A 4 mana anthem becomes a lot better when you realize how it interacts with cards like hangerback. Allows you bring it back with ojutai's command, and makes all it's thopters a 2/2, doubling its power when it dies.
Not to mention it plays well with token generators, especially a mid-late game Secure the Wastes. Put it together with Sorin, Solemn Visitor (along with an attacking Gideon AND its tokens) and it becomes even more frightening.
That's not really a good reason though. He seems to me to be a worse Sorin, Lord of Innistrad. Becoming a creature is neat, but he's the only planeswalker who's + ability literally does nothing the first turn you play him, on his own. You either need Ally interaction, or a haste source; and I'm being generous with the ally part because most allies only care about when the creature enters the battlefield.
His ultimate is pretty trash too. At four mana, there's better things you could play than Glorious Anthem. His 0 gives him protection, but it doesn't further him along any so you're just wasting an activation.
Outside of a dedicated ally build, he's really not that good, certainly not better than the original. He'll still probably see standard play, depending on what else we get, but I don't see him making waves in any other formats. Depending entirely on how well allies do, I see him being about on par with Tibalt.
I think wotc enjoys making cards with powerful abilities that are actually balanced, but difficult to grasp why. I think this is the case with this card. His abilities are strong, but they work kinda awkwardly together.
I like that he's difficult to determine how to use as well. Sorin was pretty straightforward, usually you make a token, then considering making an emblem if it becomes advantageous. With Gideon, sometimes it'll be better to build up presence with tokens without incrementing gideon, sometimes it'll be best to apply pressure even though the only permanent improvement to the board state is the loyalty counter, and sometimes it'll be worth taking the hit to get a permanent boost.
His ult isn't crazy powerful, but I'd rather have a mid-power, easily-achievable ult than a high-power, nigh impossible ult like tamiyo. Having the ability to use any of his 3 abilities immediately, even if the first usually won't do anything the first turn, is pretty clutch flexibility, I think, and I think flexibility over a clear line of play is what makes him strong and interesting.
I like how an amazing, potentially broken PW, gets flack for not having a linear, singular, obvious line of play. Its synergy with other cards, and creatures is what makes this insane. Removal gives you a chance to build a free, strong board state. Other creatures allow a threatening, super defensive board state. His immediate, impervious emblem makes his Aggro curve topper amazing. Immune to creature board wipes, easily splashable, cheap cost, replaces Elspeth in aggressive decks.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
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Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I like that he's difficult to determine how to use as well. Sorin was pretty straightforward, usually you make a token, then considering making an emblem if it becomes advantageous. With Gideon, sometimes it'll be better to build up presence with tokens without incrementing gideon, sometimes it'll be best to apply pressure even though the only permanent improvement to the board state is the loyalty counter, and sometimes it'll be worth taking the hit to get a permanent boost.
His ult isn't crazy powerful, but I'd rather have a mid-power, easily-achievable ult than a high-power, nigh impossible ult like tamiyo. Having the ability to use any of his 3 abilities immediately, even if the first usually won't do anything the first turn, is pretty clutch flexibility, I think, and I think flexibility over a clear line of play is what makes him strong and interesting.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Possibly because despite being fairly ally-centric,
he's also broadly useful for a lot of deck types.
Actually, that's true of all three BFZ Planeswalkers-
all of them are less "niche" than the PWs of Tarkir and Theros.
I approve.
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW