Mirrodin AvengedHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Mirrodin Avenged targets a single creature that has been dealt damage during the current turn. This damage can come from combat, spells, or abilities. If the creature meets this condition, the spell destroys it and you draw a card. If the creature has not been dealt damage, it is not a legal target for this spell.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast Mirrodin Avenged by paying one black mana and choosing a legal target that has already taken damage. When the spell resolves, it checks if the target is still legal; if it is, the creature is destroyed. Finally, as the last part of the spell's effect, you draw a card from your library. Even if the creature had indestructible and isn't destroyed, you still draw the card as long as the target remained legal.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is trying to cast this on a creature before damage has actually been dealt, such as during the declare blockers step. You must wait until the combat damage step or after a damage-dealing spell has resolved. Additionally, if the target creature becomes illegal before resolution (for example, by gaining Hexproof or being sacrificed), the entire spell fails and you will not draw a card.

When to Play It

The best time to use Mirrodin Avenged is after a multi-block or a non-lethal board wipe. It is an excellent follow-up to chip damage or 'ping' effects. Because it draws a card, it is rarely a 'dead' draw in the late game, provided there is a way to damage your opponent's creatures.

Interaction examples

Accelerating Removal

Dark Ritual

You can cast Dark Ritual to add three black mana to your pool. You use one of that mana to cast Mirrodin Avenged on a creature that took damage from a blocker earlier that turn. This allows you to remove a threat and draw a card while still having two black mana left for other spells.

Setting Up the Draw

Vampiric Tutor

During your opponent's turn, after a creature is damaged in combat, you cast Vampiric Tutor to place a specific card on top of your library. You then cast Mirrodin Avenged to destroy the damaged creature. Because Mirrodin Avenged says 'Draw a card,' you immediately draw the card you just searched for with the Tutor.

Solo Performance

In a standard game, your opponent blocks your 1/1 creature with their 5/5 creature. During the end of combat step, the 5/5 has 1 damage marked on it. You cast Mirrodin Avenged targeting the 5/5. The creature is destroyed and you draw a card, effectively trading a small creature and a cheap spell for their boss monster and a new card.