Ardyn, the Usurper

Description

The 2025 Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy expansion brings the rich lore of the beloved video game series to the tabletop arena, and card number 315, Ardyn, the Usurper, stands out as a powerful black creature. Released under the FIN set code, this foil rare is a legendary Elder Human Noble that commands a mana cost of five generic mana and three black mana. With a mana value of eight and a power/toughness of 4/4, Ardyn serves as a significant late-game presence in decks focused on the black color identity. Beyond its base stats, Ardyn, the Usurper offers substantial board impact through its ability to enhance demons you control. By granting menace, lifelink, and haste to your demon creatures, it transforms them into aggressive threats that can deal damage while also gaining life, a valuable resource in longer matches. The card’s secondary ability, Starscourge, triggers at the beginning of combat on your turn, allowing you to exile a target creature card from a graveyard. If successful, this ability creates a token copy of that exiled card, with a crucial modification: the token is a 5/5 black Demon. This mechanism enables powerful synergies, turning previously discarded creatures into formidable demons that can swing the game in your favor. The foil finish on Ardyn adds a layer of visual appeal that distinguishes it from the non-foil versions, making it a desirable addition to any collection. Whether you are building a thematic deck around the Final Fantasy universe or looking to add a versatile demon controller to your black deck, this card provides both mechanical depth and aesthetic value. As a rare card in the set, it represents a key piece for enthusiasts of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game who appreciate the intersection of fantasy narrative and strategic complexity.