Afiya Grove MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	205
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Stuart Griffin

Key Takeaways

Afiya Grove enhances board presence by progressively placing +1/+1 counters on creatures, escalating threats.
Flexible counter removal mimics instant speed, allowing strategic responses during any match phase.
Specific mana requirements and higher casting cost present a challenge, demanding careful deck construction.

Text of card

Afiya Grove comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it. During your upkeep, put one of these counters on target creature. If Afiya Grove has none of these counters on it, bury it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Afiya Grove brings a unique twist to card advantage by progressively placing +1/+1 counters on your creatures. This incremental advantage can turn a modest board presence into a significant threat, effectively multiplying the value you get from each creature.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana, this card bolsters your creatures incrementally. This allows for a more formidable board presence earlier on, paving the way for aggressive strategies to take hold. Its cumulative effect can be seen as a form of resource acceleration in the context of your team’s growth.

Instant Speed: Though Afiya Grove’s effects are resolved during your upkeep, the ability to remove a verse counter at any time gives you a level of flexibility similar to that of instant speed spells. This allows you to adapt to the battlefield and strategize how and when to best fortify your creatures against imminent threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Afiya Grove demands a specific board state to be effective. If you don’t have creatures that can benefit from the +1/+1 counters, the card may not be optimally utilized, thus acting as a potential discard if better options are present in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Afiya Grove’s mana cost requires not just two generic mana but also a double green commitment which could be restrictive for multicolored decks or those looking to maintain a flexible mana base for a variety of spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the stacking counters can be an astonishing boon, the initial cost of four mana can be steep considering the speed of some MTG formats where lower costed cards may provide more immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Afiya Grove adapts easily to a variety of deck types, especially those focused on +1/+1 counters or other permanent buffs. Its ability to progressively distribute counters across creatures makes it a flexible choice for board development.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with proliferate mechanics or anything that takes advantage of +1/+1 counters. It can also work as a multi-turn investment for a stronger board presence, making it particularly good for strategies that play the long game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Afiya Grove can be a game-changer. It boosts the resilience of your creatures against sweepers and spot removal, ensuring that your creature investments have lasting impact.

How to beat

Afiya Grove is a unique enchantment card from Magic: The Gathering that can put a spin on any match. Aiding in the proliferation of +1/+1 counters across your creatures, it can seem like an overwhelming force when the counters start to spread. Tackling this card effectively requires strategy and the ability to disrupt your opponent’s board presence.

One approach is to utilize enchantment removal spells. By removing Afiya Grove from the field, you prevent the distribution of +1/+1 counters entirely. Cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize are perfect for this job, as they are low cost and can be cast at instant speed, allowing for swift and flexible reaction times. Board wipes are also efficient against a strategy that relies on buffing multiple creatures, with cards like Wrath of God or Damnation resetting the field regardless of counters.

Remember, creature control is key when facing cards like Afiya Grove that capitalize on creature advantages. Keep removal spells handy, prioritize threats, and maintain board control to ensure that your opponents’ grove doesn’t grow out of control.

Cards like Afiya Grove

Afiya Grove stands out as a unique enchantment in the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with enchantments like Gaea’s Embrace, in the sense that both buff creatures. However, Afiya Grove provides a more flexible approach, granting a series of +1/+1 counters that you can spread among several creatures over time. In contrast, Gaea’s Embrace focuses on turning a single creature into a powerhouse.

Exploring further, Feral Invocation and Afiya Grove share the common theme of bolstering creatures. Feral Invocation offers a surprise factor with its flash ability, giving a sizable +2/+2 boost. Yet, Afiya Grove steadily increases the threat level of multiple creatures and, with its leaves-the-battlefield ability, leaves a lasting impression even as it exits the game.

Ultimately, while Afiya Grove might not provide an immediate and concentrated power spike, it excels in versatility and strategic depth. Its capacity to distribute strength across multiple turns makes it a valuable asset in long-term battlefield presence and creature enhancement strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Afiya Grove by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Afiya Grove MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Afiya Grove and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Afiya Grove has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If there are any creatures on the battlefield, even if they are just your opponent’s, you must put a +1/+1 on one of them. If there are no creatures on the battlefield, then no counter is removed from this card.