"Archmage Ascension" is a blue enchantment spell printed as a rare for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Zendikar." It is one of the five "Ascension" cards printed in the Zendikar expansion set. This is similar to the "Quest" enchantments. However, you do not have to sacrifice the Ascension enchantments when you use their abilities. In a control deck that uses blue cards, Archmage Ascension seems to be an interesting card to have on hand.

The converted mana cost for Archmage Ascension is three. You are going to need one blue mana and two colorless mana to bring Archmage Ascenion from your hand and onto the battlefield. For what Archmage Ascension can do, it would seem that the three mana is well worth it. Keep in mind that Archmage Ascension is an enchantment spell. It would mean that Archmage Ascension is susceptible to anything and everything that affects enchantments.

What does Archmage Ascension do in the first place?

Should Archmage Ascension be on the battlefield, you get to put a quest counter on it at the end of your turn if you managed to do this: draw at least two or more cards this turn. Once there are six quest counters on Archmage Ascension, you can choose to draw a card like normal or not. If you do not choose to draw a card, you get to search your library for a card and put it in your hand. You shuffle your library afterwards.

While the ability of Archmage Ascension is great, there is one high critical drawback. The enchantment spell is extremely slow. Out of all of the Ascension enchantment spells, Archmage Ascension requires a large number of charge counters. You will have to wait six turns in order to be able to use Archmage Ascension.

In a blue deck, you will need cards that allow you to draw an extra card a turn. You will need cards such as "Carnage Altar" or "Font of Mythos" in this respect. This is in the current standard format. If you do not draw at least two cards, you will not be able to place a quest counter on Archmage Ascension. Since "Magic 2010" is currently part of the standard format, you will need "Time Warp" to speed up the process. During that time, an opponent could be ready to take out Archmage Ascension and whatever is on the board that enables you to draw an extra card.

In an extended format, you will need cards such as "Howling Mine" or "Archivist."

When you look at the other card such as "Beastmaster Ascension," "Bloodchief Ascension," "Luminarch Ascension," and "Pyromancer Ascension," you can see that some only need a few quest counters. While Beastmaster Ascension requires seven quest counters, it is easier to achieve for the most part.

Still, the ability of Archmage Ascension is appealing. You get to find whatever card you want in your library. However, there is the great risk that Archmage Ascension could get popped off long before you even get to use it. If you are playing a multicolored deck, you may be better off if you use a spell such as "Maelstrom Nexus" instead of Archmage Ascension.

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