Demonlord of Ashmouth MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Demonlord of Ashmouth is not just a potent force on the battlefield; it paves the way for card advantage through its undying ability. When it dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield with one, potentially letting you recycle a powerful creature for extended value throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: Offering a substantial four power for just four mana, this card can help win the race for battlefield dominance. Its ability to keep coming back when destroyed without counters offers a relentless increase in resource value, demanding repeated responses from opponents, which can drain their resources and accelerate your effective resource allocation by comparison.

Instant Speed: While Demonlord of Ashmouth itself is a creature card without instant speed, its undying ability has synergy with instant speed removal spells in your deck. This allows strategic removal of blockers or threats during your opponent’s turn, knowing you can rely on the resilience of the Demonlord to maintain your board presence.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Demonlord of Ashmouth, as part of its casting conditions, compels players to discard another creature or pay an additional mana cost. This can be particularly taxing in decks that are not creature-heavy or when your hand is already depleted of useful creatures you might otherwise not want to discard, resulting in a setback by potentially losing a valuable asset or ramping up the mana investment.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Demonlord of Ashmouth is not just steep but also color-specific, requiring two black mana. This can be restrictive as it demands a strong black mana base, making it less versatile in multi-colored decks that might struggle to consistently meet the black mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Demonlord of Ashmouth can be considered costly, particularly in aggressive decks that value speed and early board presence. In the context where a swift gameplay is paramount, there might be other creatures or spells that offer a more immediate impact on the game for a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Demonlord of Ashmouth offers a powerful presence on the battlefield that can slide into a variety of black-centric or multicolor decks. Its capability as a flying threat makes it a versatile pick for any collection aiming to pressure opponents from the sky.

Combo Potential: This card’s Undying ability allows for multiple uses, particularly in strategies that involve sacrifice for benefit. Pairing it with ways to manipulate counters gives Demonlord of Ashmouth a potent combo potential, enabling it to return to the battlefield repeatedly.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right setup, Demonlord of Ashmouth can be a game-changer in a meta that appreciates resilient creatures. Its ability to come back after being dealt with once makes it relevant in games where board control is crucial.

How to beat

The Demonlord of Ashmouth presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its robust power and undying ability, allowing it to return to the field after being destroyed. To effectively counter this menacing force, players should consider using exile effects or graveyard disruption strategies that are capable of permanently removing the Demonlord from play. Cards that can exile creatures at instant speed such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile offer a clean solution, circumventing the undying ability entirely.

Additionally, making use of cards that disrupt the opponent’s graveyard like Relic of Progenitus or Scavenging Ooze can prove pivotal. These not only prevent the Demonlord’s return but can also hinder other graveyard-based strategies. Keep in mind, countermagic is another line of defense; countering the Demonlord when it’s cast stops the threat before it takes effect on the board. In essence, having the right countermeasures in your deck can transform the daunting task of defeating the Demonlord of Ashmouth into a manageable one.