It's potentially exciting. Lots of synergy with cards in the format. Phalanx Leader, Akroan Hoplite, and Eidolon of Countless Battles immediately come to mind. Not to mention it's multicolor friendly and triggers heroic across multiple creatures.
It's also better than it looks initially because it reinforces a non-voltron heroic strategy. Heroic is typically weak to removal, but this card helps swarm style heroic instead of voltron.
It takes a bit of set up to really reap the rewards of this, but I can imagine it being used in small numbers as an enabler for White aggro decks, heroic or otherwise. The fact the tokens come into play attacking definitely makes up for how much you can overextend yourself by playing it. Like the article mentions, very powerful in conjunction with Spear of Heliod.
If you've every mana for every creature you control and your opponent has the same creatures as you. It almost reads like a fireball. But I like that it helps you cross the finishing line.
T1: Sacred Foundry > Akroan Hoplite
T2: Phalanx leader
T3: Launch the fleet for 2 mana. You now have three 2/2s. Attack with all of them, to gain 2 more 1/1s. Then cast coordinated assault on your heroic dudes, and then gain power to get 1 3/3, two 4/3 first strikers and two 2/2s in the red zone, and another 2/2 hanging by the side for next turn.
Might be a nice finisher as a 2-of in a primarily white Heroic deck - which is actually quite a nice archetype save for massive amounts of Lifebane Zombies everywhere, sigh, tough times to play White or Green.
Surely the board can still be flooded even though a white creature is taken from our hand. And, if they are casting Lifebane Zombie, that's one turn they aren't casting a removal spell.
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I'm sure they meant Akroan Crusader. I'm also pretty sure you knew that
No, I thought Akroan Hoplite's +X/+0 where X is the number of attacking creatures was appropriate for this discussion (and it's the card that was mentioned in the OP). You are right though, he probably meant Akroan Crusader.
Might be a nice finisher as a 2-of in a primarily white Heroic deck - which is actually quite a nice archetype save for massive amounts of Lifebane Zombies everywhere, sigh, tough times to play White or Green.
Surely the board can still be flooded even though a white creature is taken from our hand. And, if they are casting Lifebane Zombie, that's one turn they aren't casting a removal spell.
It still sucks to have lots of people mainboard 4 dedicated hate cards against you. It feels like a lot of opponents are randomly playing like they already sideboarded against you in game 1.
Just look at all the great toys Selesnya has to play with and tell my why it isn't in consideration to be a "top tier deck" ? Because what feels like half of Standard plays 4 dedicated hate cards (Lifebane Zombie or Tidebinder Mage) maindeck.
It's like showing up to a Modern event with a Mono Green Devotion list and your opponent just happens to randomly play 4 Deathmarks maindeck. Is it beatable ? Sure, but it still sucks and feels bad.
Thats not even mentioning Drown in Sorrow which will surely enter sideboards in higher numbers if aggressive strategies show up.
I watched a replay yesterday on MTGO of a Mono-Black deck making 4-0 in a daily and he did play against against two White Weenie players and while they did win game 1 they just got wrecked by Drown in Sorrow after board.
When's the last time this kind of card was good in Standard? The answer is "never". Even when Kithkin decks were a thing in Lorwyn/Alara, successful decks didn't play Militia's Pride (which is a better card and tribal to boot, for things like Goldmeadow Stalwart). WW isn't even a deck now. Drown in Sorrow and Bile Blight absolutely wreck it if people actually bothered to sideboard against you.
Card is strictly win-more in a white weenie deck, doesn't address the weakness of the deck at all.
Just casting this turn 3, on your 1 and 2 drops, seems pretty strong. Adding immediate attackers to the board is huge, essentially acting like haste. If you can trigger Heroic with it too that just seems like gravy. Acting like 2 for a 2/2 haste on turn 3 isn't bad for white aggro. The problem I see is the competition on that turn from other great options like Brimaz, Spear, and Banisher.
I also see "big turns" come up a lot when W/X aggro is up against anything but Supreme Verdict. You know, right around turn 4-5 when the B/x or G/x midrange deck is about to take over and the white deck has one more shot to force through damage before bigger stuff begins to dominate. This seems like a great option on those turns, probably making ~4 guys and helping to force through some damage (especially with the help of Spear and/or Brave).
Ultimately I don't see this as the "best" option at any given mana cost, but I do think it's good and that the flexibility built into it might just make it good enough to be worth playing. It gives you early curve filler or a late game finisher. IDK that it will ever be better than the other very good options out there right now, but I do think it is at least worth testing out.
When's the last time this kind of card was good in Standard? The answer is "never". Even when Kithkin decks were a thing in Lorwyn/Alara, successful decks didn't play Militia's Pride (which is a better card and tribal to boot, for things like Goldmeadow Stalwart). WW isn't even a deck now. Drown in Sorrow and Bile Blight absolutely wreck it if people actually bothered to sideboard against you.
Card is strictly win-more in a white weenie deck, doesn't address the weakness of the deck at all.
Actually, Militia's Pride, being cast in turn 2 then triggering on non-token creatures only makes it much more different than Launch the Fleet. The non-token clause affects the whole card itself rendering it unabuseable. This on the other hand may only be a one time thing, but the ability to further your board advantage by multiplying your creatures and having them attack your opponent as well on the same turn makes it so much more potent that even if your opponents killed them the following turn they have already done their job.
Although I am not speaking about standard in general, since there is just soo much removal there that I think this will be a no show and you will barely be able to use it at all. Some would try, and unless there is much more support in JOU for WW this will remain in the dollar bin in whhich I will pick it up, lol.
#1 - What's the dumbest idea you ever had?
#2 - 15/15 for 15?
#1 - Make it dumber
#2 - Give it protection from removal and counter?
#1 - DUMBER!
#2 - Add Timewalk?
#1 - DAMN IT MAN, I SAID DUMB!! DUMB !!!
#2 - It destroys everything when it attacks.... And wait, I have a friend who plays mill decks... I want to beat him too.
#1 - Excellent! Recess is over, go back and learn sex-ed with the other 6th graders.
Win-more is a horribly misdeployed concept. There are times where you need to close out the game fast even if you are "winning." Aggro is the most obvious example of that - they need to kill before a board wipe or their key pieces get taken out.
No, I thought Akroan Hoplite's +X/+0 where X is the number of attacking creatures was appropriate for this discussion (and it's the card that was mentioned in the OP). You are right though, he probably meant Akroan Crusader.
Unfortunately, Akroan Hoplite doesn't get a boost from the tokens this makes. Both abilities trigger when attackers are declared. Something like Eidolon of Countless Battles would still get boosted, though, since his ability is a static effect.
I'm thinking about this for my white weenie soldier tribal deck (casual, budget legacy).
Rather than win-more, I see it as a finisher and speeding up my clock.
This could be fun with pump effects like Honor of the Pure, Field Marshal, Daru Warchief and Captain of the Watch. I might cut Honor of the Pure for this since that doesn't do anything besides pump.
This is faster than playing a creature that I'd have to wait to attack with (although I'd still play the aforementioned pump creatures, and card advantage creatures like Ranger of Eos, Enlistment Officer and Preeminent Captain)
Yes, being put onto the battlefield already tapped and attacking doesn't trigger when this attacks abilities (reminds me of how I can't chain Preeminent Captains) and doesn't benefit from Vigilance.
I was thinking if I have three soldiers out on the beginning of turn four, and had hit all my land drops. If I have a Preeminent Captain on the field, and a Captain of the Watch or Odric, Master Tactician and a Launch the Fleet in hand. Cast Launch the Fleets, targeting all three of my creatures on the field. Full swing getting three 1/1 soldiers, free drop either the Captain or Odric. Played in this way, could easily end games.
Even if I don't have that kind of hand getting three more attacking soldiers, in a soldier tribal deck that pumps, is quite nice. Getting pumped off of Honor of the Pure/Captain of the Watch/Field Marshal will make these little 1/1s a force to deal with, and if you play legacy you get Daru Warchief as well. Every one can dislike this card, that will just make it cheaper for me. It's much better than the $5 dollar Martial Coup.....
It can get the boost. Both effects trigger when attackers are declared, and you can put them on the stack in any order. Have the Hoplite's trigger resolve last. It doesn't count your creatures until it resolves, and by then you'll have the tokens.
This is def one of the best strive cards. I like how the strive cost is 1 colorless. With some anthem effects and a boat load (see artwork) of mana this could be a great card.
I'm definitely thinking this will do well in a fast Red / White Purphorous deck. If you can get 4 or 5 extra soldiers on turn 5 with Purphorous out then that's 8-10 damage. The issue is that you need that many attackers so you are very subject to board wipes if you do. Purphorous may therefore be a little slow.
Thoughts on this card?
It's potentially exciting. Lots of synergy with cards in the format. Phalanx Leader, Akroan Hoplite, and Eidolon of Countless Battles immediately come to mind. Not to mention it's multicolor friendly and triggers heroic across multiple creatures.
It's also better than it looks initially because it reinforces a non-voltron heroic strategy. Heroic is typically weak to removal, but this card helps swarm style heroic instead of voltron.
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
Isn't Akroan Hoplite a 2 drop?
I'm sure they meant Akroan Crusader. I'm also pretty sure you knew that
No, I thought Akroan Hoplite's +X/+0 where X is the number of attacking creatures was appropriate for this discussion (and it's the card that was mentioned in the OP). You are right though, he probably meant Akroan Crusader.
Thats not even mentioning Drown in Sorrow which will surely enter sideboards in higher numbers if aggressive strategies show up.
I watched a replay yesterday on MTGO of a Mono-Black deck making 4-0 in a daily and he did play against against two White Weenie players and while they did win game 1 they just got wrecked by Drown in Sorrow after board.
Card is strictly win-more in a white weenie deck, doesn't address the weakness of the deck at all.
0 Karn
W Darien
U Arcanis
B Geth
R Norin
G Yeva
UW Hanna
RB Olivia
WB Obzedat
UR Melek
BG Glissa
WR Aurelia
GU Kraj
BRU Nicol Bolas
RGB Prossh
BGW Ghave
GUB Mimeoplasm
WUBRG Sliver Overlord
GWU Treva, the Renewer
EDH Spike:
U Azami, Lady of Scrolls
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Anger of the Gods would also be trouble.
I also see "big turns" come up a lot when W/X aggro is up against anything but Supreme Verdict. You know, right around turn 4-5 when the B/x or G/x midrange deck is about to take over and the white deck has one more shot to force through damage before bigger stuff begins to dominate. This seems like a great option on those turns, probably making ~4 guys and helping to force through some damage (especially with the help of Spear and/or Brave).
Ultimately I don't see this as the "best" option at any given mana cost, but I do think it's good and that the flexibility built into it might just make it good enough to be worth playing. It gives you early curve filler or a late game finisher. IDK that it will ever be better than the other very good options out there right now, but I do think it is at least worth testing out.
Actually, Militia's Pride, being cast in turn 2 then triggering on non-token creatures only makes it much more different than Launch the Fleet. The non-token clause affects the whole card itself rendering it unabuseable. This on the other hand may only be a one time thing, but the ability to further your board advantage by multiplying your creatures and having them attack your opponent as well on the same turn makes it so much more potent that even if your opponents killed them the following turn they have already done their job.
Although I am not speaking about standard in general, since there is just soo much removal there that I think this will be a no show and you will barely be able to use it at all. Some would try, and unless there is much more support in JOU for WW this will remain in the dollar bin in whhich I will pick it up, lol.
Cheeri0sXWU
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Unfortunately, Akroan Hoplite doesn't get a boost from the tokens this makes. Both abilities trigger when attackers are declared. Something like Eidolon of Countless Battles would still get boosted, though, since his ability is a static effect.
Rather than win-more, I see it as a finisher and speeding up my clock.
This could be fun with pump effects like Honor of the Pure, Field Marshal, Daru Warchief and Captain of the Watch. I might cut Honor of the Pure for this since that doesn't do anything besides pump.
This is faster than playing a creature that I'd have to wait to attack with (although I'd still play the aforementioned pump creatures, and card advantage creatures like Ranger of Eos, Enlistment Officer and Preeminent Captain)
Yes, being put onto the battlefield already tapped and attacking doesn't trigger when this attacks abilities (reminds me of how I can't chain Preeminent Captains) and doesn't benefit from Vigilance.
Vintage: Dredge | Legacy: Burn, Goblins, Soldier | Standard: Mono-Red Aggro
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Casual: Selesnya Saproling Smackdown, Izzet Labs, Rebel
Played since June 2004, mostly inactive June 2011 to March 2018
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Even if I don't have that kind of hand getting three more attacking soldiers, in a soldier tribal deck that pumps, is quite nice. Getting pumped off of Honor of the Pure/Captain of the Watch/Field Marshal will make these little 1/1s a force to deal with, and if you play legacy you get Daru Warchief as well. Every one can dislike this card, that will just make it cheaper for me. It's much better than the $5 dollar Martial Coup.....
Cheeri0sXWU
Reid Duke's Level One
Who's the Beatdown
Alt+0198=Æ
EDIT: In reply to The_Hittite
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