are your first line of defense, negating the Angel’s cast before it can affect the board. Targeted removal like Cast Down or Murder can also efficiently dispatch it post-landing. Strategies that limit the opponent’s ability to amass a board presence, such as board wipes or cards that punish players for deploying numerous creatures, can also mitigate the impact of Archway Angel.
Lastly, preventing life gain itself is another avenue. Utilize cards such as Tibalt, Rakish Instigator to stop the life gain trait of Archway Angel. In essence, managing the tempo and addressing the angel swiftly or circumventing its primary ability are key ways to neutralize this card’s advantage.
Cards like Archway Angel
Archway Angel joins the ranks of life-gaining creatures within the world of Magic: The Gathering, standing shoulder to shoulder with cards like Saruli Gatekeepers. Similar to Archway Angel, the Gatekeepers provide a life boost upon entering the battlefield, contingent upon controlling a Gate. Yet, the Angel has the advantage with its larger size and flying ability, which often tips the scales in a match.
Comparatively, we also have Pelakka Wurm, another creature that not only grants a sizable life gain but also draws a card upon its entrance. Although the Wurm brings immediate value with the card draw, Archway Angel’s potential for a more considerable life gain based on the number of Gates can turn the tide in games where life totals are a battleground.
However, it’s not just about static comparisons; one must consider the Angel’s synergy within a Gate-focused deck. It plays harmoniously with Guild Summit, leveraging card draw each time a Gate enters, or with Circuitous Route to ramp up and trigger the Angel’s life gain. Such synergy can make the Archway Angel a pivotal card in the right deck, surpassing similar creatures in impact.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archway Angel MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and The List, 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 Archway Angel 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
Printings
The Archway Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-01-25. Illustrated by Milivoj Ćeran.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | RNA-3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Archway Angel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
