Akroan Conscriptor MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Shaman |
| Abilities | Heroic |
| Released | 2014-02-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Born of the Gods |
| Set code | BNG |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 87 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | James Ryman |
Key Takeaways
- Temporarily controlling creatures swings board presence and can decisively impact the game state.
- Instant-speed synergy offers strategic disruptiveness, enhancing the card’s tactical utility.
- Its mana cost and color identity may limit deck-building flexibility, requiring careful consideration.
Text of card
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Akroan Conscriptor, gain control of another target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
"The time to serve is now."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Akroan Conscriptor has the ability to take temporary control of your opponent’s creatures whenever you play a spell that targets it. This can lead to a significant swing in board presence and put you ahead in resources, as you utilize your opponent’s creatures for your own benefit. It’s a smart way to gain an edge, especially when you’re setting up for a game-winning move.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, by leveraging the abilities of creatures you’ve taken control of, Akroan Conscriptor indirectly accelerates your resource capabilities. Whether it’s tapping an opponent’s creature for their beneficial tap effect or using them for an attack that wasn’t previously available, this card helps you make the most out of what’s already on the board. It’s like turning your opponent’s resources into your own – a clever tactic in tight matches.
Instant Speed: Though Akroan Conscriptor itself is not an instant, it synergizes superbly with instant spells that target, activating its ability on your opponent’s turn. This presents a strategic advantage as you can disrupt your opponent’s plans by taking control of their key creature during a crucial phase of their turn. Such interaction at instant speed puts pressure on your opponent to play around this potential threat constantly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Akroan Conscriptor does not specifically require discarding as part of its own ability, players often find themselves needing to discard cards to enable its heroic trigger. Such situations can lead to a disadvantage by depleting the player’s hand, especially if they are unable to capitalize on the temporary control of an opponent’s creature.
Specific Mana Cost: Akroan Conscriptor’s mana cost is not solely red, but its identity includes red mana, which may restrict its integration exclusively to red or red-inclusive decks. This demand for a specific mana type can complicate deck building, particularly for those wanting to maintain a more flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of 3RR, Akroan Conscriptor’s mana investment is significant. In competitive environments, this cost may be seen as a setback when considering other creatures or spells at a lower mana value that could offer a more immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Akroan Conscriptor in Your Collection
Versatility: Akroan Conscriptor brings a unique dynamic to the board with its ability to temporarily steal opponent’s creatures whenever you target it with a spell. This can be integrated into various strategies, adapting to both aggressive and control deck builds.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Akroan Conscriptor can become part of unstoppable combos. Picture it in a deck where multiple spells are cast in one turn; you could potentially hijack several key creatures from your opponent, effectively turning the tide of the game.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are dominant, having a card like Akroan Conscriptor could be critical. It not only disrupts your opponent’s plans but also can provide a significant swing in board presence during crucial turns of the match.
How to beat
The Akroan Conscriptor can be quite a challenging card to face on the battlefield. This creature comes with the power to temporarily hijack your opponents’ creatures during combat, which can swing the tide of battle quite drastically. This ability hinges on the Heroic mechanic, which activates each time you cast a spell targeting the Conscriptor.
To counter this potent ability, removing the Conscriptor itself before it can wrest control of your creatures is key. Utilize spells that can bypass its Heroic ability, such as board wipes or removals that don’t target, like “Terminus” or “Deadly Rollick.” Alternatively, countering the spells that would trigger the Conscriptor’s effect also works, with a card like “Counterspell” proving useful in keeping your creatures safe.
It’s also effective to limit the Conscriptor’s targets by employing hexproof or shroud attributes on your creatures, which can be achieved through cards like “Swiftfoot Boots” or “Asceticism.” By cutting off the Conscriptor’s options, you can maintain control over your side of the battlefield. With these strategies in play, the threat of the Akroan Conscriptor can be mitigated, allowing you to focus on your winning moves.
Cards like Akroan Conscriptor
Akroan Conscriptor is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, nestled firmly within red’s wheelhouse of temporary control effects. Comparable cards include Act of Treason and Harness by Force, each offering a twist on the theme of commandeering opponents’ creatures for a turn. Notably, Act of Treason stands out for its lower cost, enabling players to snatch a creature early on. It lacks the creature body that Akroan Conscriptor provides but comes at a much cheaper mana investment.
Moving forward, Harness by Force exhibits a scalable effect similar to that of the Conscriptor, allowing control over multiple creatures depending on the mana spent. While Akroan Conscriptor requires a Heroic trigger to steal a creature, Harness by Force offers flexibility at the cost of more mana. Another card worth mentioning is Zealous Conscripts, which, like our Akroan hero, is a creature that commandeers another upon entering the battlefield, but it also untaps and gains haste, providing immediate combat impact.
Ultimately, Akroan Conscriptor’s ability to repetitively gain control of enemy creatures with each Heroic trigger provides a unique strategic advantage, positioning it as a strong choice for decks built around triggering and reusing such effects multiple times in the course of a game.
Cards similar to Akroan Conscriptor by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Akroan Conscriptor MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Akroan Conscriptor 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 Akroan Conscriptor has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Akroan Conscriptor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-09-15 | Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger. |
| 2013-09-15 | Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times. |
| 2013-09-15 | Heroic abilities won’t trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell’s targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability. |
| 2014-02-01 | Gaining control of a creature doesn’t cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it. Notably, if that creature is enchanted by an Aura with bestow and dies while under your control, the Aura’s controller will continue to control the creature that Aura becomes. |
| 2014-02-01 | If you control a legendary creature and gain control of another legendary creature with the same name, you’ll choose one to remain on the battlefield and put the other into its owner’s graveyard. |
| 2014-02-01 | The ability can target any creature except Akroan Conscriptor, including one that’s untapped or one you already control. |
