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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Avatar of Woe
Image from Wizards.com

Avatar of Woe
Graveborn

Reviewed December 1, 2011

Constructed: 3.90
Casual: 4.38
Limited: 4.75
Multiplayer: 4.50

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Avatar of Woe

This card was made for reanimator decks. It has an incredibly high cost that even it doesn't really expect you to pay. Its condition for getting it cheap is for there to be a lot of creature cards in graveyards-- something that a reanimator deck aims to make happen anyway. And once it's in play, wow! Not only is it a 6/5 with fear-- a ferocious win condition-- but it's also got a killer activated ability. Literally. I don't know if I've ever actually seen an Avatar of Woe attack, since it's usually preoccupied with tapping to systematically slaughter the other guy's side of the table. If your opponent manages to make this thing stick, you'll be feeling the woe yourself.

Constructed- 4

Casual- 4.5

Limited- 4.75

Multiplayer- 4.5


David Fanany

Player since 1995

Avatar of Woe

Despite Prophecy's seeming unpopularity, I personally always liked the set. That may have had more to do with the fact that this card (and the rest of the Avatar cycle, for that matter) were in it than anything else, but I liked it. Avatar of Woe is one of the less likely of said cycle to hit play on the second turn, although the reduced cost helps if you want to bluff a counterspell or play other creatures after it; it is, though, probably the most threatening of the cycle, at least to any deck relying on creatures. Its size means it can be hard to get off the table, and many opponents simply won't be able to keep up with its ability to destroy anything and everything.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 5/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Avatar of Woe which is an eight mana 6/5 with Fear, can tap to destroy target creature, and if ten or more creature cards are in all graveyards it costs six less to cast.  With any kind of milling or sending creatures from the library to the graveyard support this is a very aggressive threat even in the early stages of the game. 
Having evasion, a useful tap ability when attacking isn't an option, and solid offensive and defensive capabilities make this one of Black's best weapons if the full mana cost is avoided.
 
In any limited format that includes this Avatar it is a huge bomb that is very likely to win the game if it is played.  A large creature that can destroy other threats, has evasion, and in the creature driven format will likely bypass the eight casting cost is very impressive.  An absolute first pick in Booster and should be used whenever the Black pool in Sealed is strong enough to dedicate half of the deck to. 
Splashing Avatar of Woe may be tempting with just two Black mana symbols, but it can be difficult to have two sources of Black mana in play in the earlier stages without color fixing.
 
In Multiplayer the more players involved in the game the better this is as just the first creature or two in each graveyard might be enough to trigger the primary effect.
 
Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 5.0
Multiplayer: 5.0


Paul

Welcome back readers todays card of the day is a classic creature that has been play around kitchen tables since it was introduced as the more players are in the game the more likely the chance it will hit play at a discounted cost. In standard this card is not legal and in extended and modern I don’t think this can compete with Titans and Wurmcoil Engines although it does have a useful and powerful ability or can swing for big damage it just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore like so many cards once in their prime. In eternal formats legacy and vintage this cards ability is too troublesome to to trigger making it an eight mana card that doesn’t win the game. In casual and multiplayer this card is quite a power house and can eat the board early while beating down or threatening to kill your opponents most powerful creatures making it an amazing choice for casual and multiplayer decks as a deterrent from people attacking you. In limited this would be an atomic bomb removal and a large evasive body and possibly a discounted cost if you can draft it you should.
 
Constructed: 2.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 4.5


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