Sardian AvengerHow it works & interactions with other cards

Aggressive Scaling

Sardian Avenger possesses First strike and Trample, making it difficult to block effectively. Its primary ability triggers when it attacks, checking the number of artifacts your opponents control at the moment the ability resolves. This bonus lasts until the end of the turn, potentially turning a cheap two-mana creature into a massive threat if an opponent is stockpiling artifacts.

The Resolution Process

When you declare Sardian Avenger as an attacker, its middle ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, the game counts all artifacts currently controlled by all opponents. If an opponent sacrifices an artifact in response to the trigger, that artifact is not counted, but it will trigger the Avenger's third ability. That third ability triggers every time an opponent's artifact moves from the battlefield to the graveyard, dealing 1 damage to that specific player.

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is miscalculating the damage from the third ability. Note that the artifact must go specifically to the graveyard; if an artifact is exiled or returned to the hand, the 1 damage trigger will not occur. Additionally, the attack bonus is only calculated once when the trigger resolves. If the number of artifacts an opponent controls changes later in the combat phase, the power of Sardian Avenger does not change again.

When to Deploy

Play Sardian Avenger early to pressure decks that utilize mana rocks or Treasure tokens. It is particularly effective against strategies that sacrifice artifacts for value, as it forces the opponent to choose between losing life now or facing a creature with massive power and trample later.

Interaction examples

Punishing Mana Fixing

Ornithopter of Paradise

If your opponent controls Ornithopter of Paradise, Sardian Avenger attacks as a 2/1. When the attack trigger resolves, it counts the Ornithopter of Paradise and gets +1/+0, becoming a 3/1. If you later use a spell to destroy the Ornithopter of Paradise, the Avenger's last ability triggers and deals 1 damage to that opponent.

The Treasure Trap

Professional Face-Breaker

An opponent controls Professional Face-Breaker and three Treasure tokens. When Sardian Avenger attacks, its trigger checks the board and grants it +3/+0. If the opponent decides to sacrifice all three Treasures to exile cards using Professional Face-Breaker's ability, Sardian Avenger's final ability will trigger three separate times, dealing a total of 3 damage to that opponent.