Ajani's Comrade MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elf Soldier
Abilities	Trample
Released	2017-01-20
Set symbol
Set name	Aether Revolt
Set code	AER
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	187
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	James Ryman

Key Takeaways

Ajani’s Comrade provides continuous power growth at each upkeep, which is valuable for sustained card advantage.
Reliance on other synergistic cards can restrict the card’s effectiveness if left unsupported on the battlefield.
It maintains relevance by serving as a resilient threat that gains strength, especially when comboed with planeswalkers.

Text of card

Trample At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control an Ajani planeswalker, put a +1/+1 counter on Ajani's Comrade.

"I will go where the lion-man leads."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ajani’s Comrade can serve as a reliable source of card advantage, particularly in decks that consistently bolster it with +1/+1 counters, enabling it to grow stronger and more threatening over time without having to expend additional cards from hand.

Resource Acceleration: This card can effectively act as resource acceleration in decks centered around +1/+1 counters. As it potentially grows at the beginning of each of your upkeeps, the value you gain surpasses the initial mana investment, making it an efficient use of resources over the course of a match.

Instant Speed: While Ajani’s Comrade itself is not an instant, its trigger works at instant speed at the beginning of your upkeep. This can provide a significant boost during your turn without requiring mana investment at that time, keeping your options open for responses during your opponents’ turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As with many cards focused on particular synergies, Ajani’s Comrade can be somewhat limited by its reliance on other cards to be fully effective. Without the presence of a planeswalker to trigger its ability, the card can quickly become a subpar component in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a dedicated green mana can be restrictive for decks that wish to operate on a more diverse mana base. This can particularly affect multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is essential for consistent performance throughout the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the potential for growth with Ajani’s Comrade, its initial mana investment might not match the immediate board impact other two-drop creatures can provide. In a metagame that values tempo and early pressure, this may leave players at a disadvantage when opting to include it in their decks.

Reasons to Include Ajani’s Comrade in Your Collection

Versatility: Ajani’s Comrade can be a key piece in decks centered around +1/+1 counters. Its ability to grow over time makes it adaptable for both aggressive and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: With its trigger to gain a +1/+1 counter each time you bolster your other creatures, Ajani’s Comrade has potential to become a significant threat in combination with other counter-centric cards.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where steady board presence is crucial, Ajani’s Comrade stands as a resilient creature that can outmatch the typical removal spells, giving you a persistent edge in creature-based matchups.

How to beat

Ajani’s Comrade is a key creature card that grows stronger as the game progresses, thanks to its ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters in decks that utilize planeswalkers. Its strength lies in the incremental advantage it provides players who utilize loyalty abilities of planeswalkers, making it an annoyance if left unchecked on the battlefield.

To effectively counter Ajani’s Comrade, it’s essential to manage the board early on. Removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their size, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, are highly effective before the Comrade becomes too large. Instant speed removal is particularly potent as it allows you to react to the counter being placed on Ajani’s Comrade in response to the trigger at the beginning of your upkeep.

Moreover, board wipes like Day of Judgment can reset the board, eliminating the Comrade along with other threats. Another strategy is to limit the presence of planeswalkers or directly remove them, thus denying the synergy that Ajani’s Comrade thrives on. Engaging in these preemptive steps ensures that you maintain control over the game and prevent Ajani’s Comrade from becoming an unstoppable force.

Cards like Ajani's Comrade

Ajani’s Comrade is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering with its steady growth in power. This card finds its kinship with creatures that possess the ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters. Take Experiment One, a creature card that can also evolve and gets stronger with each new creature played. However, unlike Ajani’s Comrade, Experiment One doesn’t automatically gain counters just by its owner gaining life.

Satyr Grovedancer has a similar life-gain theme, allowing you to give a creature a +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield. While this effect is immediate, it lacks the repeating nature of Ajani’s Comrade’s ability that triggers every upkeep. Another card worth noting is Ageless Entity, a creature that grows each time you gain life, paralleling the triggered effect of Ajani’s Comrade, but Ageless Entity’s lack of the trample ability makes it easier to block and contain.

By comparing these creatures, we find that Ajani’s Comrade offers a unique blend of consistent counter gains and combative prowess, setting it apart in decks that are built around life-gain strategies and aggressive gameplay. Its ability to become an increasing threat each turn makes it a card that can escalate in power if left unchecked by opponents.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ajani's Comrade MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Ajani's Comrade and other MTG cards: