Ashnod's Altar (CMM)

Ashnod's Altar
Casting Cost: {3}
Card Type: Artifact

Card Text:
Sacrifice a creature: Add CC.

Flavour Text:
"If you work at sawing up carcasses, you notice how the joints fit, how the nerves are arrayed, and how the skin peels back."
-Ashnod, to Tawnos

Artist: Greg Staples

Ashnod's Altar is a classic card with a powerful ability that has stood the test of time in the Magic: The Gathering universe. The ability to sacrifice creatures for an immediate mana boost allows for numerous strategies and synergies, from combo plays to efficient resource management.

The cost of only three colorless mana makes it relatively easy to cast, and its ability provides two colorless mana (represented by "CC") for every creature sacrificed. This can quickly ramp up your mana resources or be utilized in conjunction with other cards that benefit from creatures being sacrificed, like death triggers.

The flavor text provides insight into Ashnod's character and her clinical, perhaps even macabre, approach to her work. By equating creature anatomy to the dissection of carcasses, it's clear that Ashnod views creatures as tools or resources rather than living beings. This heartless perspective is reflected in the artifact's straightforward and utilitarian ability.

Greg Staples, known for his detailed and realistic artwork, likely portrays the altar in a grim and eerie light, further emphasizing the dark nature of the artifact and its creator.

Whether you're looking to fuel a combo, generate a burst of mana, or simply capitalize on creatures you'd lose anyway, Ashnod's Altar is a versatile and valuable addition to many decks.