Avenging Arrow MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2012-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Return to Ravnica |
| Set code | RTR |
| Number | 4 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | James Ryman |
Key Takeaways
- Avenging Arrow is effective post-combat for precise creature elimination, aiding in board control.
- Its dependency on damage dealt this turn restricts its versatility but adds a tactical edge.
- An essential addition for decks facing aggressive opponents, but consider its mana cost carefully.
Text of card
Destroy target creature that dealt damage this turn.
"Forgive the theft. Punish the deception." —Alcarus, Selesnya archer
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Avenging Arrow offers the tactical advantage of removing a key threat after it has dealt damage, potentially clearing the way for your own creatures to dominate the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Avenging Arrow doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it does help maintain board control, indirectly ensuring your resources are not wasted on dealing with surviving enemy creatures.
Instant Speed: The card’s ability to be cast at instant speed adds a layer of unpredictability against opponents, allowing you to strategically take out creatures post-combat and keep your defenses up. This adaptability can be a game-changer in tight situations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Avenging Arrow demands that you have a creature that has dealt damage this turn, which may narrow down its usability. It’s conditional and requires precise timing or board state to be effective, making it less flexible compared to instant removal spells that don’t have such stipulations.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both white mana and generic mana, which can be restrictive for multicolor decks that may not have ready access to white mana at all times. Ensuring the right mana combination can be a challenge, particularly in fast-paced matches where mana flexibility is crucial.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one white, Avenging Arrow has a relatively high cost for its effect. When considering its spot in your deck, be aware that there are alternatives available that may offer removal for a lower mana investment or with fewer conditions attached.
Reasons to Include Avenging Arrow in Your Collection
Versatility: Avenging Arrow can be an integral part of any deck needing precise creature removal. This card provides an effective answer to deal with threatening creatures once they’ve dealt damage, making it a versatile inclusion for decks that may struggle with hard-to-remove targets.
Combo Potential: While not a combo card in the traditional sense, Avenging Arrow’s conditional removal can complement strategies that lure opponents into damaging you, only to turn the tables and remove their key creatures. This unexpected play can shift the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggressive creatures are prevalent, Avenging Arrow’s value surges. It’s an apt response to aggressive strategies that rely on dealing damage quickly. As those creatures swing in, Avenging Arrow provides an efficient way to take them out of the equation, making it a relevant card for such metas.
How to beat
Avenging Arrow is a tactical card that can be a thorn in the side of MTG players, offering removal capabilities post combat. It possesses the ability to eliminate a creature that dealt damage this turn, providing a solid line of defense. However, like all cards, it has its vulnerabilities.
To circumvent the hindrance of Avenging Arrow, savvy players should look to cards with hexproof or shroud, rendering their creatures impervious to targeted spells. Additionally, having instant-speed removal or bounce spells can disrupt the timing, ensuring your critical creatures avoid the deadly Arrow. One could also utilize indestructible creatures that shrug off such destructive attempts. Counterspells are, of course, another excellent method to safeguard your board presence and maintain control of the game.
Strategically, understanding when to execute attacks and when to hold back plays a crucial role. Being aware of your opponent’s mana availability and potential threats, such as Avenging Arrow, informs smarter plays that mitigate the risks of walking into such removal traps. Ultimately, cautious play combined with protective spells and abilities are key to overcoming the challenge posed by Avenging Arrow.
Cards like Avenging Arrow
Avenging Arrow finds its niche within the removal spells in Magic the Gathering. It can be likened to cards like Murder, a staple removal that unconditionally destroys a target creature for one more mana than Avenging Arrow. However, Avenging Arrow has the unique prerequisite of targeting a creature that has dealt damage this turn, thus offering a more conditional yet potentially tactical advantage.
On comparison, we see Pacifism, another crowd favorite. While not directly removing creatures, Pacifism neutralizes threats by preventing them from attacking or blocking. Avenging Arrow, conversely, offers a more permanent solution by outright destroying the creature. Condemn is another alternative – like Avenging Arrow, it requires the creature to be attacking to be a viable target, but instead of destroying, it places the creature on the bottom of its owner’s library, which can be particularly useful against indestructible threats.
Despite varying in cost, speed, and conditions, each card offers unique strategic benefits to control the board. Avenging Arrow holds its position as an intriguing conditional removal option in the vast repertoire of Magic the Gathering’s interruptive spells.
Cards similar to Avenging Arrow by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Avenging Arrow MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Avenging Arrow 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Avenging Arrow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Avenging Arrow card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-10-01 | Avenging Arrow doesn’t affect the damage the creature dealt. It isn’t retroactively prevented. |
| 2012-10-01 | It doesn’t matter what the creature dealt damage to. If the creature dealt damage to another creature or a planeswalker, it doesn’t matter whether that creature or planeswalker is still on the battlefield. |
