This is a pretty good card. Mono-White humans should find this playable, and I’m sure Knights will be a thing in Standard. This cycle is pretty solid, no real stinkers, but obviously some better than others.
It definitely looks great in Standard and there will probably be a Brawl deck or three of it but my immediate concern is going Knights in Limited as often as I can.
For WWW? May as well be Honor of the Pure. I mean, it's good, it's really good in Standard if you're in monowhite, I love the idea of finding ways to push monocolor in Modern, and I'm absolutely certain some four- or five-color EDH player who probably should be using Kongming for the same effect will get this out under a Blood Moon just to annoy me, especially since it costs threemana, and has square stats, but still...
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Amazingly awesome card. But why is seemingly every Benalish and Serran black? Benalia was definitely European in Invasion... And am I wrong, or is every evil character white? Correct me if I am wrong, by all means.
Amazingly awesome card. But why is seemingly every Benalish and Serran black? Benalia was definitely European in Invasion... And am I wrong, or is every evil character white? Correct me if I am wrong, by all means.
I've noticed this as well. But it's not really surprising, given that most of WOTC hold to a far-left ideology that they try to force on us at every opportunity. From here on out we'll be seeing a lot more black and female Mary Sues, and we'll probably also see a few autistic sphinxes and transsexual dragons in wheelchairs because diversity.
I would actually love to see more black, LGBT, and disabled characters, but I'd like them introduced organically, not shoehorned in. Having what was clearly a Western medieval realm of knights suddenly filled with black people without explanation is jarring, just as having white Jamuraans in traditional African garb would be (though WOTC wouldn't do that, just as they wouldn't have blonde people on Amonkhet, because it'd be cultural appropriation, which only works one way). I know that this is fantasy and all, but suspension of disbelief and aesthetic coherence matter.
And I'm also insulted that WOTC thinks that it needs to push ethnic minority characters in order to get ethnic minority players. I come from an Indian background, and Saheeli Rai did nothing for me, because I don't need someone to share my skin colour in order to sympathise with them. I'd prefer that WOTC created characters with, y'know, character, rather than just expect us to like them because they're brown or female.
But hell, the true minority in this game seems to be people who think like us, because we get called Nazis and attacked for our opinions by the far-left people who dominate this game, including WOTC itself. End rant.
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"For the sake of Hasbro's half-year financial report, we will keep watch."
-- The Gatewatch
Amazingly awesome card. But why is seemingly every Benalish and Serran black? Benalia was definitely European in Invasion... And am I wrong, or is every evil character white? Correct me if I am wrong, by all means.
I've noticed this as well. But it's not really surprising, given that most of WOTC hold to a far-left ideology that they try to force on us at every opportunity. From here on out we'll be seeing a lot more black and female Mary Sues, and we'll probably also see a few autistic sphinxes and transsexual dragons in wheelchairs because diversity.
I would actually love to see more black, LGBT, and disabled characters, but I'd like them introduced organically, not shoehorned in. Having what was clearly a Western medieval realm of knights suddenly filled with black people without explanation is jarring, just as having white Jamuraans in traditional African garb would be (though WOTC wouldn't do that, just as they wouldn't have blonde people on Amonkhet, because it'd be cultural appropriation, which only works one way). I know that this is fantasy and all, but suspension of disbelief and aesthetic coherence matter.
And I'm also insulted that WOTC thinks that it needs to push ethnic minority characters in order to get ethnic minority players. I come from an Indian background, and Saheeli Rai did nothing for me, because I don't need someone to share my skin colour in order to sympathise with them. I'd prefer that WOTC created characters with, y'know, character, rather than just expect us to like them because they're brown or female.
But hell, the true minority in this game seems to be people who think like us, because we get called Nazis and attacked for our opinions by the far-left people who dominate this game, including WOTC itself. End rant.
You are spot-on. Its inauthentic insertion of minority groups without an explanation of how they got there. And again, only white villains. Also, funny, since people like us have money...
Amazingly awesome card. But why is seemingly every Benalish and Serran black? Benalia was definitely European in Invasion... And am I wrong, or is every evil character white? Correct me if I am wrong, by all means.
I've noticed this as well. But it's not really surprising, given that most of WOTC hold to a far-left ideology that they try to force on us at every opportunity. From here on out we'll be seeing a lot more black and female Mary Sues, and we'll probably also see a few autistic sphinxes and transsexual dragons in wheelchairs because diversity.
I would actually love to see more black, LGBT, and disabled characters, but I'd like them introduced organically, not shoehorned in. Having what was clearly a Western medieval realm of knights suddenly filled with black people without explanation is jarring, just as having white Jamuraans in traditional African garb would be (though WOTC wouldn't do that, just as they wouldn't have blonde people on Amonkhet, because it'd be cultural appropriation, which only works one way). I know that this is fantasy and all, but suspension of disbelief and aesthetic coherence matter.
And I'm also insulted that WOTC thinks that it needs to push ethnic minority characters in order to get ethnic minority players. I come from an Indian background, and Saheeli Rai did nothing for me, because I don't need someone to share my skin colour in order to sympathise with them. I'd prefer that WOTC created characters with, y'know, character, rather than just expect us to like them because they're brown or female.
But hell, the true minority in this game seems to be people who think like us, because we get called Nazis and attacked for our opinions by the far-left people who dominate this game, including WOTC itself. End rant.
I've never really felt WotC has been forcing anything. For the most part I think they've done a good job at giving us compelling characters and stories to go along with their cards and their depictions. I'm Korean myself, and I appreciate what they are trying to do.
As for the card itself, I can't wait to get my hands on a playset. Humans/soldiers/knights have always been one of my favorite tribes. The interaction between the Marshal and Sram's Expertise is a really cool one which I hadn't thought of! I just wish the white saga wasn't mythic Will make it much harder for me to get a playset of those.
People just really be foaming at the mouth waiting for opportunities to jump in with complaints about diversity, even sadder when it's p.o.c.. Last I checked, Benalia isn't a real place. Simple as that. They can do whatever they want with it. Yet they've kept the core ideals and aesthetic. So how does skin color affect any of it? It doesn't, it only affects (triggers) your inner displeasure at seeing them. Check yourself. Wotc isn't "forcing" anything about diversity. It's called representation. Look it up.
Also, lol @ "people like us have money." Yikes.
The card is great and will fit well into my new Shalai anthem deck. <3 <3
Amazingly awesome card. But why is seemingly every Benalish and Serran black? Benalia was definitely European in Invasion... And am I wrong, or is every evil character white? Correct me if I am wrong, by all means.
Rona, Disciple of Gix is black and, well, a disciple of Gix, Phyrexia's oldest Praetor, Yawgmoth's former right hand man, and the guy who turned Urza's brother Mishra into a phyrexian. The Cult of Gix are definitely evil and I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that Rona is bad news. Maybe not a friend of the Cabal since Demonlord Belzenlok falsely claims to be the Father of Machines, but nonetheless almost certainly evil.
As for Benalia and the Serrans, its actually a mix. We've seen Benalish knights that are black, but also whiteguys as well. In fact, in the story posts it was revealed that Lilliana is Benalish aristocracy, and I'm pretty sure everyone here knows what she looks like. In fact, so far I think every Benalish aristocrat we've seen has been white or European looking.
As for why there are so many black knights bearing Benalish markings in the set, first bear in mind that in the story an entire subcontinent was banished from time by Teferi, and the people who lived there were primarily black. So you would expect there to be a lot of refugees who weren't able to return home who would instead end up living elsewhere, such as Benalia. Second, there is actually a link established between Benalia and Jamurra specifically: Gerrard Capashen was born in Benalia but raised in Zalfir after the Phyrexians murdered most of his family to sabotage Urza's bloodline project. Since Gerrard is a world renowned hero and martyr to the Serran church, its no surprise to a Vorthos to see Jamurrans in Benalia specifically to honor Gerrard's legacy.
As for the Serran angels, well, they are angels. They can show up as any ethnicity they want: black like Lyra Dawnbringer (an OG serran, according to the story posts) and the new generic Serra Angel card, or white like Shalai, voice of plenty and Tiana, Ship's caretaker. They are what they are.
There should not have been many refugees from Zhalfir, as Teferi phased out the entire nation, people and all. And the black angels are an absolute retcon. Do they actually test this with audiences, or just order these cards top down?
Oh yeah, I am doing this in Standard. Kind of boring art, it's just some dude in armor on a horse, I was hoping for something a bit more inspired. But I don't even care, the card is awesome.
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When I hit my 3000 post mark, I'm gone for good.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
There should not have been many refugees from Zhalfir, as Teferi phased out the entire nation, people and all.
Presumably not every Zhalfiran was in the nation when it phased out, and those who missed that particular escape from the Phyrexians would have to go somewhere. And we know from the Onslaught block that Dominarians from many nations were refugees looking for new homes, it's not out of the question that some from Zhalfir and Jamuraa generally would end up in Benalia. Wasn't Benalia one of the areas that rebounded from things relatively quickly? At least by this set is has reasserted itself as a powerful nation on the plane, it's true to life that a powerful nation would be an attractive place to migrate to for folks.
And the black angels are an absolute retcon. Do they actually test this with audiences, or just order these cards top down?
I was under the impression that increased representation tests well? But even if it didn't, if WotC felt strongly enough about being more inclusive in its art direction, would it heed poor test audience feedback? I think its continued direction over the past several years indicates either feedback was mixed-to-positive, and/or overall financial response aligned with moral direction and WotC doesn't care about the feedback.
I think it's much ado about nothing. I think it's nice that WotC is more inclusive even if I'm cynical about their motivation (it's money). Representation matters.
Amazingly awesome card. But why is seemingly every Benalish and Serran black? Benalia was definitely European in Invasion... And am I wrong, or is every evil character white? Correct me if I am wrong, by all means.
I've noticed this as well. But it's not really surprising, given that most of WOTC hold to a far-left ideology that they try to force on us at every opportunity. From here on out we'll be seeing a lot more black and female Mary Sues, and we'll probably also see a few autistic sphinxes and transsexual dragons in wheelchairs because diversity.
I would actually love to see more black, LGBT, and disabled characters, but I'd like them introduced organically, not shoehorned in. Having what was clearly a Western medieval realm of knights suddenly filled with black people without explanation is jarring, just as having white Jamuraans in traditional African garb would be (though WOTC wouldn't do that, just as they wouldn't have blonde people on Amonkhet, because it'd be cultural appropriation, which only works one way). I know that this is fantasy and all, but suspension of disbelief and aesthetic coherence matter.
And I'm also insulted that WOTC thinks that it needs to push ethnic minority characters in order to get ethnic minority players. I come from an Indian background, and Saheeli Rai did nothing for me, because I don't need someone to share my skin colour in order to sympathise with them. I'd prefer that WOTC created characters with, y'know, character, rather than just expect us to like them because they're brown or female.
But hell, the true minority in this game seems to be people who think like us, because we get called Nazis and attacked for our opinions by the far-left people who dominate this game, including WOTC itself. End rant.
I was under the impression that this was 300 years later after original Dominaria. What is the issue with dark-skinned knights in the medieval-european world 300 years later? Maybe migration took place as someone said? Not to mention that even European countries have, you know, black people in it?
Such pointless complaints for such a trivial detail of the artwork. The flavor text of the card is, indeed, amazing.
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Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
People immigrate, they do not tend to join aristocratic orders. And its the sheer quantity. Comics did this against consumer demand, and sales tanked. Is that also true of Magic? I do not know. Maybe it does test well and Im in the minority.
I was under the impression that this was 300 years later after original Dominaria. What is the issue with dark-skinned knights in the medieval-european world 300 years later? Maybe migration took place as someone said? Not to mention that even European countries have, you know, black people in it?
Right? Even if Benalia was once entirely or dominantly white, passage of time and population migration trends after major global events mean it would be unlikely for Benalia to remain as it was (demographically speaking) up until the present.
Such pointless complaints for such a trivial detail of the artwork. The flavor text of the card is, indeed, amazing.
The flavor text is my favorite part about this card. The rest is alright but forgettable, but the flavor text is incredible. The flavor team is really nailing it in this set. Every card conveys more about the world, and so many examples of homages to the past. It's great and they deserve props for it.
People immigrate, they do not tend to join aristocratic orders.
It's not unfeasible that while the nation as a whole was in a position to bounce back, Benalia's aristocracy was in tatters and that created a power vacuum to fill. And there's always the probability of interracial partnerships, etc. We see it in real life often enough - families of folks who immigrated 100+ years ago are doing swell all over the place. It's really not as unrealistic as you seem to want it to be. Immigration plus a few centuries changes the demographics of nations unless the specifically aim to oppose that shift through policy.
And its the sheer quantity. Comics did this against consumer demand, and sales tanked. Is that also true of Magic? I do not know. Maybe it does test well and Im in the minority.
One wonders if it failed for comics (if it did, I can't claim to have any insight on the comics industry) for more nuanced reasons? Diversity and inclusion has certainly not failed (financially) for other forms of media.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
It definitely looks great in Standard and there will probably be a Brawl deck or three of it but my immediate concern is going Knights in Limited as often as I can.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
For WWW? May as well be Honor of the Pure. I mean, it's good, it's really good in Standard if you're in monowhite, I love the idea of finding ways to push monocolor in Modern, and I'm absolutely certain some four- or five-color EDH player who probably should be using Kongming for the same effect will get this out under a Blood Moon just to annoy me, especially since it costs three mana, and has square stats, but still...
On phasing:
because it cannot top this
plus the newer got the CMC at it's worst possible
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
Yeah, on an anthem with legs, and it could attack and block? Wouldn’t have broken it, but it’s not necessary.
I've noticed this as well. But it's not really surprising, given that most of WOTC hold to a far-left ideology that they try to force on us at every opportunity. From here on out we'll be seeing a lot more black and female Mary Sues, and we'll probably also see a few autistic sphinxes and transsexual dragons in wheelchairs because diversity.
I would actually love to see more black, LGBT, and disabled characters, but I'd like them introduced organically, not shoehorned in. Having what was clearly a Western medieval realm of knights suddenly filled with black people without explanation is jarring, just as having white Jamuraans in traditional African garb would be (though WOTC wouldn't do that, just as they wouldn't have blonde people on Amonkhet, because it'd be cultural appropriation, which only works one way). I know that this is fantasy and all, but suspension of disbelief and aesthetic coherence matter.
And I'm also insulted that WOTC thinks that it needs to push ethnic minority characters in order to get ethnic minority players. I come from an Indian background, and Saheeli Rai did nothing for me, because I don't need someone to share my skin colour in order to sympathise with them. I'd prefer that WOTC created characters with, y'know, character, rather than just expect us to like them because they're brown or female.
But hell, the true minority in this game seems to be people who think like us, because we get called Nazis and attacked for our opinions by the far-left people who dominate this game, including WOTC itself. End rant.
-- The Gatewatch
I've never really felt WotC has been forcing anything. For the most part I think they've done a good job at giving us compelling characters and stories to go along with their cards and their depictions. I'm Korean myself, and I appreciate what they are trying to do.
As for the card itself, I can't wait to get my hands on a playset. Humans/soldiers/knights have always been one of my favorite tribes. The interaction between the Marshal and Sram's Expertise is a really cool one which I hadn't thought of! I just wish the white saga wasn't mythic Will make it much harder for me to get a playset of those.
Also, lol @ "people like us have money." Yikes.
The card is great and will fit well into my new Shalai anthem deck. <3 <3
Rona, Disciple of Gix is black and, well, a disciple of Gix, Phyrexia's oldest Praetor, Yawgmoth's former right hand man, and the guy who turned Urza's brother Mishra into a phyrexian. The Cult of Gix are definitely evil and I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that Rona is bad news. Maybe not a friend of the Cabal since Demonlord Belzenlok falsely claims to be the Father of Machines, but nonetheless almost certainly evil.
As for Benalia and the Serrans, its actually a mix. We've seen Benalish knights that are black, but also white guys as well. In fact, in the story posts it was revealed that Lilliana is Benalish aristocracy, and I'm pretty sure everyone here knows what she looks like. In fact, so far I think every Benalish aristocrat we've seen has been white or European looking.
As for why there are so many black knights bearing Benalish markings in the set, first bear in mind that in the story an entire subcontinent was banished from time by Teferi, and the people who lived there were primarily black. So you would expect there to be a lot of refugees who weren't able to return home who would instead end up living elsewhere, such as Benalia. Second, there is actually a link established between Benalia and Jamurra specifically: Gerrard Capashen was born in Benalia but raised in Zalfir after the Phyrexians murdered most of his family to sabotage Urza's bloodline project. Since Gerrard is a world renowned hero and martyr to the Serran church, its no surprise to a Vorthos to see Jamurrans in Benalia specifically to honor Gerrard's legacy.
As for the Serran angels, well, they are angels. They can show up as any ethnicity they want: black like Lyra Dawnbringer (an OG serran, according to the story posts) and the new generic Serra Angel card, or white like Shalai, voice of plenty and Tiana, Ship's caretaker. They are what they are.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
Presumably not every Zhalfiran was in the nation when it phased out, and those who missed that particular escape from the Phyrexians would have to go somewhere. And we know from the Onslaught block that Dominarians from many nations were refugees looking for new homes, it's not out of the question that some from Zhalfir and Jamuraa generally would end up in Benalia. Wasn't Benalia one of the areas that rebounded from things relatively quickly? At least by this set is has reasserted itself as a powerful nation on the plane, it's true to life that a powerful nation would be an attractive place to migrate to for folks.
I was under the impression that increased representation tests well? But even if it didn't, if WotC felt strongly enough about being more inclusive in its art direction, would it heed poor test audience feedback? I think its continued direction over the past several years indicates either feedback was mixed-to-positive, and/or overall financial response aligned with moral direction and WotC doesn't care about the feedback.
I think it's much ado about nothing. I think it's nice that WotC is more inclusive even if I'm cynical about their motivation (it's money). Representation matters.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
I completely agree.
Such pointless complaints for such a trivial detail of the artwork. The flavor text of the card is, indeed, amazing.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Right? Even if Benalia was once entirely or dominantly white, passage of time and population migration trends after major global events mean it would be unlikely for Benalia to remain as it was (demographically speaking) up until the present.
The flavor text is my favorite part about this card. The rest is alright but forgettable, but the flavor text is incredible. The flavor team is really nailing it in this set. Every card conveys more about the world, and so many examples of homages to the past. It's great and they deserve props for it.
ETA:
It's not unfeasible that while the nation as a whole was in a position to bounce back, Benalia's aristocracy was in tatters and that created a power vacuum to fill. And there's always the probability of interracial partnerships, etc. We see it in real life often enough - families of folks who immigrated 100+ years ago are doing swell all over the place. It's really not as unrealistic as you seem to want it to be. Immigration plus a few centuries changes the demographics of nations unless the specifically aim to oppose that shift through policy.
One wonders if it failed for comics (if it did, I can't claim to have any insight on the comics industry) for more nuanced reasons? Diversity and inclusion has certainly not failed (financially) for other forms of media.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains