Anax, Hardened in the Forge MTG Card


Anax’s ability to create Satyr tokens bolsters board presence even as you lose creatures, enhancing your aggressive play. Indirect resource acceleration through token generation keeps your deck active without depleting your hand. Instant-speed synergy with Anax ensures a formidable defense and persistent threat during each turn.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Enchantment Creature — Demigod
Power *
Toughness 3

Text of card

Anax's power is equal to your devotion to red. (Each in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to red.) Whenever Anax or another nontoken creature you control dies, create a 1/1 red Satyr creature token with "This creature can't block." If the creature had power 4 or greater, create two of those tokens instead.


Cards like Anax, Hardened in the Forge

Anax Hardened in the Forge shines within the pantheon of red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its kinship with cards like Ember Hauler is evident, given they both cater to red’s aggressive strategy. However, Anax has an edge by potentially generating significant board presence through its ability to create 1/1 tokens. Ember Hauler doesn’t offer such resilience after it leaves the battlefield.

Comparably, Tuktuk the Explorer warrants attention. It shares the trait of token creation upon death, but Anax’s devotion to red amplifies this capability, producing an army that matches your devotion level. Tuktuk only leaves behind a single token after its demise. Legion Warboss is another related card, famous for generating 1/1 Goblin tokens with haste each combat. Although its Goblin-making skills are noteworthy, Anax ensures a more overwhelming and consistent token production that thrives as player’s red mana symbols accumulate.

Assessing the landscape of red creatures, Anax Hardened in the Forge stands out for its ability to reward players for staying red-heavy and turning defeats into opportunities. This solidifies Anax as a formidable option for enthusiasts embracing red’s aggressive playstyle in Magic: The Gathering.

Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Tuktuk the Explorer - MTG Card versions
Legion Warboss - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Tuktuk the Explorer - MTG Card versions
Legion Warboss - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Anax, Hardened in the Forge. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Boros AggroBoros Aggro GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
Mono-Red AggroMono-Red Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro PioneerGruul AggroPioneer Challenge 32 2024-02-04
Mono-Red MidrangeMono-Red Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Gruul StompyGruul Stompy GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Anax Hardened in the Forge brings an innovative approach to maintaining card advantage by creating a 1/1 red Satyr creature token with “This creature can’t block” whenever a non-token creature you control dies. Additionally, if the deceased creature’s power was 4 or greater, you receive two of these tokens instead. This process ensures that your board presence is consistently replenished, keeping the pressure on your opponent and steadily building your army.

Resource Acceleration: While Anax himself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in typical manners, like ramping mana, he indirectly accelerates your game presence by rapidly populating the battlefield after you lose creatures. This ongoing threat amassment can overwhelm opponents, effectively serving as a resource acceleration by maintaining a dominant board state without expending additional cards from your hand.

Instant Speed: Anax’s abilities complement instant-speed interactions spectacularly. Sacrificing creatures or using them for combat on your turn without fear is more palpable, knowing that their demise results in immediate token generation. This synergy is perfect for decks that thrive on instant-speed interactions, ensuring that even when you are tapped out during your opponent’s turn, you are never without an on-board response.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Anax Hardened in the Forge doesn’t directly call for a discard, but it does place an emphasis on sacrificing creatures to exploit its abilities to the fullest. This could potentially leave you vulnerable if you’re sacrificing important pieces of your board presence without a firm strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific red mana cost, needing two red mana along with one generic mana. This can restrict its inclusion to primarily red or red-inclusive decks, reducing its flexibility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Anax’s converted mana cost of three may not seem exorbitant at first glance, its real cost comes into play when considering the need to maintain a strong creature presence to benefit from its passive abilities. Some players may find it resource-intensive to both develop their board and keep Anax effective in the game.


Reasons to Include Anax Hardened in the Forge in Your Collection

Versatility: Anax Hardened in the Forge shines in a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those that revolve around aggressive strategies or red devotion. Its ability to buff itself based on your devotion to red and replace creatures with Satyr tokens makes it adaptable to different board states.

Combo Potential: This card has great synergy with sacrifice mechanics and abilities that trigger upon creature death. Pairing Anax with cards that benefit from or cause creature deaths can create a formidable and resilient combo on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based strategies often dominating the play environment, Anax provides a valuable buffer against board wipes and control tactics. Its inherent ability to generate token creatures helps maintain a presence on the board, keeping the pressure on opponents and aligning well with the persistent aggression needed in current metas.


How to beat

Anax Hardened in the Forge is a formidable presence on the battlefield and a beloved card in red aggro decks. To counteract this mighty Demigod, one needs a well-thought-out strategy. First and foremost, removal spells that exiles, such as Path to Exile or Direct Current, bypass Anax’s ability to generate Satyr tokens upon death. This removes the threat completely without leaving any residual board presence for your opponent.

Another approach is to control the board state by using sweepers like Shatter the Sky or Storm’s Wrath. It is essential to be mindful of the creatures you have on the field, as Anax thrives in an environment rich with other creatures, boosting his power for each other red creature and those with high devotion to red.

Enchantment removal is also an effective measure against Anax, given that cards like Banishing Light can neutralize him without triggering his token-generating ability. Finally, playing around Anax involves knowing when to hold back. Avoiding unnecessary combat while setting up for one of the aforementioned removals will help stabilize the game and grant you an advantage. Patience, strategy, and the right removals are key to overcoming Anax Hardened in the Forge.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depths of MTG strategy, Anax Hardened in the Forge emerges as a pivotal card for players who favor resilience and aggression. Its innovative mechanics not only boost your strategies post-sacrifice but solidify your board state with an ever-growing army of Satyrs. The versatility and combo potential Anax brings to red devotion or aggressive decks make it a valuable addition to your collection. But remember, every powerful card has its counter, and understanding the best strategies against Anax could be the difference between defeat and victory. Enhance your deck and outwit your opponents—learn more with us and embrace the power of Anax.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Anax, Hardened in the Forge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Theros Beyond Death, 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 Anax, Hardened in the Forge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Anax, Hardened in the Forge Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 798632015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
22020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 1252015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 2642015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
42020-09-26The ListPLST THB-2642015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2042015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Anax, Hardened in the Forge has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 Colorless and generic mana symbols (, , , , , and so on) in mana costs of permanents you control don’t count toward your devotion to any color.
2020-01-24 Hybrid mana symbols, monocolored hybrid mana symbols, and Phyrexian mana symbols do count toward your devotion to their color(s).
2020-01-24 If Anax dies at the same time as another nontoken creature you control, its ability triggers for each of them.
2020-01-24 If an activated ability or triggered ability has an effect that depends on your devotion to a color, you count the number of mana symbols of that color among the mana costs of permanents you control as the ability resolves. The permanent with that ability will be counted if it’s still on the battlefield at that time.
2020-01-24 If you create a token that’s a copy of Anax, its last ability triggers when it dies.
2020-01-24 If you put an Aura on an opponent’s permanent, you still control the Aura, and mana symbols in its mana cost count towards your devotion.
2020-01-24 Mana symbols in the text boxes of permanents you control don’t count toward your devotion to any color.
2020-01-24 The ability that defines Anax’s power works in all zones, not just the battlefield.
2020-01-24 To determine whether you create two tokens, check the power of the creature that died immediately before it died.