Ajani's AnguishHow it works & interactions with other cards

Scalable Destruction and Trample

When Ajani's Anguish enters the battlefield, its triggered ability checks the value chosen for X when you cast it. It then deals that much damage to any single target, which can be a player, planeswalker, or creature. While it remains on the battlefield, all creatures you currently control gain trample, allowing them to pass excess combat damage over blockers directly to the defending player or planeswalker.

Resolving the Entrance Trigger

Step one: Cast Ajani's Anguish by paying {X} and {R}. Step two: Upon resolution, the enchantment enters the battlefield and its triggered ability is put onto the stack. Step three: You choose a target for the damage. Step four: The ability resolves, dealing X damage to that target. Note that if the enchantment is destroyed in response to the trigger, the damage is still dealt based on the value of X when it was cast.

Common Strategic Mistakes

Players often forget that the trample effect is a static ability; it only applies as long as Ajani's Anguish is on the battlefield. If an opponent destroys the enchantment during your declare attackers step, your creatures will lose trample before blockers are assigned. Additionally, because the damage is an 'enters' trigger and not part of the casting cost's effect, it can be countered by abilities that target triggered abilities even if the spell itself resolved.

Timing and Synergy

This card is most effective in the mid-to-late game where X can be large enough to remove a significant threat. Because it provides trample, it pairs exceptionally well with high-power creatures or tokens that lack evasion. It is a proactive play that shifts the board state in your favor immediately while forcing your opponent to respect your future combat phases.

Interaction examples

Direct Damage with Impact Tremors

Impact Tremors

If you have Impact Tremors on the battlefield and cast Ajani's Anguish with X=3, the enchantment enters and triggers its damage. While Ajani's Anguish itself does not trigger Impact Tremors (as it is not a creature), any creatures you play afterward will benefit from trample. If you later play a creature, Impact Tremors deals 1 damage to each opponent, and that creature will now be able to trample over small blockers thanks to the enchantment already in play.

Saga Interactions

Urza's Saga

Urza's Saga can create large Construct tokens. If you have a Construct from Urza's Saga's second chapter, it might have high power but can be easily blocked by a 1/1 creature. By casting Ajani's Anguish, you can use the X damage to remove a potential blocker and simultaneously give your massive Construct trample, ensuring your opponent cannot simply 'chump block' to stay alive.