Akroma, Angel of WrathHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Masterclass in Keywords

Akroma possesses a massive array of static abilities. Flying and Trample ensure she is difficult to block and that damage spills over to your opponent. First Strike and Vigilance make her a nightmare in combat, allowing her to deal damage before her foes and stay untapped to block later. Haste allows her to attack immediately, while her protections keep her safe from many popular removal spells.

Protection from Black and Red

The protection ability provides four specific benefits against black and red sources: she cannot be damaged, enchanted/equipped, blocked, or targeted by anything of those colors. This means popular spells like 'Terror' or 'Lightning Bolt' cannot touch her. Furthermore, black or red creatures cannot step in her way during the declare blockers step.

Resolving and Playing

When you cast Akroma, you pay the eight mana and she enters the battlefield. Because she has Haste, she does not suffer from summoning sickness and can tap for abilities or attack that same turn. Because she has Vigilance, declaring her as an attacker does not cause her to tap, meaning she will be available to block during your opponent's next turn.

Strategic Implementation

Akroma is best used as a finisher. Her high mana cost is a significant investment, but her protection from two common removal colors makes her very resilient. She is especially effective against aggressive decks that rely on red burn or black destruction, as they often have no way to interact with her once she hits the board.

Interaction examples

Summoning the Legend

Nivea, Beloved Battlemage

If you control Nivea, Beloved Battlemage, you can pay eight mana and sacrifice Nivea to create a token copy of Akroma, Angel of Wrath. The token enters with all of Akroma's abilities, including Haste, allowing it to attack immediately even though Nivea was just sacrificed.

The Ultimate Defensive Duo

Avacyn, Angel of Hope

With both Angels on the battlefield, your board becomes nearly unbreakable. Avacyn, Angel of Hope grants Akroma Indestructible. Since Akroma already has Protection from Black and Red, she cannot be targeted by spells of those colors, and even colorless or white 'destroy' effects will fail to remove her due to Avacyn's protection.

Navigating Targeted Removal

Meteor Golem

While Akroma is safe from black and red spells, she is vulnerable to colorless and other-colored effects. If an opponent plays Meteor Golem, its enters-the-battlefield ability can target Akroma because the Golem is colorless. The Golem will successfully destroy Akroma unless she has gained Indestructible from another source.