Ornitharch
Creature — Archon
Flying
Tribute 2 (As this creature enters, an opponent of your choice may put two +1/+1 counters on it.)
When this creature enters, if tribute wasn't paid, create two 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying.
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- W
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Born of the Gods
- Price
- $0.10
- EDHREC rank
- #27166
Ornitharch enters with five power across three flying bodies for five mana — the floor is already competitive, and any tribute refusal turns it into a five-power evasive threat on a single body. The tribute mechanic makes it a genuine two-outcome card, but both outcomes are acceptable, which is exactly what you want from a curve-topper.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Ornitharch actually belongs — token synergies, anthem effects, and sacrifice payoffs all reward the split-body mode, and five mana is easy to reach in a format that rewards patience. In Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer it's too slow and too fair; no competitive shell wants a five-drop whose best case is three 1/1s. Vintage is theoretically legal but practically irrelevant for a card at this power level. Ornitharch is a Commander card and should be evaluated only as one.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.10 bulk tier
At $0.10, Ornitharch is deep bulk — it costs less than a sleeve. That price reflects low constructed demand, not low playability in Commander, so it's one of the cleaner pickups if the effect fits your deck.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.