All creatures-- including itself-- get double
strike. This thing swings for SIXTEEN. Your
opponents' blockers won't last long. If he has
any blockers. And that's the problem with Avatar
of Slaughter-- it affects your opponents'
creatures too, which means you've doubled the
power of the creatures that will be swinging at
you next turn. Luckily, Avatar of Slaughter does
NOT have haste, so it'll be free to block and
likely kill something, and if you survive the
first swing, your opponent won't get a chance to
swing a second time, because he tapped all his
blockers.
Now, if your opponent has creatures with
defender or vigilance, or can untap creatures,
then it gets messy. You can of course run those
abilities yourself, but that usually means going
into other colors. If you'd like to stay in red,
I suggest effects like Relentless Assault, World
at War, and the like. Remember, attacking each
turn if able doesn't mean attacking each combat
if able-- you can drop Avatar of Slaughter,
swing with everybody, then cast a postcombat
Relentless Assault just to ensure you'll have
double-striking blockers that your opponent's
double-striking attackers will be forced to
attack into. Trample, lifelink, and deathtouch
get very nice here as well.
Unlike some of the Commander cards, Avatar of
Slaughter doesn't perform quite as spectacularly
in one-on-one settings. Eight mana for an 8/8
double striker (plus whatever else you have on
the table) is definitely efficient, but there
are lots of other creatures available to the
"big red" archetype, and it might be hard to
find a role for him. That's not the point of the
card, though. The point of the card is to cause
chaos in multiplayer settings. Enchant a couple
of opposing creatures with Vow of Lightning or
Vow of Flight, put up some Walls of Stone, cast
Avatar of Slaughter, and laugh "Dance, puppets,
dance!" in your best Stewie Griffin voice while
everyone else tears each other to pieces. You
know you want to.
Welcome back readers today’s card of the day
makes sure no one plays defensively. In
standard, extended this card is not playable and
in limited it would be hard to draft with
commander cards although I suppose Cube is a
possibility. In legacy and eternal this card is
too expensive and does not fit into existing
deck types so the chances of this card seeing
play are close to zero percent the mana cost is
restrictive and as previously stated no deck has
a home for it. In casual and multiplayer is
where this card obviously shines when you just
need to end games this card facilitates attacks
unlike any other card, creatures with vigilance
obviously combine well with this and cards that
prevent damage to you or creatures you control,
Holy Day ect. It is definitely a niche card in
decks that really want to attack and make others
attack it will see a small amount of play
but it is by no means a must have or play
commander card.
Today's card of the day is Avatar of Slaughter
which is an eight mana
8/8 that gives all creatures Double Strike and
forces them to attack each turn if able.
This card is only legal in Commander, Legacy,
and Vintage where the high mana cost and global
effects will keep it strictly in the Commander
and Casual multiplayer scene. Giving every
creature in play Double Strike and forcing them
to attack can be entertaining and should end the
game one way or another, but is also risky if
you lose the advantage after playing the Avatar.
Just giving one or some of your own creatures
Double Strike is almost always a better play and
Rage Reflection or Savage Beating are available
to satisfy that role more reliable and for less
mana. While the Avatar can be played on
the second main phase to force your opponent or
opponents to attack into unfavorable positions,
other methods of clearing the field would have
less chance of failing or being turned against
you.
The lack of innate Haste, Trample, or some kind
of evasion on the Avatar hinders it further as
it can't immediately attack and can be easily
blocked. Overall this is card that has a
great deal of potential for ending games
quickly, yet controlling that outcome is
something better left to cards that don't give
your opponent nearly the same advantages as you
receive.
Welcome to another great
review from the new Commander set. Today we are
looking at Avatar of Slaughter. The Avatar of
Slaughter is an 8/8 for six generic and two red
mana. The Avatar of Slaughter gives all
creatures Double Strike and they must attack
each turn if able.
This card is a lot of fun, and very interesting. There is a
high risk factor involved in playing this card.
The fact your opponents benefit as much as you
do is a very risky endeavor. But if played
tactfully, this card presents an opportunity to
win. Eight mana means that there is a high
likelyhood that you have a considerable attack
force in the wings. Drop this guy in main phase
one, and swing for a home run. Or, more of the
set up option. Pass into main phase two, the
drop him, your opponent is forced to swing with
everything, which a simple holy day could stop,
and then you have a clear path for a home run.
Just keep an Unstable Footing at the ready for
the event they try and Fog or Holy Day you back.
A very interesting card that I guess deck and circumstances
dictate how effective this card can be, as well
as whether it is worth playing, or whether it is
worth side boarding, or even just playing in a
for fun deck.
