Archangel of Strife — ruling 1

The active player chooses war or peace first, followed by each other player in turn order. Each player will know what previous players chose when making their choice.

Archangel of Strife — ruling 2

Archangel of Strife's bonuses apply immediately. Depending on your choice, Archangel of Strife will enter as either a 9/6 or 6/9 creature.

Archangel of Strife — ruling 3

If there are two Archangels of Strife on the battlefield, and you choose war for one and peace for the other, your creatures get +3/+3.

Archangel of Strife — ruling 4

As soon as Archangel of Strife leaves the battlefield, the bonus stops applying. If it returns to the battlefield, players will be able to make new choices.

Archangel of Strife — ruling 5

Archangel of Strife's second and third abilities are linked. Similarly, its second and fourth abilities are linked. The bonus a player's creatures get depends only on the choice that player made when Archangel of Strife entered.

Archangel of Strife : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Archangel of Strife is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Flying As this creature enters, each player chooses war or peace. Creatures controlled by players who chose war get +3/+0. Creatures controlled by players who chose peace get +0/+3.

Complete guide

Archangel of Strife is a powerful political tool that forces every player to decide the fate of their battlefield. As she enters the fray, everyone must choose between aggression and defense, shaping the combat math for the rest of her stay. Whether you want to end the game quickly or build an impenetrable wall, this Angel delivers exactly what you need.

Choosing Your Path

As Archangel of Strife enters the battlefield, a choice is made that affects every player. The active player (whose turn it is) chooses first, followed by each other player in turn order. This is not a triggered ability and does not use the stack; it happens as the creature enters. Every player knows what the players before them chose, allowing for strategic alliances or defensive reactions.

Calculated Bonuses

Once the choices are made, the static bonuses apply immediately to all creatures controlled by those players. If you chose 'war', your creatures get +3/+0. If you chose 'peace', they get +0/+3. Because Archangel of Strife is a creature you control, she also receives the bonus from your choice. This means she will effectively be a 9/6 creature with 'war' or a 6/9 creature with 'peace'.

Persistence and Removal

These bonuses last as long as Archangel of Strife remains on the battlefield. If she leaves the battlefield, the effect ends instantly. If she is blinked or re-enters the battlefield later, a completely new choice is made by all players. Note that if multiple Archangels are on the field, their effects are cumulative; choosing 'war' for one and 'peace' for another grants your creatures a total of +3/+3.

Interaction examples

The Infinite Angel Wall

Avacyn, Angel of Hope

With Avacyn, Angel of Hope on the battlefield, your permanents are indestructible. By playing Archangel of Strife and choosing 'peace', your creatures gain +0/+3. This makes Avacyn an 8/14 indestructible flyer, making it nearly impossible for opponents to remove your blockers or survive your counter-attacks.

Recycling the Choice

Sun Titan

If Archangel of Strife is destroyed, you can use Sun Titan to return a smaller utility creature to the field, but if you have a way to reduce the Angel's cost or cheat it back, remember that the choice is tied to the specific instance of the card. If you use a blink effect on Archangel of Strife while Sun Titan is attacking, you can choose 'war' to ensure Sun Titan hits for 9 damage instead of 6.

Solo Flight

When playing Archangel of Strife alone, you must evaluate the board. If you have no other creatures and your opponent has a swarm of 1/1 tokens, choosing 'peace' turns your Angel into a 6/9 blocker that survives almost any combat, while 'war' makes her a 9/6 threat that can end the game in just a few swings.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Archangel of Strife

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
The active player chooses war or peace first, followed by each other player in turn order. Each player will know what previous players chose when making their choice.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2September 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
Archangel of Strife's bonuses apply immediately. Depending on your choice, Archangel of Strife will enter as either a 9/6 or 6/9 creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3September 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
If there are two Archangels of Strife on the battlefield, and you choose war for one and peace for the other, your creatures get +3/+3.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4September 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
As soon as Archangel of Strife leaves the battlefield, the bonus stops applying. If it returns to the battlefield, players will be able to make new choices.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5September 22, 2011· Wizards of the Coast
Archangel of Strife's second and third abilities are linked. Similarly, its second and fourth abilities are linked. The bonus a player's creatures get depends only on the choice that player made when Archangel of Strife entered.
No other card is named in this ruling.