Angel of Sanctions

Strategy & Gameplay

This elegant white creature from the Dragons of Tarkir set represents one of the most versatile and impactful effects in white's removal toolbox, combining creature tempo with powerful exile-based removal that scales beautifully across multiple formats and strategies. Angel of Sanctions is a five-mana flyer that immediately impacts the board by exiling target nonland permanent an opponent controls, creating a temporary removal effect that persists as long as the angel remains in play, making it exceptionally valuable against threats that are difficult to deal with through conventional means like planeswalkers, enchantments, or artifacts. The creature's impressive 3/4 body provides meaningful flying evasion while being large enough to pressure opponents effectively, and at five mana with two white pips, it slots naturally into white-based control, midrange, and even some tempo strategies across formats ranging from Pioneer and Modern through Commander where it finds homes in white-focused decks that appreciate its versatility. What truly elevates this card's utility is its embalm ability, which transforms it from a powerful one-time effect into a recursive threat. For six mana, you can exile Angel of Sanctions from your graveyard to create a Zombie Angel token copy without mana cost, essentially turning a removed creature into a repeatable engine that can exile multiple permanents throughout the game. This makes it particularly strong in grindier matchups and Commander decks where attrition and resourcefulness matter significantly. Whether you're building Azorius control, white-based midrange, or even Commander decks focused on white's exile-based removal package, Angel of Sanctions offers the combination of evasion, tempo advantage, and strategic flexibility that rewards careful deckbuilding and tactical play, making it an excellent inclusion for players seeking both immediate impact and long-term value generation.