Ainok Survivalist MTG Card


Disrupts opponents by targeting enchantments and artifacts when turned face up. Instant-speed morphing creates surprise plays, maintaining player advantage. Megamorph cost is resource-heavy but can balance out with strategic plays.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Dog Shaman
Abilities Megamorph
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Megamorph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.) When Ainok Survivalist is turned face up, destroy target artifact or enchantment an opponent controls.


Cards like Ainok Survivalist

Ainok Survivalist adds a strategic layer to Magic: The Gathering’s pool of creatures with its morph ability. When viewed alongside cards like Nantuko Vigilante, players can spot similarities as both serve the purpose of enchantment and artifact removal. Nantuko Vigilante lacks the morph feature but compensates with a lower casting cost if directly cast. Still, Ainok Survivalist’s flexibility in being played face-down and turned up when the moment is opportune for its controller to benefit from its megamorph ability offers an element of surprise that can disrupt opponents’ strategies.

Den Protector is another creature card in this vein, providing utility with its morph-related ability to return a card from the graveyard to its owner’s hand. While it doesn’t directly deal with artifacts or enchantments upon flipping like Ainok Survivalist, the value of card advantage and retrieval from the graveyard can be a game-changer. These similarities and differences highlight how Ainok Survivalist is an excellent fixture in decks that thrive on versatile creature roles and surprise tactics, particularly in matchups where artifacts and enchantments are key.

Nantuko Vigilante - MTG Card versions
Den Protector - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Vigilante - MTG Card versions
Den Protector - MTG Card versions

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Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ainok Survivalist excels at disrupting your opponent’s strategies by offering a way to deal with enchantments and artifacts. When the Survivalist is manifested and turned face up, you can destroy a target artifact or enchantment, potentially stripping your opponent of a key piece on their board, effectively shifting the card advantage in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although Ainok Survivalist doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the form of mana generation, it aids in resource acceleration by keeping your own key pieces safe from artifacts and enchantments that could slow you down. This indirectly preserves your momentum, maintaining the pace at which you deploy your threats and answers.

Instant Speed: The primary strength of Ainok Survivalist is its interaction with the morph mechanic, allowing you to turn it face up at instant speed. This versatility means you can wait for the most opportunistic moment during your opponent’s turn to unveil the Survivalist, potentially disrupting their plays and maintaining the element of surprise to your advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ainok Survivalist requires a non-token creature to be sacrificed when leveraging its Megamorph ability. This can be a strategic setback, especially in decks that run a limited number of creatures or rely heavily on creature presence to execute combos.

Specific Mana Cost: Ainok Survivalist’s casting cost necessitates one green mana which can be restrictive for multicolor decks that may not favor green or have the necessary mana fixing to accommodate such specific requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of two and a Megamorph cost of an additional five, Ainok Survivalist can be seen as resource-intensive for its offered effect. In situations where speed is crucial, the combined cost to cast and flip it face-up might be deemed too slow, especially when there are lower-cost alternatives for artifact and enchantment removal in the game.


Reasons to Include Ainok Survivalist in Your Collection

Versatility: Ainok Survivalist offers a flexible solution to any deck facing enchantment and artifact threats due to its Morph ability. You can play it face down and turn it face up when needed, making it an unexpected surprise for your opponents.

Combo Potential: This card is a prime pick for decks that exploit enter-the-battlefield triggers. Unmorphing Ainok Survivalist not only takes out an opponent’s utility but synergizes well with cards that react to creature spells or morph abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where strategies often include key artifacts and enchantments, Ainok Survivalist becomes a highly relevant sideboard card. Its ability to disrupt opponent setups while providing a creature body on the board is instrumental in numerous matches.


How to beat

Ainok Survivalist is a versatile card in the MTG universe, often coming into play through its Megamorph ability. This allows it not only to turn face up for a specific mana cost but also to destroy an artifact or enchantment when it flips. Having this ability makes it both a threat and a valuable asset in dealing with troublesome permanents.

To effectively contend with Ainok Survivalist, consider employing instant-speed removals that can handle the card before the Megamorph ability activates. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are excellent choices, as they can dispatch the Survivalist before it causes any real trouble. Timing is critical here; you’ll want to wait until your opponent commits mana to morph the Ainok Survivalist, allowing you to intervene with maximum efficiency.

Another strategy is to minimize the card’s impact by reducing the number of high-value targets for its ability. Running fewer artifacts and enchantments in your deck, or using those with hexproof or indestructible properties, can diminish the Survivalist’s utility, compelling your opponent to gain less value from their play. In essence, by adapting your deck and playstyle, you can mitigate the advantages Ainok Survivalist brings to the table.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the MTG realm, Ainok Survivalist emerges as a sleeper hit for decks that revel in flexibility and surprise countermeasures. Its morph capabilities make it a nuanced addition to your arsenal, particularly when enchantments and artifacts dominate the battlefield. Our analysis highlights its strengths and drawbacks, as well as the proficient methods to thwart it. If you’re an astute player aiming to fine-tune your deck with strategic creature choices or seeking ways to navigate around your rivals’ tricks, this card might just be your hidden ace. Eager for more insights and strategic depth to excel in your MTG endeavors? Swing by our platform to delve deeper into the nuances of deck-building and gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ainok Survivalist MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Masters 25, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Ainok Survivalist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ainok Survivalist Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 1722015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing
22018-03-16Masters 25A25 1572015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1562015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11152015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing
52020-09-26The ListPLST DTK-1722015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing
62024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 1652015NormalBlackCraig J Spearing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ainok Survivalist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ainok Survivalist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-02-25 If a face-down creature with megamorph is turned face up some other way (for example, if you manifest a card with megamorph and then pay its mana cost to turn it face up), you won’t put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2015-02-25 Megamorph is a variant of the morph ability. You can find more information on morph on cards with morph from the Khans of Tarkir set.
2015-02-25 Turning a face-down creature with megamorph face up and putting a +1/+1 counter on it is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.