Archon of the Triumvirate MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 142★
2012-10-05 - Number 142
2019-02-15 - Number 7
2002-06-24 - Number 46877
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Archon |
| Abilities | Detain,Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Delivers both offense and defense, using its flying and vigilance abilities strategically in MTG.
- Locks down multiple targets, offering significant control and synergy in resource-focused decks.
- Doubles as a powerful, meta-relevant card, crucial for controlling pace and tempo in games.
Text of card
Flying Whenever Archon of the Triumvirate attacks, detain up to two target nonland permanents your opponents control. (Until your next turn, those permanents can't attack or block and their activated abilities can't be activated.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Archon of the Triumvirate not only impacts the board by being a formidable flying creature, but its detain ability can potentially disrupt multiple of your opponent’s permanents. This offers a significant advantage as it maintains pressure and control, without losing card economy.
Resource Acceleration: While the Archon itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its detain ability indirectly acts as resource acceleration by locking down the opponent’s resources. This allows you to develop your board further and swing the resource balance in your favor.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Archon of the Triumvirate benefits from any instant speed support spells that protect it or hinder your opponent during the critical turn it attacks. This synergistic interaction means your opponents must always play cautiously, respecting the potential for instant speed plays with the Archon on the field.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Archon of the Triumvirate doesn’t require a discard directly, its high mana cost means you’re likely having to pass on other plays or discard due to hand size limits as you wait to cast it.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a distinct combination of blue and white mana, Archon of the Triumvirate may not smoothly fit into multicolored decks that don’t heavily favor these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demanding seven mana cost for its casting, there are instances where other creatures or spells provide more immediate impact on the game at a lower cost, making Archon of the Triumvirate a potentially cumbersome choice in faster-paced matches.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Archon of the Triumvirate brings a unique mix to your arsenal with its flying and vigilance abilities, allowing it to be a tactical asset in both offensive and defensive plays. Being both a deterrent in the air and capable of joining attacks without leaving you unguarded makes it a flexible card for various gameplay scenarios.
Combo Potential: Its detain ability has significant synergy in decks that capitalize on controlling the opponent’s resources. When Archon of the Triumvirate attacks, it can lock down up to two target nonland permanents, setting up possibilities for various locks and advantageous board states each turn.
Meta-Relevance: As the game leans towards longer, more interactive matches, the Archon’s recurring detain feature can consistently hinder an opponent’s gameplan, affecting the tempo and sway of the battlefield in your favor and ensuring its relevance in numerous meta environments.
How to beat
Archon of the Triumvirate is an intimidating presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This formidable creature not only flies high with its 4/5 body, but it also carries a powerful ability that can lockdown opposing resources every time it attacks. Dealing with this card requires a strategic approach since, once it’s in play, it can severely restrict your options. To effectively counter this threat, one should consider utilizing spot removal or board wipes before it has the opportunity to swing in and activate its ability.
Spot removal spells like Terminate or Path to Exile offer an efficient way to remove the Archon before it becomes a recurrent problem. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, effectively mitigating the impact of the Archon’s presence. Another tactic is to prevent the Archon from attacking in the first place by utilizing enchantment-based control elements like Pacifism or temporary measures such as tapping it down with spells like Sleep. Adapting your sideboard to include these types of cards can significantly enhance your odds against the Archon and other similar threats.
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, understanding how to dismantle formidable cards like Archon of the Triumvirate is crucial. Success hinges on planning and maintaining access to the right solutions within your deck’s configuration.
Cards like Archon of the Triumvirate
The Archon of the Triumvirate stands as a distinguished creature within Magic: The Gathering, thanks to its ability to detain up to two target nonland permanents. This effect is reminiscent of the control provided by cards like Frost Titan, which also locks down opposition by targeting a single permanent whenever it attacks or enters the battlefield. However, Archon’s reach is broader, affecting two targets instead.
In the realm of aerial domination, Isperia, Supreme Judge offers another parallel. This card also possesses a potent ability, focusing on discouraging opponents from attacking by drawing cards. While Isperia doesn’t directly control the board like Archon, it provides a different kind of strategic advantage. Then we have Lavinia of the Tenth, who protects your board position upon entering the battlefield by detaining each nonland permanent your opponents control with converted mana cost four or less, which differs from Archon’s repeatable effect every attack phase.
To sum up, while there are a handful of cards that exhibit similar detention mechanics, Archon of the Triumvirate’s unique ability to consistently disrupt multiple targets makes it a compelling choice for players looking to maintain control in a game of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Archon of the Triumvirate by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Archon of the Triumvirate MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Return to Ravnica Promos, 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 Archon of the Triumvirate 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
Printings
The Archon of the Triumvirate Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 46877 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | ||
| 2 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica Promos | PRTR | 142★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 142 | 2003 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza | |
| 4 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 7 | 2015 | Normal | Black | David Rapoza |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Archon of the Triumvirate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archon of the Triumvirate 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 | The nonland permanents will be detained before blockers are chosen. Notably, a creature detained this way can’t block before it is detained. |
| 2012-10-01 | The two nonland permanents can be controlled by the same opponent or by different opponents. |
| 2013-04-15 | Activated abilities include a colon and are written in the form “ -ost: -ffect].” No one can activate any activated abilities, including mana abilities, of a detained permanent. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a creature is already attacking or blocking when it’s detained, it won’t be removed from combat. It will continue to attack or block. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a noncreature permanent is detained and later turns into a creature, it won’t be able to attack or block. |
| 2013-04-15 | If a permanent’s activated ability is on the stack when that permanent is detained, the ability will be unaffected. |
| 2013-04-15 | The static abilities of a detained permanent still apply. The triggered abilities of a detained permanent can still trigger. |
| 2013-04-15 | When a player leaves a multiplayer game, any continuous effects with durations that last until that player’s next turn or until a specific point in that turn will last until that turn would have begun. They neither expire immediately nor last indefinitely. |
