Oros, the Avenger MTG Card


Oros the Avenger offers card advantage through its creature removal ability, altering the board state in your favor. Its high mana cost and specific color needs may restrict deck-building, calling for a balanced mana base. Despite its cost, Oros’s versatility and combo potential make it a formidable force in creature-based metagames.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Flying Whenever Oros, the Avenger deals combat damage to a player, you may pay . If you do, Oros deals 3 damage to each nonwhite creature.


Cards like Oros, the Avenger

In the vast realm of creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Oros the Avenger holds a unique position. In comparison to cards with a similar profile, such as Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion, Oros the Avenger brings a tactical advantage with its ability to inflict 3 damage to each non-white creature. Sunhome doesn’t have direct damage capabilities but it does offer a buff to other creatures, amplifying their battle potential.

Looking at a more recent card, Aurelia, the Warleader, we notice some similarities with Oros in terms of combat enhancement. Aurelia grants an additional combat phase which can be devastating. However, Oros’s own damage ability, triggered during combat, allows for board control that Aurelia doesn’t directly provide.

Consequently, strategic players will recognize Oros the Avenger as a card that not only contributes to combat through power and toughness but also leverages its damage-dealing effect to clear the opponent’s board. It’s this balance of offensive might and targeted board control that distinguishes Oros in the multi-colored dragon creature space within Magic: The Gathering.

Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - MTG Card versions
Aurelia, the Warleader - MTG Card versions
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - MTG Card versions
Aurelia, the Warleader - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Oros the Avenger deals damage, its ability to potentially wipe out numerous creatures from the opposing side can shift the tide, indirectly leading to card advantage. Players strategically eliminate key threats while maintaining their own board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Oros itself doesn’t directly provide mana, it encourages deck building that focuses on resource acceleration to cast this substantial six-mana dragon. Successful decks include mana rocks or ramp spells to unleash Oros’s power onto the battlefield ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Oros may not have an ability that operates at instant speed, but it fits well in control strategies that do. Its sheer presence demands an answer. Meanwhile, such decks can utilize instant speed interaction to protect Oros or clear the path for its attacks, capitalizing upon Oros’s intimidating board control once it’s in play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Oros the Avenger demands a strategic playstyle, one where discarding isn’t too penalizing. Unfortunately, in some gameplay scenarios, the cost of discarding could set you back if your hand size is already running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Oros requires a specific combination of white, black, and red mana to cast. This can be tricky, especially if your lands aren’t providing the right colors at the right time. It limits Oros’s flexibility and confines it to certain three-color decks or mana-fixing strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Oros the Avenger leans towards the higher end of the mana curve. In fast-paced games, this cost can delay your game plan and leave you vulnerable to more aggressive strategies that capitalize on lower-cost creatures.


Reasons to Include Oros the Avenger in Your Collection

Versatility: Oros the Avenger is a flexible addition to any MTG deck that thrives on creatures with multiple abilities. Its presence in a game can shift strategies in your favor, aligning well with decks that focus on damage distribution and control.

Combo Potential: When coupled with cards that amplify damage or provide extra combat phases, Oros can become a repeating source of sweeping board control. Its potential to clear out multiple threats at once makes it a powerhouse in combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment dominated by creature-based strategies, Oros the Avenger excels by offering a board wipe each time it attacks. Its relevance grows in metas where clearing multiple creatures is crucial for maintaining dominance.


How to beat

Oros the Avenger presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its formidable flying presence and damage-dealing ability upon combat damage. To effectively counter this card, it is essential to prevent it from dealing combat damage in the first place. Spells that can either make Oros the Avenger incapacitated or eliminate it outright, such as Pacifism or Murder, are effective means to dismantle its threat. Additionally, edict effects which force the Oros’s controller to sacrifice a creature can subvert the card’s strength since Oros must be on the battlefield to utilize its power.

Strategies that focus on depleting the opponent’s life total without engaging in direct combat can also bypass Oros’s abilities. This can include alternate win conditions or focusing on spells that deal damage directly to the player. Moreover, using enchantment removal such as Disenchant to neutralize any supporting auras or artifacts that bolster Oros’s capabilities is advisable. It’s important to anticipate the moment when Oros the Avenger will enter the fray and have a plan in place, as its impact on the game can shift the dynamics considerably if left unchecked.

Understanding the complexities of the metagame and Oros’s place within it is key to mustering a robust defense. By doing so, players can neutralize its influence and maintain control of the game state.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the battlefield in MTG involves more than just powerful cards; it’s about understanding synergies and weaknesses. Oros the Avenger is a quintessential piece in multicolor control decks, manipulating the board with its powerful sweeping ability. Yet, every card has its foil, and playing Oros efficiently means leveraging pros while mitigating cons. Our deep dive into Oros’s strengths, potential drawbacks, and unique comparisons to cards like Aurelia, the Warleader, gives you an edge. Culminate your MTG knowledge, optimize your deck, and ensure victory by learning the finest tactics and strategies with us. Embrace the challenge; continue the quest for dominance.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Oros, the Avenger MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Planar Chaos Promos, 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 Oros, the Avenger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Oros, the Avenger Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by Daren Bader.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 319592003NormalBlackDaren Bader
22007-02-02Planar Chaos PromosPPLC 161★2003NormalBlackDaren Bader
32007-02-02Planar ChaosPLC 1612003NormalBlackDaren Bader
42011-06-17Commander 2011 OversizedOCMD 2162003NormalBlackDaren Bader
52011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2162003NormalBlackDaren Bader
62017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1882015NormalBlackDaren Bader

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Oros, the Avenger has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal