Yeah, Wizards must have been incredibly scared that the gods might completely dominate Standard for the next year and a half. And here I thought Hero's Downfall was going to be the most powerful removal spell in the block. The flavor is amazing, but it's so powerful it's obscene.
Don't get me wrong. I love the card. I just think it was pushed too far.
... I don't really see how the meta is going to change all that much. I mean, we knew ahead of time about the final two scrylands, which will help out a variety of decks. But in terms of cards to be cast, the only format-defining card for me is Ajani, who might create a new archtype or two, or push a couple other decks up a notch potentially, but that's it.
The set looks great though, no complaints from me.
So you're playing a 5mana card, that's only goal is to HOPEFULLY find you a card after looking at the top four cards of your deck, because it fits your curve. That sounds like bad deck building to me.
Look at the other planeswalkers in Bant Walkers. Kiora, helps you ramp into Sphinx's Revelations and other planeswalkers, or blocks off the biggest threat your opponent has on the board. Jace draws you cards (Not hopefully finds you cards), as well as staves off enemy attacks. Elspeth, kills your opponent's board or chump blocks it for days.
Ajani doesn't defend himself, doesn't impact your opponent's board, and only would be worth using to dig through your deck for other cards. He's not a card you'll play in Bant walkers. There are much better things you can do in standard with five mana in a control shell.
Fitting the curve is very relevant. And his high loyalty is his secondary source of protection. The primary source? All of the other 'walkers. Every single one of them protect themselves and indirectly protect him as well. Which makes him the least threatening of all the 'walkers in the deck. (And let's not forget about Detention Sphere and Supreme Verdict doing some heavy lifting as well). But his repeatable impulse will quickly take over a game if left unchecked.
And that's just one possible deck he fits into. Naya Superfriends seems possible now. He can top the curve of GW. He seems viable in Junk as well.
I don't think so. Outside of finding more walkers for you, why wouldn't you just play, Divination or something else that would help you dig further into your deck? Ajani doesn't offer anything to the Bant Walker's board state. He also fails to protect himself, and any other planeswalkers out on the field.
I'd run both? He fits into the curve perfectly too. His + for counters isn't going to be all that relevant, but the dig ability is a repeatable impulse for the rest of the planeswalkers in the deck. He'll keep your hand full of answers. He will need to be answered quickly, even though he isn't directly affecting the board. And if he somehow ultimates, I have all the time in the world to win with krakens or flying soldiers.
TWO plus abilities? That's rare. And awesome. His plus abilities are sick. Permanent pump or dig for a threat. High loyalty to boot. Not even going to discuss the 100 life thing, which is hilarious. But Ajani is strong!
At first glance, I thought he was easily the best god to date. Then I started really thinking about what he does, for his particular deck, in this Standard format. And I realized he isn't that good.
Okay. So he goes into Rw devotion. What is that decks one weakness? It's weak to sweepers/good removal. What is it good against? Decks not running tons of removal. He also turns your best devotion enabler, Boros Reckoner, into a vanilla creature. Not a good thing.
Now, what does Iroas do? It makes your guys unkillable (for the most part) in combat. That is what the deck was already good at! All this guy does is make your matchup against other aggro decks better, which was already a good matchup to begin with. The deck still folds to Supreme Verdict if you don't have a timely Boros Charm. And if you resolved a Boros Charm, you won't be needing Iroas to win that game. I really just see him as a win-more frontrunner. He's going to be fantastic when you're ahead and not nearly as good when you are behind.
Ended up playing RG, splashing B for just Mogis. Went 5-1, placing 7th. I had awful tiebreakers due to my loss being early, could never make up for it. That one loss was to Elspeth, not due to my deck being unable to handle her (I beat the opponent after she had been out for several turns game 1), but due to mana screwed.
Takeaways from the sealed event and the following draft:
-Green is far and away the strongest color.
-Snake of the Golden Grove is an absurd creature.
-Removal is unnecessary. A tight curve with lots of bestow is just as effective.
I dunno about it rising much in price, but I expect this card to see a lot more play once players realize its potential. Everflame Eidolon. A dirt cheap bestow of three, for firebreathing. On turn four, a good red deck can have a control deck on tilt when on the draw, forced to Supreme Verdict. If this was bestowed prior to it... it's going to be a painful next turn.
Even against decks that aren't control. Firebreathing on a Ash Zealot? That sticks around after they Doom Blade it? Sounds good to me.
Hero of Iroas is the pick for sure. But the Servant of Tymaret is a fairly close second. It's an amazing defensive card. I think it's on par with Scholar of Athreos, perhaps better because it can regen.
For once, I am at a loss for what color to pick. In terms of commons/uncommons, blue and white have the most powerful cards, but also the most amount of unplayables. The other three don't have the best cards, but are more consistent in their power level.
I'm leaning towards red, at the moment. But I might call an audible the day-of and go green, just due to the pretty ridiculous creatures the color has.
A nice replacement for Sever the Bloodline! I think MBC does care, because they can't touch active gods with kill. (Sure, sacrifice effects can hit them, but really. How often do decks have an active god, with the only creature being the god? It doesn't happen regularly)
He works very well with the so-far spoiled "Fated" cycle. Fated Infatuation in particular. You don't want my guy to be big? All right then. I'll copy him and make you choose again, while scrying 2! Or I'll blow up the board with Fated Retribution!
I wouldn't sleep on this guy. I see a lot of potential.
Barring extreme cases, this is most likely an auto-win the second it hits the board in limited. That disgusts me. Big time. So much for strategy and trying to build a cohesive deck.
For Standard, I think he's a viable win-con. As others have said, there are plenty of walls that will hold down the fort til you get him online.
I don't ever see this guy being competitive. But what's not to like about a self-milling deck, then using this guy to bring back four copies of Gray Merchant of Asphodel/copying dudes for the win? Not good, but hilarious.
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Don't get me wrong. I love the card. I just think it was pushed too far.
The set looks great though, no complaints from me.
Fitting the curve is very relevant. And his high loyalty is his secondary source of protection. The primary source? All of the other 'walkers. Every single one of them protect themselves and indirectly protect him as well. Which makes him the least threatening of all the 'walkers in the deck. (And let's not forget about Detention Sphere and Supreme Verdict doing some heavy lifting as well). But his repeatable impulse will quickly take over a game if left unchecked.
And that's just one possible deck he fits into. Naya Superfriends seems possible now. He can top the curve of GW. He seems viable in Junk as well.
I'd run both? He fits into the curve perfectly too. His + for counters isn't going to be all that relevant, but the dig ability is a repeatable impulse for the rest of the planeswalkers in the deck. He'll keep your hand full of answers. He will need to be answered quickly, even though he isn't directly affecting the board. And if he somehow ultimates, I have all the time in the world to win with krakens or flying soldiers.
Bant superfriends here I come.
Okay. So he goes into Rw devotion. What is that decks one weakness? It's weak to sweepers/good removal. What is it good against? Decks not running tons of removal. He also turns your best devotion enabler, Boros Reckoner, into a vanilla creature. Not a good thing.
Now, what does Iroas do? It makes your guys unkillable (for the most part) in combat. That is what the deck was already good at! All this guy does is make your matchup against other aggro decks better, which was already a good matchup to begin with. The deck still folds to Supreme Verdict if you don't have a timely Boros Charm. And if you resolved a Boros Charm, you won't be needing Iroas to win that game. I really just see him as a win-more frontrunner. He's going to be fantastic when you're ahead and not nearly as good when you are behind.
Ended up playing RG, splashing B for just Mogis. Went 5-1, placing 7th. I had awful tiebreakers due to my loss being early, could never make up for it. That one loss was to Elspeth, not due to my deck being unable to handle her (I beat the opponent after she had been out for several turns game 1), but due to mana screwed.
Takeaways from the sealed event and the following draft:
-Green is far and away the strongest color.
-Snake of the Golden Grove is an absurd creature.
-Removal is unnecessary. A tight curve with lots of bestow is just as effective.
Even against decks that aren't control. Firebreathing on a Ash Zealot? That sticks around after they Doom Blade it? Sounds good to me.
I'm leaning towards red, at the moment. But I might call an audible the day-of and go green, just due to the pretty ridiculous creatures the color has.
I wouldn't sleep on this guy. I see a lot of potential.
Oooh! Hunter's Prowess too. I'm liking this more and more.
For Standard, I think he's a viable win-con. As others have said, there are plenty of walls that will hold down the fort til you get him online.