Among the many intriguing new cards in Magic: The Gathering, few have generated as much curiosity and excitement as Azlask, the Swelling Scourge. With a name that inspires dread and mechanics that hint at corruption and aggressive expansion, Azlask stands out in both casual and competitive decks. This creature brings a unique flavor of decay and power scaling that resonates with fans of Golgari and other graveyard-focused or poison-based strategies. Whether you’re interested in building around it in Commander or simply want to understand its value in Limited and Constructed, exploring Azlask’s potential is essential for anyone invested in MTG’s evolving meta.
Card Overview: Azlask, the Swelling Scourge
Color Identity and Mana Cost
Azlask is typically found in black and green color identities, the traditional colors associated with decay, regeneration, and poison. The card costs {2}{B}{G}, making it relatively affordable in midrange or ramp-based decks. This fits well within a Golgari shell, where creature synergy and graveyard interaction are key elements.
Creature Type and Stats
Azlask is a Legendary Creature Phyrexian Horror, and it comes with a 4/4 base body. This stat line offers a solid starting point, allowing it to hold its own in combat while supporting more sinister synergies through its abilities.
Core Abilities and Mechanics
Proliferation and Poison Counters
One of Azlask’s standout features is its synergy with poison counters. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, they get a poison counter. Then, if they already have one or more, you may proliferate. This allows Azlask decks to slowly, yet steadily, increase the pressure through incremental poison, adding a secondary win condition to your gameplay.
Graveyard Synergy
Additionally, Azlask has an ability that triggers whenever a creature card leaves your graveyard. Whether it’s through reanimation, escape, or exile, you get to place +1/+1 counters on Azlask. This means the card grows stronger as you interact with your graveyard, promoting a loop-based or recursion-heavy strategy.
Built-In Resilience
Azlask also features a defensive mechanism where it gains indestructible for a turn if you sacrifice another creature. This fits naturally into decks that run creatures with death triggers or use tokens, allowing Azlask to dodge common removal spells while punishing the opponent’s board development.
Strategic Deckbuilding With Azlask
Commander Potential
Azlask makes for a potent Commander in a deck focused on poison, graveyard recursion, and sacrifice synergies. Here are key mechanics to consider when building an Azlask Commander deck:
- Proliferation tools likeEvolution SageandContagion Engine
- Graveyard recursion such asEternal WitnessandAnimate Dead
- Token generators likeEndrek SahrandTendershoot Dryadfor sacrifice fodder
- Supportive enchantments likeNecrogenesisorGreater Good
Standard and Pioneer Applications
In 60-card formats, Azlask can slot into midrange or control builds that utilize the graveyard as a resource. It serves well as a finisher that simultaneously pressures with poison while scaling in power. Combine it with cards likeGraveyard TrespasserorOld Rutsteinfor added synergy.
Combos and Synergies
Poison Proliferation Combo
Azlask becomes particularly dangerous when combined with cards that repeatedly proliferate. A few top synergies include:
- Contagion Clasp: Cheap entry to proliferate engine
- Inexorable Tide: Proliferate every time you cast a spell
- Thrummingbird: Adds counters through combat triggers
Sacrifice Outlets
Because Azlask benefits from sacrificing other creatures, including cards with death triggers or undying abilities increases your value generation. Consider:
- Viscera Seer:Free sacrifice outlet with scry
- Yahenni, Undying Partisan:Another indestructible engine with sacrifice synergies
- Reassembling Skeleton:Easy recursion for sacrifice loops
Reanimation Triggers
To trigger Azlask’s +1/+1 counter ability, cards need to leave your graveyard. This includes reanimation effects or even cards likeScavenging Oozethat exile your own graveyard creatures. Others include:
- Unearthcards for low-cost recursion
- Delvemechanics which exile your graveyard
- Living Death:Massive swing card for both recursion and death triggers
Gameplay Strategies
Early Game
In the early game, establish board presence with cheap creatures and ramp. Cards likeLlanowar ElvesandElvish Mysticcan help accelerate into Azlask by turn three or four. Focus on building your graveyard using self-mill or looting mechanics.
Mid Game
This is where Azlask shines. Play it and begin exploiting its abilities. Create value by sacrificing tokens or creatures with enters-the-battlefield effects. Start infecting your opponent with poison and utilize proliferate tools to increase the counters each turn.
Late Game
If the game stretches out, Azlask becomes a massive threat. By this time, it could be a 10/10 or larger, with indestructible on demand. If poison hasn’t won the game already, raw damage or trample (via equipment or enchantments) can finish the job. Cards likeCraterhoof BehemothorRogue’s Passagecan help deliver the final blow.
Weaknesses and Counters
Graveyard Hate
Cards that exile graveyards such asBojuka Bog,Rest in Peace, orGrafdigger’s Cagecan significantly weaken Azlask’s synergy. If you’re facing a meta filled with graveyard hate, include enchantment or artifact removal in your sideboard.
Exile-Based Removal
While Azlask can become indestructible, it is still vulnerable to exile effects. Cards likeSwords to PlowsharesorPath to Exilebypass indestructibility. Countermeasures includeWitherbloom CommandorMalakir Rebirthto protect it or retrieve it later.
Tempo Disruption
Fast aggro decks may overwhelm you before Azlask comes online. Board wipes or early-game blockers are crucial in these matchups. Use removal spells likeFatal PushorMaelstrom Pulseto stabilize the board.
Azlask, the Swelling Scourge is a flavorful and potent addition to the MTG universe. It brings together several core themes of Magic poison counters, graveyard recursion, sacrifice synergies, and counter manipulation into one formidable package. Whether you’re building a Commander deck that maximizes its abilities or including it as a top-end threat in a Golgari midrange deck, Azlask offers a flexible, powerful option with strategic depth. By building around its abilities and planning for its vulnerabilities, Azlask can become the centerpiece of a competitive or flavorful deck that consistently performs and surprises opponents.